Weaning worries

[BellaRiven]

I am getting quite concerned about this whole weaning thing.

I don't know if I want to try BLW which I really like the look of or if I should go the old fashioned route of puree'ing everything in site to start with.

My mother thinks I need to start feeding him mushed up stuff now but I really feel like that's not the route to go.

OH wants to start giving him a spoonful of baby rice to get him used to the consistency and the 'being full' feeling but he is only 3 months.

He does watch me avidly when I am eating which is what has me leaning toward BLW as well.

I dunno what to do for the best...

 

[SunnySue]

You can do a mixture of both hun, I did with my little boy. Sometimes I would feed him puréed fruit and veg (which he loved!) and other times I would give him toast or well cooked carrot or broccoli (which he equally loved!).
Maybe try him on a couple of things and see which he prefers? My son seemed to like the independence attached to having finger foods and feeding himself at times, other times he would be lazy and want me to feed him. I just let him lead me and gave him what he seemed to want/like.
I wouldnt do it before 17 weeks though and not before you are ready either. If you are not ready and are anxiuos the baby will pick up on it and wont be relaxed about it either. There is no rush, just take your time and do it when you and baby feel ready to

 

[pinkyprincess]

I personally would stay away from baby rice, it's empty calories! If you do start on something early make it fruit and veg purees. Much more nutritious!

I don't know how much I take the 'watching me eating' or 'putting things in mouth' as a sign because my baby would watch everything I do regardless and babies put everything in their mouths, it's how they discover and learn!

I waited a couple of weeks before 6 months and we BLW and it was one of the best choices we made. Seeing him enjoy his own food and watching the progress he's made is unreal. I find it really fun and it's an extension of playtime as he explores the food. I'd really urge you to read the book as it's so informative!

 

[beckyboo1]

He won't be 17 weeks yet will he, which is the earliest they say you should wean from

We're still undecided about what route to take, however one of they things that they need to be able to do is be able to be upright- Harry is nearly there with this!!

Part of the watching you eat is not always them wanting food, it's a learning thing but I think with Harry we're getting closer each day to starting.... However we're off in holiday in a couple of weeks so I'm going to try and hang in til when we get back (he'll be over 5 months then) just cos I bf so I won't need to take much with us apart from some bottles for expressing!

It's a personal decision whatever you do. I'd prob say have a read up on blw- the gill rapley book is good- at least then you can make an informed decision

If you wanted to do traditional weaning my health visitor gave me some print outs from the dairy council- sounds mad but if you go on here
http://www.milk.co.uk/page.aspx?intPageID=52

And gave a click through the weaning stuff there's some good info on there about introducing foods/timings etc xx

 

[Mrs N]

I think that you have to wait till the baby is ready, H has always been a piggy and he loved food from when we started giving him it at 18 weeks but some babies dont really want it even at 7 or 8 months!! I think your lo is still a little young but in a month or so's time you could just try him with some veggie puree! I also found that has always been quite good at feeding himself so I give him finger foods then give him puree after!!
xxx

 

[mum2b410]

Hi hun- I take it from Riven's history they didn't give u any medical advice about when to wean him?? Is his weight doing ok now? I don't know much his op etc but may b worth asking hv?? We waited til 6 months coz of allergy history in our family and did a mix of tw and blw to start off with, but it v quickly went in to predominantly blw coz we got on with it so well!......I really love the Rapley and Murkett blw recipe book for blw which explains everything so well and recipes r fab- would def recommend borrowing off someone or buying if that's the way u think u'll go xx

 

[My1stBaby]

I started Max at 17 weeks as milk wasnt enough for him anymore, he was draining 8oz bottles and i couldnt up the milk. My GP and HV also agreed that he was ready, hes been sitting up very well since 3 months so I knew he was ready.

Its best to wait til 17 weeks but it really is your decision- you know your baby better than anyone.

My HV actually advised babyrice as its so easy to digest and just gets them used to food- its not about it being nutritious as hes getting everything he needs from his milk still- its just getting him ready to start on food.

