So Confused!

[littlenoodles]

Hi, I've just joined up and wondered if any of you would be able to advise me on this.

I have a 23 week old girl who I've been trying to wean since before Christmas. She is having her 5 milk feeds a day (5/6oz each time) as well as me trying to give her, at 7am cereal, and at 2.30 & 5.30pm pureed veg. This just seems to be a huge waste of time as every spoonful comes straight back out! I've tried giving the food before the milk but she screams with hunger.

I was out for dinner at the weekend and she was eyeing up my food so I gave her a small amount of mashed potato on my finger which she ate, and she will now happily sit with a small bit of toast and chew on that.

Do you think I would be better off trying blw? And if so, how do I start off...?

Many thanks.

well, you've started BLW by letting her eat finger foods

www.babyledweaning.com has lots of info

i would avoid toast/bread , until 6 months though, as you are supposed to avoid gluten until then

if she can sit unaided, pick up a piece of food, get it to her mouth and chew she is ready for BLW

and i woul offer more than 5/6 oz of milk, esepcially if she is draining her bottles, milk is still her main source of calories and the food is just tastes at the moement

if she's hungry give her some more milk. when she's nearer 6 months start offering her bits of food.

Why are you trying to wean her? She's only 23 weeks, if she's hungry give her more milk. She doesn't know that the cereal and purses you're trying to give her are supposed to stop her being hungry. She'll just be wondering why you're trying to force stuff in her mouth rather than giving her her milk. If she's started having an interest in your food, then let her play with appropriate foods at mealtimes. Just relax and let her take the lead.

Thanks for everyones replies. I'm trying to wean her because the HV told me to as she wasn't gaining weight, and as a first time mum I assumed they know best. However, I think I will just carry on with milk for another few weeks (made a mistake earlier, she has 6/7oz each bottle) then try again!

the baby has been happily sitting chewing toast, so not really being forced into it

the whole point of BLW is that it is led by the baby, if the baby can sit, pick up, chew and swallow food at 23 weeks, then she is ready