Hints and tips for weaning (merged)

garret1

I agree. puree single foods to begin with like carrot or apple then puree whatever you're eating, so longas it's not vindaloo;)
I think this is the best way to avoid fussy eaters later on. I froze tiny portions of puree in ice cube trays which made it really handy.

abbecer

Both my little boys loved blended sweet potato and butternut squash. I always made supplies for the freezer. If i was out during the day i usually took a banana that i could mash up. I also bought one of the very small flasks and carried boiling water everywhere with me. You can then use this in them bowls that you add hot water into a well at the bottom. You can buy them from Boots. Hope this helps.

Rebecca x :rotfl:

funky-footprints

I weaned both my two at 4 months, they were big babies and the milk just wasnt filling them up, they both my hated baby rice as it is bitty, so i started off with the banana sunshine cereal packets or something like that, a bit of rusk etc and then slowly introduced a bit of pureed veg then fruit. It took a while, and ended up looking like liquid from the amount they kept dribbling back out, but they soon mastered it.

chatta

oh for the old days they are now 16, and 19, how I wish I only had to mash up 1 carrot now. More like 2lbs !!!

Juicy_Tube

funky-footprints wrote:

I weaned both my two at 4 months, they were big babies and the milk just wasnt filling them up, they both my hated baby rice as it is bitty, so i started off with the banana sunshine cereal packets or something like that, a bit of rusk etc and then slowly introduced a bit of pureed veg then fruit. It took a while, and ended up looking like liquid from the amount they kept dribbling back out, but they soon mastered it.

I have heard about the sunshine cereal-what is it exactly?

Thanks x

Juicy_Tube

abbecer wrote:

Both my little boys loved blended sweet potato and butternut squash. I always made supplies for the freezer. If i was out during the day i usually took a banana that i could mash up. I also bought one of the very small flasks and carried boiling water everywhere with me. You can then use this in them bowls that you add hot water into a well at the bottom. You can buy them from Boots. Hope this helps.

Rebecca x :rotfl:

I haven't seen these bowls. Are they worth getting?

Top tip then if you are out-to use something that doesn't need heating? banana/avocado?

If you have frozen things and go out during the day, can you then serve at room temp or does it need to be heated slightly? I do have a warmer with me when I go out anyway.

Thanks.

JT x

across

mine loved the sunshine orange it was so smooth cant remember if it was heinz packet or cow and gate but they both do them and they are great ranges the packets (savoury/sweet the lot!)because you dont waste half a jar etc you only make the amount you want and they store for a while definately recommend packets(some people will call them but if you look on the side of the packet they give the baby loads of extra vitamins etc which is what i pointed out to my healthvisitor and she didnt disagree! so i think they go hand in hand with fresh food and used them everyday alongside fresh stuff )they are so conveniant on a day out too just take hot water and bobs your uncle!!!!!!!!!

pickledtink

Started early as he wanted / needed more in the tummy. I had absolutely tons of milk but poo was going green from overfeeding at 3 months.
Started by making a slop from breast milk mixed with rusk and went on pretty swiftly to scrambled egg, pureed veg, yoghurt, mashed banana. Soon we just pureed whatever we were having. Never looked back.
Just offer a wide variety of fruit and foods so baby can use the unspoilt instinct to eat / choose what they need.
Try to resist the baby foods with sugar in them like chocolate pudding, banana custard etc. From the moment you feed them this crap they will have their taste buds compromised and swiftly lose that feeding instinct.

Later at toddler + stage you can offer a wide range and let them eat at will. Mine would scoff nothing but tangerines for 2 days then suddenly switch to plain yoghurt and raisins with some cheese. He also devoured spinach and raw carrots exclusively on occasions. then there was boiled eggs and marmite by the gallon for a solid week. Although it sounds crazy he was following firm nutritional needs and feeding the growing body very effectively.
Processed sugar kills this natural ability in young animals.

It's pretty easy really. If they don't want it they spit it out. If they do they woof it down till they've had enough. Offer a variety and get the consistency right for starters. Let them grab the spoon or dig in with fingers.
Feeding habits established now will probably stay with them forever.
My son at 4 months got hold of half a lemon and sucked avidly before shuddering and looking at it in astonishment. When I tried to take it away he protested mightily, hung on and had another go.
Today at 22 he loves olives, salads and fresh fruit. He's 6' 2' superfit lean and a splendid athlete.
Moreover he still eats in chunks. Loads of lettuce one week, tons of cheese another. Nothing but spinach, mushrooms and pasta and oranges for 3 days then switches to potatoes, carrots and brie!?!
I wish I could. I was brought up with the whole 3 meals a day, no eating between, clear your plate or go to hell etc etc.

If you offer nothing but natural food and puree it finely with additional liquid to thin it to start with you shoud do just fine.

abbecer

The bowls are really good. The one i had was divided into two, for dinner and pudding. It has a screw cap that you take off, fill with hot water and then replace cap. It heats the food from underneath. I got mine at Boots but you could probably find one at Mothercare or somewhere similar. They are fairly expensive but would work out cheaper in the long run than having to buy baby jars. In an emergency I also sometimes took the powdered baby food out with me, then used the hot water from the flask to mix it.

When they were a little older if we were eating out i would order baked potato and mash it with a little cheese and butter. Alternatively most places were happy to serve very small portions of veg and mash at a reduced cost, i would just add a little milk to make it smoother. Always check if they add salt in their cooking!!

Rebecca x :rotfl:

pdoff

i've been lucky that both my boys hate warm food & would rather eat it cold or room temp!! much easier. i freeze home made stuff but do have the odd jar for emergencies & keep 1 in bag in case we out longer than expected. ds2 now 7 months with 2 teeth so have breadsticks always in bag too - keeps him quiet while u find somewhere to sit & feed him aswell - also stops him grabbing spoon as hands are full. he has a rusk after his milk in morning purely to occupy him while i deal with his big brother - he needs a bath afterwards!! bananas r great cos u can mash them or just break lumos off when they get bigger & can chew.
btw swede makes their wee stink for days afterwards!!!
all babies r different & want feeding at different times so just follow their lead & dont struggle to force it in if they r tired just cos its dinnertime. far too stressful!
we did use baby rice cos is easy when out. also mixes well with mango etc when they really small.
good luck & don't worry about it!