So my HV has told me to start DD2 on solids today .... where to start ??

[slushymummy]

DD2 is 23 wks and the HV has today advised me to start her on solids as she has only put on 9oz in the last 4 wks (2oz in last 2 wks). I was thinking of doing BLW but hadn't really read up about it, but got quite a shock when she hadn't put on hardly any weight at all.
So .... where do I start ?
She is definitely keen on eating, she's been trying to grab mine of theplate for ages and I actually had to clean her hand of weetabix this morning after she plonked it into her sisters bowl !
I've given her a chnk of banana to chomp on at the moment, but was wondering what else I should try. If I were to give her broccoli or cauliflower, how well cooked/soft should it be ?

Lots of queries, sorry !

There's really no rush. If she needs more calories (and she may not) then the way to get them in is more milk, not solids as she is not going to consume much from veggies for some time, and may actually get less calories if she is filled up with cauli etc.

slushymummy - 9oz in 4 weeks sounds pretty okay to me - she's 23 weeks and the weight gain does start to slow down.

I used BLW with my DS (who is now 6) he was about 5 months when he simply grabbed a roast potato off my plate and crammed it into his mouth (most of it went on the floor, table, down him ).

I can't really remember what I did from there - just let him help himself off my plate as far as I recall.

Milk will still be her main food for a little while and she is really just getting tastes - is she enjoying the banana?

Aitch has a very good BLW site which is well worth a look. Will try to find the link and post it for you.

here

I would agree with Starlight - meant to add that after my comment that 9oz in 4 weeks seems not too bad.

Shame your HV sees this perfectly normal weight gain as a sign that solids are needed - I don't think your baby is likely to be harmed if she has a few solid foods now, but it doesn;t sound as if she actually needs them. Initial solids are not intended to fill a 'calorie gap' as they are an inefficient way of putting weight on - if they're offered too early, they tend to take the place of milk and that can result in fewer calories.

Read the BLW website for more ideas and tips about weaning.

Breastfed babies (if you are BF) tend to gain weight a bit more slowly once they reach your DD's age. On the other hand 9oz is not a small amount of weight. Whatever you do regarding weaning BLW or purees - you are likely to be using fruits and maybe some veg to start. Neither option is as calorific nor remotely as nutritious as milk. Can you increase the amount of milk she is getting? Offer the second breast as a matter of routine. Maybe she is just more active and burning off more calories. Has she recently had any bouts of illness? How is she otherwise, energetic, satisfied after feeds, generally quite content? I was always told "look at the baby, not the chart" and that as long as weight gain was generally upwards over a long period of time that was OK(ie not just two weeks).

If you are worried about your DD for other reasons then maybe see your GP. My HV could never do anything for me other than weigh DD1 which is why I never went near her for DD2 (who is huge anyway ). If you are bf then maybe think about talking to a breastfeeding counsellor NCT 0300 330 0771. If you are using formula then hopefully other mums will be along soon to give some hints on upping weight gain in ff babes. Hope you get some reassurance soon.

Thanks folks, I am beastfeeding and do try to offer both breasts as much as poss. Have tried expressing as well to give quick boost, but don't have much time as also have DD1 2.6yrs. DD2 is very active, never stops kicking her legs, doing situps etc.... Will keep on with all her normal on demand feeds but might offer bits of food as and when we eat. Is this a good idea ???

To answer your original question, offering her bits of fruit and veg when you eat sounds fine. My dd liked broccoli and cauliflower quite soft at first, but still firm enough to hold.
At 6 months DD also liked:
steamed or roasted potato
steamed green beans
steamed carrots
ripe pear chunks
etc...

My DS had almost the identical weight pattern of your DD at the same age! And the HV said - perhaps I'd better think of starting weaning right then at 22/23 weeks. I said 'oh, on high fat stuff like cheese then?' and she said 'dear me no, just strained veg and fruit - it's more calorie-dense than breastmilk, you see.' ... Loon, obviously. Ignore and wean when you'd planned to! My DS was very active too, and it wasn't hard to see why he was burning energy.

When you do start, DS loved chunks of roasted sweet potato best, followed by parsnip, and also segments of apple that I'd softened slightly in butter and water. And he was a bugger for soft fruit!

Oops, just noticed that in my previous post, I put that I was "BEASTFEEDING" ..... maybe thats where I'm going wrong .

Thanks for all your kind and supportive words. We're keeping on the normal 'routine' but when she grabs for food, I'm letting her have it (banana, noodle, carrot so far ).
Really must drag myself up the stairs to bed now !

As a first time mum, when I read a post like this it makes me angry and sad that there are hv's out there giving the wrong advice. See a different hv next time, as what she advised makes no sense. Good luck.

If you feel the need to know what's "normal" - I did! Try the Annabell Karmel meal planner. Ask your Mum what she did with you too, fashions change, but babies have been the same for generations.
If you cook from scratch just save some of the veg - root to start is best and start slowly and build up til you're all eating together.
Beware purees - fork mashing is as smooth as needs to be, soft broccoli in hands while you spoon in potato etc is great.
You needn't worry about the weight gain, just look at your baby, if your baby is ready you know.
I stopped getting my little girl weighed after a point as she was going down the charts and I started to worry. My Mum asked me was she alert, happy and moving normally - yes to all, so "why are you getting her weighed then?" She's 20 months and is so much lighter to lift than a lot of her mates, but she eats as much and is clever and funny and never gets ill (touch wood) so I don't care!

ds3 is 22 weeks

i have no idea what he weighs
he breast feeds every 3-4 hurs, has chubby thighs and wrists, he giggles, wees snd poos and is a joy.
I havent seen the hv since he was about 2 weeks old
Is dd2 doing all these things?

tbh i am dreading starting solids - how the hellwill i get my three up andout for 8:30