where, when and how to start thinking about it all

[GirlWithTheMouseyHair]

DS is only three months and ideally I want to wait til 6 months to wean him (from my very basic thoughts based on hearsay about waiting cos of heir digestive systems etc) but want to start thinking about it all, where do you start with thinking about it, like when do you introduce what and how (which fruit/veg do you start pureeing, what time of day do you start eith solids etc)...am actuall really excited about introducing DS to new foods and making his purees etc!

I'm sure there'll be people on here soon to explain the reasons behind the six month thing to you.

If you want to do purees, I believe a lot of people use Annabel Karmel's books.

Lots of people on here do 'baby led weaning' which is basically going straight to finger foods, which they can manage at six months. If you want to find out about it you can go here

Hi MouseyHair

My DS is 4 months so sounds like it's quite similar. I am really excited about weaning too as it's all new and novelty but having seen some of my friends' babies nappies since they started solids I have taken a new look at my happy milky baby and thought I will enjoy this stage while it lasts.

I am still looking forward to weaning in some respects though and have decided to use this time to make sure I am all prepared - so I have started making sure we cook from scratch more, have insisted we tidy up the dining table, get a new tablecloth and start using it, and I am researching high chairs and different types. (We decided we wanted a small portable one with a wipe clean tray with no crevices which can have the tray removed at some point so the baby can sit at the table.)

Then you have to do some reading and decide whether you want to do puree based weaning or baby led weaning or a bit of both! My NCT friends all love the Gina Ford book of weaning because it is very much "start with baby rice, for 3 days, then they will get constipated so you give them pear, then to try a different taste try avocado" etc etc - it's been thought out very well and is good if you like a "script" to follow.

Baby Led Weaning is sort of the opposite (as in the idea is you never spoon feed your baby, they eat everything themselves, even messy things like spaghetti - and for porridge etc you can give them the loaded spoon!) and basically the thinking behind it is when people used to wean at 3 or 4 months, finger foods were usually introduced at about 6 months so why not skip the puree stage and just give them the finger foods? There is a book about it now as well if you want a book. You can also just give babies smaller, cooled down portions of what you are eating this way as well. That sounds great for me but then I am lazy and can't be bothered with spending ages boiling up fruit and pureeing it!

Cherrychoc - no need to research highchairs, the one you want is the Ikea Antilop - neat, portable, you can sling it in the dishwasher if you really want, absolutely no crevices, tray comes off and can go up to the table. 15 quid all in.