Stressed about weaning

[MarnieM]

My boy is 5mths old and I am starting to think about weaning. I have been to a local workshop, had a read of Gina Ford, Annabel Karmel and had a good look through this forum and I am really panicked about weaning. It took 3mths to get breastfeeding sorted so I am finding this next stage really daunting.

What I find the most daunting is what time in the day to start to introduce food...Gina Ford recommends 11am and Annabel Karmel recommends when you are relaxed and have time. 11am doesn't really suit as that is generally when I finish the classes I do with him (I am often breastfeeding in the car!). After the 7am milk or the 2.30pm milk would be the best for me...but does it matter if every day is different? Should I stop the classes for a bit until he is established? If I give him food at different times each day will I be able to get him into the '3 meals a day' recommendation?

Am I just panicking too much?

Yes! Don't worry too much. Easier said than done I know, we all do it, but stressing wont help. The books are just a guide, once you get into it you won't feel the need to slavishly follow them. I clearly remember the day I thought 'Well,, AK and GF might say that but I think xyz is better'and it was!! I called my best friend and told her that after 8 mths I finally trusted my instincts over a book!!!!

I found my two quite quickly moved from 1 to 3 meals a day, (within about 2 mths) and the three meals will probably be when you eat yours (breakfast lunch and dinner) for convenience, so this stage is mercifully short!

In the first few weeks, weaning is more to get them used to a spoon (they could play with a soft one now to get used to it in their mouths), and to some different tastes and textures, so just do whenever suits you really. I did it half way through my 3pm feed as that was when I had help - so gave half a bottle, then some food, then rest of bottle.

By about week 3 I introduced some sort of solid food at breakfast, and then eventually at lunch too (but when it fitted better with their sleeps).

Is a good idea to do earlier rather than later in the day just in case there is some sort of reaction to a new food - don't want it interfering with the sleep!!

Good luck!

Yes you are panicking too much !
That said I did feel similar when it came to weaning DS. I looked at some of the books you mentioned and talked to friends with babies of a similar age. We still got on with the normal stuff we did during the week but I just took portable food with me - mini sandwiches, little cheeses, breadsticks, avocados etc etc
The old mantra you often see repeated on here was useful for me as well "food is for fun until they are one" so I tried not to get too stressed about what he ate and when -just slowly got him into the habit of 3 meals a day.
Good luck

I think it is really daunting - I felt I had just got my head around BF... and then there was this whole new thing!
Why don't you start at 2.30 if that fits around the classes that you do and take it from there. I think keeping the timing fairly consistent is a good idea, but just my gut feeling really.
Then after 2 weeks, introduce another meal - eg breakfast, and 2 weeks after that dinner.
I found 2 books in addition to the ones you mentioned useful, the practical parenting one, and the NCT one as they both had simple timetables in them.
HTHs xx

PS also the NHS weaning leaflet (comes up under Department of health if you google NHS weaning) had really simple approach, with a flavour of BLW about it. Suited me as hubby was too nervous to let us do full BLW properly!

I know exactly what you mean - every time I came to think about weaning I came up with more questions that no one seemed to have an answer to!

Someone (can't remember who - may have read it in a book) suggested to me that I try giving them some food at a time when I would eventually want them to have a meal. To start off with, I did half a milk feed, then a little puree, then the rest of the milk, but that is a bit complicated to keep up for too long.

I'd also second what penona said about trying new foods earlier in the day.

Do you have that "what to expect - the first year" book? That has quite sensible advice and it's not so prescriptive.

I was going to try and precis it but I can't remember it all! Basically yes relax, it's not complicated and you don't need to do it at set times or same time every day etc. Do when is convenient and baby is not too hungry/just been fed/tired and see how you go. Build from there.

Anyone mentioned baby led weaning yet? There is a load of stuff on here about it if you search. Also bound to be a weaning bit on mumsnet in the guides.

Don't worry Marnie. I was such an anxious mum and weaning freaked me out too at first. I introduced food at the time of day when DS was most chilled out and that was usually after his midday bottle. I literally started him off on a spoonfull of carrot puree and increased as time went on - tried different stuff, like parsnip or apple etc.

I made DS' food myself but followed the HIPP weaning chart for a steer on quantities and when to try more texture/finger food etc. I found it really helpful. If you fancy having a look, you can print off the HIPP website and stick on your fridge.

Try here

I had a look at BLW after spending 2 weeks with friends who were weaning their 6 month old DS the AK way and it looked like such hard work and they seemed quite stressed about was he eating enough / at the right time etc.

BLW was fantastic and I would heartily recommend it. There's no need to worry about how much they are eating or when.

The only stress was a bit of gagging in the early stages but I think this happens with their 1st few experiences of food no matter how you do it.

DS didn't really get into eating until about 8 months old but that's the beauty of it, it's led by the baby and they do it when they are ready. Breastmilk is the main food until they are one anyway.

It took me 3 months to get into problem free bf and we're still going at 18 months.
Also DS is the greediest most enthusiastic eater I have ever seen, I like to believe it's down to BLW or maybe he got my greedy genes

Good luck and try not to worry, keep going with the bf and it'll all be fine

It really doesn't matter that much what time of day you give food, just pick a time that suits you and your baby.

I felt really anxious about weaning my ds, with my dd I did baby led weaning and it was a complete revelation. Her first food was accidental in that she leaned over and nicked courgette from my plate and chomped it down before I could say Annabel Karmel!

Do a search for baby led weaning, there is loads of stuff here. Good luck, and honestly it will all be fine.

Try that link, click on the weaning tab under the pic of the baby breastfeeding

Yes, you are panicking too much .

I love GF but didn't wasn't too rigid with weaning. Lunchtime did seem the easiest time to start with though.

If you make up a batch of purees (a bit of veg goes a long way in ice cube trays), then you can leave it to defrost over night in the fridge and quickly warm through in the microwave when needed.

And, definatley try some BLW. I did a mixture of GF and BLW both times, both opposite ends of the spectrum but it worked for us, both my dc's are good little eaters now.

ak and gf have never met your baby, they abso-fooking-lutely do NOT have any idea what is the best time for him to eat.
the blw site linked to earlier was written by me so i'm a big fan of blw obv, but you'll see as you bob along with weaning that you'll find what works for you and your family and go with that.

MarnieM - The reason the GF advises introducing solids at 11am, is to ensure that
solids do not reduce the amount of breast milk a baby takes. This can happen if you give the solids at 7am, it could reduce the amount your baby takes from the breast at 11am. If your baby stays awake until after 12 noon, you could easily give solids then.
As Meglet says a mixture of GF and blw can work well.

Thank you everybody for all your messages. You have been really helpful.

We are on day 5 of weaning now. I started with some food at around 8am when I am having some breakfast and have now also introduced it at 5pm after a little milk. Seems to be going ok, if I let my little one have the spoon, otherwise mouth firmly shut!

I am absolutely fine with mess so am going to read up some more on BLW.

Thank you!