Hints and tips for weaning (merged)

Janepig

super41 wrote: »

Thanks for pointing that out, my statement is ambiguous, I meant it should be mixed in a bowl with formula and spoon-fed. Food in bottles is not a good idea.

I did originally type something different, but then I read your post again and guessed what you actually meant!!

Jxx

Jo_R_2

1jim wrote: »

Hi
Can anyone give me some advice on weaning, our son is 15weeks old, is large for his age and appears to be very ready for weaning, he sits in a highchair (with pillow behind his back for support) chews his fist when we are eating, tries to reach for our food on the plates, he is also now feeding very frequently (breast fed) ..about evry 2hrs and still seems hungry after feeding, he also wakes up very frequently at night and wants feeding where as he used to sleep all the way through, we have tried suplementing breast feeding with the powdered milk for hungry babies but this has not changed anything. I know the guidelines say try and not wean untill 6mths and never before 4mths but is there anything else we can try and do to make him "full" his tummy is rumbling for a lot of the night and day
thanks
Jim

Around 16 weeks is a classic growth spurt - the frequent feeding and waking in the night are signs and I would suspect you could be getting the growth spurth mixed up with being ready for weaning. Personally if you are exclusively bf I wouldn't be using formula as it negates the protective effect of breastmilk on the flora of the stomach but obviously that's your call.

If his tummy is rumbling (also a sign of a growth spurt, the increased need for milk), has your good lady had her breastfeeding checked out by a breastfeeding counsellor - I'm thinking probably not from what you've said? Honestly, it would be a great port of call before taking any other action. My DD1 stopped putting on weight at 12 weeks and I was pressured to first switch to formula then to start weaning as the weeks went on. However knowing the beneficial effects of exclusive breastfeeding and weaning at six months, I stuck to my guns, and said I wasn't going to be formula feeding or early weaning, and instead visited the local breastfeeding group to see the breastfeeding counsellor. She was fantastic, gave me some great advice which saw DD1's weight go from no weight gain in 7/8 weeks and actually losing weight, to putting on 1lb in two weeks, then continuously gaining weight until we weaned at six months. It's easy to get complacent and not realise it, and believe me I thought I was so clued up!

Also, can I just ask, when you say your son is a big baby for his age, I take it you mean he is high on the weight chart?

heather38

hi kenny is 23 weeks (5 and a bit months) and we started weaning her about 3 weeks ago as she seemed sooo hungry. she usually has about 2 tablespoons of food midmorning and 2tbls at 2pm ish.
i'm b/f her but since she started having food my milk isn't filling her up anymore and she's still hungry after a feed, in fact it's got so bad that i bought a tin of milk to top her up, she'll feed off me both sides for maybe 1/2hr and then have a 5oz feed. my boobs don't seem to get as full as they did but i've not cut down on the number of feeds she's having.
i've no idea what to do, should i cut down the b/f to breakfast and bed and bottle feed in the day? or is there anything else i could try...
oh and i'm going back to work next week.
thanks people

andycarmi

HI Heather, what about 3 meals a day now?

heather38

sorry don't know what you mean by 3 meals

Fivenations

Talk to your health visitor who will be able to advise you better than anyone on here since she will know more about your baby's general health and growth pattern. If you are worried about overfeeding please rest asured that most babies are hungry because they need it. My eldest ate and ate and was a chubby baby until he started walking then he slimmed down and now is wirey and healthy. It's what you feed them that matters.


Both mine were eating really well at 6 months - rice mush for breakfast and pureed veg and meat for lunch and dinner as they were hungry too and I breastfed my eldest until he was 7 months - I went back to work and was unable to express enough so gradually the supply dwindled, though he did like to suckle last thing at night, even if very little came out! (Youngest started chewing on large strips of meat at 4 months thanks to gran!! He has never looked back - strong as on ox and no digestive problems)

Going back to work and breastfeeding is not as easy as some make out, especially if you have stubborn teats like mine, so dont feel you have to continue as before. You have done really well to B/F this long so dont feel bad if you have to supplement your own efforts. She has already reaped the benefits. She sounds like a bonny lass!
Funny, my youngest is 14 but talking about this makes my own breast tingle and I feel all mushy! Must be that oxytocin or whatever hormone breastfeeding releases to relax us.

andycarmi

Sorry, 3 food meals, I found this with DD at 5 months HV advised that a give ther three meals. So breakie, lunch and Dinner.

I.E pear and apple mixed with baby rice for breakfast
Lunch, Carrot and sweede
Dinner creamy butternut squash...

How is she sleeping at night is Kenny waking more?

forgot to say still having milk feeds as well as 3 meals.

heather38

my hv is as much use as a chocolate teapot!! She's not seen kenny since she was 6 weeks, the clinic always has diff hv on duty.
she's a small baby (15lb) and only went into 3-6 month clothes 3 weeks ago.

heather38

yes she's waking more. she did sleep 10-6/7 now shes up at 12 and 4 as well. arrr thought we were past this!!

andycarmi

heather38 wrote: »

yes she's waking more. she did sleep 10-6/7 now shes up at 12 and 4 as well. arrr thought we were past this!!

Tell me about it, you think you have cracked it then samething happens to put you right back again.:rolleyes:

You say her last meal is 2pm then she is waiting till morning for more food. What about trying dinner too?