Hints and tips for weaning (merged)

angelatgraceland

One thing to remember is not to add salt to your cooking if you are going to keep some for baby. Its easy to forget. Its the one thing my HV did remind me of. I did mainly homemade food for mine, saved a fortune. I was also advised not to introduce eggs or wheat too early(not under 12 months)as it can lead to allergies.As the food increases, you can lose a bit of the milk or give water when giving food. You will soon know if baby is overweight though, never worry too much at this state of speedy growth.

katskorner

Advice changes almost weekly. I weaned my son at 18 weeks and he was very small but once he was six months old he could easily polish off two weetabix for brekky - he doesn't do that now and he is nearly 2!

I let him guide me and I never worried about too much food as I don't think you can do that with a baby that age - just be aware that you don't want to fill them up on too much milk or else they will have no appetite for the food you need them to eat. Give milk to take the edge off a meal, them more milk after the meal. Stick to milkand water for drinks and no juices as this is much better for baby's teeth (even if they haven't got any dental awareness is vital).

I gave much more varied food after six months but I was very cautious before that - no wheat, eggs, meat, fish, etc until six months because of allergies but after that was fine.

jenpoptab

scooper, how is the weaning going?

Gingham_Ribbon

The best thing is to be guided by them. If the turn their head or close their lips tight, they have had enough or do not like it.

Make sure you offer plenty of water and continue with as much milk as needed for the time being. They only need a taste of solids to start, but build up quickly to 6 or so small meals a day.

(Don't add salt to anything and try to prepare fresh fruit and veg and freeze it in ice cube trays to make things easier. I never used the blender, just mashed it with a fork to get him used to lumpier textures from the start. Since the human race managed fine without electricity until recently, I decided a fork would be just fine!)

I really liked this time. I thought it was lovely to watch him taste new things and enjoy his food. (And it gave my boobs a much needed rest!)

Counting_Pennies_2

I haven't had a chance to read all the threads, it is late and I need my bed!

I would definitely say to go by what baby wants, if the food is spat back out, don't force the issue, but if they are ravenous and keep wanting more, go for it.

My son loved his food. Some of my friends with smaller babies with less appetite always made me feel bad. 'Goodness he's getting big' etc, I started getting a complex, and sometimes didn't keep giving him more when I knew he was up for it. When books I read said one or two tablespoons he was eating an entire bowlful.

Then he started to move and when he was walking he had so many things to occupy his time, and he lost appetite (to now eat what the books say is normal) and he walked off the rest. To the point others were now say 'he looks very skinny!) You can't win, so don't try, go with what baby wants.

Good luck, these really are the best days of your lives. Baby is so compliant at this age, you get fun and satisfaction from all ages, but these months around the 6 month stage were my best so far!

T&M's_mum

I was just wondering whether anyone had any ideas for me.
I have a 6 month old daughter and I am just starting to give her baby rice.
Can anyone suggest anything else? It is a packet rice, although organic, could I make my own?
Is there anything else I can try for a 1st food?
Would really like to try to do as much as I can myself.

All suggestions would be really welcome. :j

comping_cat

I bought a simple hand (stick) blenders when my 2 were babies, and i started by boiling up a couple of veg (carrot and swede was always a big favourite) and blending them smooth. Once they were used to eating, i started blending small portions of whatever dinner we were having, the good thing with the hand blender is that you can blend small portions, and anything left over could be frozen in ice cube trays for another day.

Spendless

That's what I did, used stick blender and pureed fruit and veg. bananas were a favourite, but could never get banana stain out of bibs.

T&M's_mum

Thanks.
Can you start a baby on this straight away though? Do you not have to try them on the baby rice for a while first?

Spendless

mine had baby rice 1st, but were never overly keen. I wonder if the taste was too bland for them, cos they are now 5 and 2 and like eating currys:rolleyes: so I started on the fruit and veg after a few weeks