Anyone weaning a premature baby?

[WillbeanChariot]

Hi all,

My son was three months early, he's almost six months now but only 12 weeks corrected. Advice from Bliss and the hospital is to wean at 5-7 months actual age and he seems ready, so we have started with baby rice and a little bit of fruit puree this week which he seems to like.

Just wondered if anyone else is weaning a prem baby? My son is interested in us eating, and makes chewing movements, but he can't sit up or hold objects and put them in his mouth yet. I'd like to try BLW but I'm nervous of giving him lumps so early- anyone tried it?

My boys are 9 months now and were 8 weeks early. I started weaning at 6 months but they really weren't very interested - and my BLW attempts totally failed. Despite being good at picking up toys to stuff in their mouths, food seemed to generate a "arms wide and release" response which was very frustrating. So we started with a bit of puree/mash when they felt like it (often weren't interested in that either and would go days without solids). Eating picked up at about 7 months, and at about 8 months (6 months corrected) they started grabbing things and shoving them in their mouths.

I have one good eater, one often not too interested in eating much. But the variety of foods they will eat is good, so hopefully he'll start taking a bit more soon

My DD is 9.5 months now and was 12.5weeks early. We started weaning her at about 5.5mo actual age. We're predominantly pureeing as BLW is not suitable for prem babies (Gill Rapley states this). However, now she is getting more proficient with picking things up she's able to eat finger foods better (she particularly likes chips and broccoli).

Hope this helps.

(By the way, there's lots of threads about weaning prem babies on the Bliss messageboards)

Thanks for your replies. My son is definitely enjoying what he's getting so far, I will keep going with the purees and try finger food later.

Not at the moment but i have done it twice

Mine were 32 & 27 weekers and I started weaning them both at 5.5mo and like Galena we went down the purees route. My littlest one was 6lb ish when we started.. we used to get some interesting looks when out and about lol.

I think the fruit puree is the best way to start really

It's nerve wracking isn't it.

Galenas right, Bliss has lots of good info about weaning and if you search the message board you'll find a ton of good info.