Almost 6 month old - how much porridge?

[maldivemoment]

First time Mum here so, once again (!), feel like I'm stumbling through Motherhood. This time it's with regard to weaning. Baby 24 weeks and been on puree for a couple of weeks. So far her has not refused anything and is relishing food! (I think he takes after Mummy with regards to liking his grub!!!). He particularly loves porridge (still on the baby stuff (Aptamil) because I'm led to believe he can't have oats until 6 months). I give him 1 tablespoon for breakfast which he polishes off with gusto so my question is, should I give him more? What's an average portion of porridge for an almost 6 month old? How much do/did you give your baby? (Hmm, that turned into questions, rather than question!)

Also, are the rules rigid regarding waiting until 6 months for 'real' porridge? The baby stuff is rather £££ for such a tiny box!!!

Many thanks to those of you with more experience than me!

24 weeks isn't 6 months.
26 weeks is 6 months.

I would give him milk first and let him as much solids as he liked after that.

I don't know anything about baby porridge, I must have just used the ordinary stuff.

Yeah I would probably stick with the gluten free stuff for now. Isn't Aptamil the most expensive one though? Look for own brand baby cereal, or look in the "free from" section of the supermarket for gluten free porridge, if you want to keep giving it. Some will say suitable from 4 months even if it is not gluten free so I would look at whether it says gluten free or not on the label.

cantsupinate the OP says in her post that she is aware her baby is not 6 months old yet.

OP I would give him as much as he wants! Mine have both been gannets and on jaw dropping amounts of food within a couple of weeks of starting weaning! It's like once they get the hang of it there's not stopping them

i like the plum 4 grain porridge for weaning. it actually tastes quite nice! ie unlike baby rice... will look for a link hold on

here

they used to sell it in boots and waitrose as well

It's a silly question really to ask what the 'average' is for a 6 month old, since they shouldn't be weaned at all til 6 months, so the average should be 'none'.

I really really really would wait to give gluten (oats) yes, as you can't see until potentially years down the line what damage it has done.

Thank you all for your advice, you have been most helpful. Will stick with the baby stuff for now until he reaches the 6 month mark.

Thanks especially to CantSupinate for your friendly opening line!!!!

Gawd you lot the baby is 24 weeks not 2 weeks.

Bloody hell.

Thanks ImSoNotTelling

Don't the readiness for weaning rules apply here? Can sit unaided, loss of tongue thrust reflex, can pick up food and put it in their own mouth.

Although we waited until 26 weeks to wean dd she was definately doing the above a couple of weeks before. Would it not have been ok to giver her porridge then? (genuine question, not trying to sound sarcastic).

If a friend had come to me with the OP's question I'd have said give normal porridge if your baby can sit unaided etc.

I think the guidelines are a catch all aren't they. They are the latest to wait so that every single baby can be absolutely sure of being ready.

They all develop at different rates though so yes readiness for weaning comes in. DD1 was crawling at 22 weeks and I think we weaned her at about 23 weeks. DD2 still couldn't sit unaided at 6 months and i didn't feel she was ready so we held off for a bit.

Hulla it's impossible to tell - there is no benefit to giving it early (apart from less hassle buying gluten free stuff!) but there might be a risk. So better to play it safe and avoid gluten altogether until 6 months.

Thanks ISNT & Bertie - yes, I guess there are no benefits of introducing gluten early. It's a better way of looking at it I guess.

I must admit that i stick to that plum stuff at the start. For some reason I seem to "trust" it. I must have seen some really good advertising somewhere and not even realised.

It is nice though, my credo is never to feed anything to my children that I wouldn't eat myself!

When DD was past the 6 month mark, I gave her Ready Brek. Much cheaper than the baby alternatives, and not that much different as far as I can see.

Thank you all once again. I really do appreciate you taking the time to reply.
It's Aptamil for the next week or so (baby 25 weeks today before anyone has a go at me ) then will give the real stuff a go!

Next question - should I start with Ready Brek or just good old porridge oats? I tend to agree with ImSoNotTelling about giving not giving baby something I wouldn't eat myself and the look of ReadyBrek makes me gag a little, but porridge I can do!

Gracias.

I think ReadyBrek is actually a bit better than just porridge as it contains calcium but no sugar (I THINK!) It's a nice texture for little ones.

I like weetabix from 6 months - I spent hours comparing all the salt and sugar levels when I just had my PFB on my hands If you put a fair bit of milk on then give it a quick zap in the microwave so its warm, then a good stir, you can turn it into a very satisfying goop

Like smackapacka I like the added B vits and iron and stuff - all the boxed cereals are fortified which ordinary porridge isn't.

My ds was weaned at 5.5 months and promptly ate 2 weetabix in one sitting and was on 3 massive meals a day by 6 months. I think you need to be guided by apetite.

I tend to eat the Ready Brek myself if DD doesn't eat it all It's nice and smooth, which I think is good. Proper porridge is a bit too lumpy, I think, for this age.
I give DD Weetabix too, tend to alternate between the two so she has a variety of sorts. Be ready for the cement-style poo that tends to stick and seems impossible toget off the skin, though!