I started Max on babyrice and gave him that once a day for 4 days to make sure he was ready for it and he was. I think slowly introduced some fruite puree, then some veg puree and he loves it now!

xxx

 

[My1stBaby]

Oh and i dont think you have to choose which way to go, ive started feeding him myself as its just what happened, i havent given him finger foods yet as i actually have a bit of fear of him choking but i will start introducing that at 6 months i think. i dont see it as BLW or TW i just feed him and then he'll prob feed himself at some point!

xxx

 

[BellaRiven]

I'm not planning on doing it this early, I have just started to think about it and research it.

Mum2B - the hospital said he shouldn't have any issues now and sent us on our merry way , he has been gaining weight very well since then and filling out.

Thanks for the recommendations ladies on the books I will toddle off to the library and have a look xxxx

 

[mum2b410]

I'm not planning on doing it this early, I have just started to think about it and research it.

Mum2B - the hospital said he shouldn't have any issues now and sent us on our merry way , he has been gaining weight very well since then and filling out.

Thanks for the recommendations ladies on the books I will toddle off to the library and have a look xxxx

Thats great! In that case I would just go with what u think is right! The book I said about has a bit on when u know they r ready. Just trust ur instincts at the end of the day hun xxx

 

[DW1978]

I did (and still do) and mixture of both - finger foods and tw - from day 1. I waited until lo was 24/25 weeks before I started giving him anything.

 

[Kayelle]

I am getting quite concerned about this whole weaning thing.

I don't know if I want to try BLW which I really like the look of or if I should go the old fashioned route of puree'ing everything in site to start with.

My mother thinks I need to start feeding him mushed up stuff now but I really feel like that's not the route to go.

OH wants to start giving him a spoonful of baby rice to get him used to the consistency and the 'being full' feeling but he is only 3 months.

He does watch me avidly when I am eating which is what has me leaning toward BLW as well.

I dunno what to do for the best...

I am in EXACTLY the same situation , ppl suggesting all sorts but I don't feel right about it! After speaking to ladies on here I'm trying to hold out for blw because Brian has started watching me too. I want him to have a happy relationship with food, ie exploring it and discovering it himself rather than making him eat stuff and i don't like the goop lol

 

[hugsy]

It is sooo hard to know that to do and everyone will tell you something different so guess its just about finding out all the info and trying the options your think you prefer

I tried baby rice for a week or so just to get her used to a ticker thing but made with formula so tasted the same, i just made it a little ticker each day then tried her with some baby porridge then bananna poridge and moved onto puree carrott for few days then squash for few days and so on and just moved along that way

 

[Hunnie]

I am getting quite concerned about this whole weaning thing.

I don't know if I want to try BLW which I really like the look of or if I should go the old fashioned route of puree'ing everything in site to start with.

My mother thinks I need to start feeding him mushed up stuff now but I really feel like that's not the route to go.

OH wants to start giving him a spoonful of baby rice to get him used to the consistency and the 'being full' feeling but he is only 3 months.

He does watch me avidly when I am eating which is what has me leaning toward BLW as well.

I dunno what to do for the best...

I am in EXACTLY the same situation , ppl suggesting all sorts but I don't feel right about it! After speaking to ladies on here I'm trying to hold out for blw because Brian has started watching me too. I want him to have a happy relationship with food, ie exploring it and discovering it himself rather than making him eat stuff and i don't like the goop lol

I actually started weaning Sophie at around 4 months and we started trying finger food at the same time and she really got the hang of it. She didn't as such feed herself properly at first, more just suck but that's the whole point at the beginning, having new tastes!

I think the trick with weaning is that don't follow a guideline and just go with it. We did purées at first starting with breakfast then moving on to breakfast and tea and then incorporating lunch. It was a bit of a trial and error process deciding whether she was ready to start having lunch as well and we had wasted food a few times but we got there in the end. My tip is don't think oh what if they dont like it, just go with it and have a go with whatever you've chosen to feed and if they don't like it this time they still might be more willing to try it another time when they are in a better mood!

Oh and talking of moods, I always used to give Sophie half her bottle first so she wasn't so full that she wasn't willing to try but so that she wasn't getting upset and frustrated because she wasnt getting full quick enough from whatever she was eating.

I've done a mixture of blw and tw and we have both enjoyed our weaning experience ! I wanted to hang on a bit but I felt that she needed something else in her tummy to help with the milk and her reflux and it did seem to help.