BLW and prematurity - advice?

[MissMarjoribanks]

My DS was born at 33 + 4 and is now 24 weeks actual, 18 weeks corrected. I am intending to start weaning him (on baby rice/purees) from 26 weeks actual, in accordance with the Bliss, etc advice. I'm not in any particular hurry as he only takes 6 breast feeds a day (though could do with one of those not being at 4am ) and is staying firmly on the centile line.

He's able to sit in his bouncy chair without slumping and can pick things up and put them in his mouth if they're either given to him, or right in front of him. I think he's lost his tongue thrust as he has happily taken Calpol from a spoon. He's nowhere near sitting up unsupported though.

Has anyone started on purees and moved onto BLW when their preemie could sit up properly? Or has anyone just delayed weaning until their DC was developmentally ready for BLW - and for how long?

And does anyone know why premature babies are supposed to be weaned at 6mo actual? I suspect its because the digestive system starts up at birth, but I can't find precisely why anywhere.

Any advice would be much appreciated.

A friend of mine with 2 premmie babies was told to wean at 6 months + half of porematuraty. So if born at 33 weeks 7 weeks premature so wean at 6 months + 0.5 x 7 = 6 months 3.5 weeks.
If doing BLW you don't need to start on purees. Really you don't.

My twins were born at 32 weeks. I weaned half-heartedly at 6 months (attempted BLW). The boys could sit up okay, but had no interest in feeding themselves. I kept offering food most days till they were about 7 months old (5 months corrected) when they did start picking up some foods.

I'm sure they would have taken to BLW eventually and been in exactly to same place as they are now, but I panicked a bit as they were quite small and introduced mashed foods while still offering finger foods too. So you could start on purees and move on from that later.

Or just have a go with BLW - they don't need to be able to sit up unsupported on the floor - just not loll off to the side if you put him in a high chair (we got one with a high back for that very reason). And then if you baby leads you to spoonfeeding him, then surely you are BLW?

Just to re-iterate what Rattling said - DS was 4 weeks early and we weaned at 6mo, he could nearly sit up but was fine in the high chair. Tried to BLW but he opened his mouth for me to help! So he likes to be spoonfed some things, but feeds himself bits at the same time - works for us

DD was born at 27 weeks. We weaned with purees at 5.5months actual (2.5 months corrected). DD was nowhere near sitting unsupported and so on. When she was more able to put things in her mouth we started offering finger foods too. She still now likes to be spoon-fed something mushed (porridge in the morning and savoury+yoghurt in the evening) but will feed herself finger foods too - toast, sandwiches, fruit, egg, etc.