When to wean

[mermaid]

Aaaargh the pressure from mums and mum in laws! Fin seems quite happy with breast milk and although he watches us eat, I don't think he is bothered about food yet. The constant comments from everyone is driving me mad! I get "You can give him food then if he is nearly 6 months" and "He must be ready for solids now?" and "Look, he wants your food!" .....grrrrrrr. I'm sure he will let me know when he is ready

 

[Nicky_Jones]

If he is happy I would wait until the 6months mark. Have you read about Baby led weaning. It is something I wish I did but I didn't read about it until after I had started with purees and baby rice.

You could always do him some chip shaped pieces of vegetables that you are eating and then put it in front of him while you are eating. If he picks them up, puts them in his mouth AND eats them, then he is ready. If he doesn't then he isn't.

You are doing the right thing according to the World Health Organisation by waiting.

 

[SarahH]

if your little one is happy and content with milk then stick to your guns... it's your baby and you know what is best for them.

I would defo look into BLW tho, thats what has worked best for us.... there is a sticky in the feeding section!

 

[Becky101]

Mermaid I have just had exactly the same thing and people do seem to think they know better ARgggggh!

I decided to have a go at BLW from last week. I thought if Jack can eat it then he is ready. He normally has a rice cake everyday for lunch and we have also tried apple, banana, dairylea and potato. We have also unsuccessfully tried carrot and parsnip which he just sniffed and threw on the floor!!

Rice cake is a good one to start with though as they dissolve pretty much to nothing. I was worried about him choking but he seems to be deveopmentally ready for it. It's great because we all get to sit down and eat together and he enjoys making a mess!

 

[gingerpig]

Tell 'em to fook off! I went through this a couple of weeks back when Debs had a bug followed by her jabs and I think possibly had a growth spurt at the same time. Non stop feeding for ages and loads of people wittering on about bloomin' baby rice. I was trying to cup feed her anyway just to see how she would take to it and it all came back up so I was/am pretty convinced she's not ready for solids yet. I just tell people VERY grumpily that gov recommendations are to wean at 6 months as before then can trigger allergies. Then I show them my hands which are quite sore with eczema atm and thats usually the end of it

 

[mermaid]

Thanks for your help everyone. Gingerpig, I feel like saying that sometimes! In fact most days lol!

I like to hear your stories, it is reassuring! Definitely interested in the BLW as it sounds so natural to do. I'd love to hear more from mums that have taken this route in prep for when we get to the golden 6 months!

 

[Rosieroo]

I did BLW with DD (she did have some spoonfed meals though), started with rice cakes when she was around 5 months old. She loved pieces of avocado, strips of toast, rice cakes etc. I was worried about introducing gluten into her diet before 6 months so I bought some gluten free bread from tescos, which was quite good as it was small slices.

Here are some pics of here

Rice cake (about 5 months and a week old)

Toast (5 months 4 weeks)

Avocado (5 months 4 weeks)

a vid of her with strawberries at just under 7 months

 

[Gemma & Jake]

If he seems ok wait until 6 months. I think that you need to start at 6 months as that is when his iron supply will start running out so he will need more than milk.

 

[Melanie]

Thea started BLW at 6 months and now she eats 3 full meals a day of veggies and fruit and meat once a day all of which she feeds herself. She is just mastering using a spoon alone and is starting to be able to feed herself yoghurt without a huge amount of mess. I really recommend BLW.

 

[kellie80]

I really wanted to wait to 6 months to start Nathan on food but as he was screaming for more milk after a 9oz bottle so I started him at 5 months. Unless hes giving you some signs hes ready don't take any notice of anyone else. I had my mum nagging me saying that she weanied me at 6 weeks and Nathan is such a big boy it was mean not to start him

 

[mum2A&L]

i started alice at 6 months, but to be honest, i really think she could have gone longer. food seems to be more fun that her 'needing' it (if that makes sense). Alice still only has 6 oz bottles, and is gaining weight fine. i offer her 3 meals a day, at the same time we eat ours. If its a warm day, i may offer her a bit of frozen fruit as a snack to help keep her cool.


baby led weaning is fantastic!! alice sits and eats her food while i sit and eat mine! i was worried about her not eating much, but her nappies proved otherwise and by getting to 6 months means there is less worry about what she can and can't have.

you will know when he is ready. all i used to get was, havn't you started giving her baby rice yet. Now when i pull out a baby sweetcorn and had it to her to feed herself, people can't believe she feeds herself.

 

[mrs_tommo22]

I had to wean stephen at 4 months as he was alwasy hungary and milk just werent satisfying him.

 

[mermaid]

Aw it's great reading your posts.

Kina, I love those pics. Judging by the mess they need to naked then? lol!

I read in a cow and gate booklet that one sign of being ready to wean is when babies become unsettled and wont sleep. Well I have had a real problem with this recently and can't go anywhere. Has anybody else found this with their babies?

 

[Rosieroo]

It was really hot last year when we were giving her food, so excuse her nakedness It's messy but fun (also slightly nerve wracking!!).

Ella went through the same unsettled stage when she was a bit younger, what helped during the day was varying the toys she played with and things she did.