The Weaning Thread

irishmotorist · 20-03-2012 11:28pm

We have started weaning the young lad and having looked through Gina Ford "Top Tips for Weaning" and Annabel Karamel "New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner", we are finding them ambiguous and unclear on important points.

He is nearly 6 months (one week to go) and we've been trying him with different foods for about 3 weeks. Tasters of a spoon or two, but we're up to, say 5 spoons of pear today and about 1 spoon of parsnip, which he didn't like too much. Up to this, he's been on 5 x 210ml bottles a day and this is suiting him well. Since starting the solids, we're either finishing the bottle and giving him some food, or taking a break near the end of the bottle to give him some food and then finishing the bottle. Since starting solids, he's been leaving some bits of a bottle or two, most days.

What we are unclear about is exactly what to be aiming for. When Gina Ford (for example) mentions that by the time he's 7 months he should be on 2 meals a day, heading for 3, does that mean that solid food has replaced bottles at those feeds altogether by then? I.e. he'll be on about 2 bottles (at whatever time) and the other meals all consist of food? Should we be going beyond the taste stage and trying to substitute a substantial part of a bottle or two with food?

I feel like we must be missing something very obvious but nothing that I can find has been spelling it out.

LilMrsDahamsta · 21-03-2012 12:07am

irishmotorist wrote: »

We have started weaning the young lad and having looked through Gina Ford "Top Tips for Weaning" and Annabel Karamel "New Complete Baby and Toddler Meal Planner", we are finding them ambiguous and unclear on important points.

He is nearly 6 months (one week to go) and we've been trying him with different foods for about 3 weeks. Tasters of a spoon or two, but we're up to, say 5 spoons of pear today and about 1 spoon of parsnip, which he didn't like too much. Up to this, he's been on 5 x 210ml bottles a day and this is suiting him well. Since starting the solids, we're either finishing the bottle and giving him some food, or taking a break near the end of the bottle to give him some food and then finishing the bottle. Since starting solids, he's been leaving some bits of a bottle or two, most days.

What we are unclear about is exactly what to be aiming for. When Gina Ford (for example) mentions that by the time he's 7 months he should be on 2 meals a day, heading for 3, does that mean that solid food has replaced bottles at those feeds altogether by then? I.e. he'll be on about 2 bottles (at whatever time) and the other meals all consist of food? Should we be going beyond the taste stage and trying to substitute a substantial part of a bottle or two with food?

I feel like we must be missing something very obvious but nothing that I can find has been spelling it out.

If you go through the start of the Annabel Karmel book, there's a couple of pages of tables which take you through exactly this; a specific routine of bottles and food for the first stage of weaning. Sorry I can't check the page numbers; the small man's feeding away asleep on top of me. I used that as a guide initially, but I worked through the various weeks at a pace that suited my baby rather than following it to the letter. He's 7.5 months/10kg now and he has 3 3-4oz meals and 4 breastfeeds alternating through the day, and 1 or 2 at night.

Edit: It's pages 44-47 in my version.

liliq · 21-03-2012 9:13pm

The anabel karmel book is good for purees. It gives recipes and meal plans. Not sure about the gina ford one, I'm generally not her biggest fan to be honest but I haven't read that book so can't comment on it!

irishmotorist · 21-03-2012 11:46pm

LilMrsDahamsta wrote: »

If you go through the start of the Annabel Karmel book, there's a couple of pages of tables which take you through exactly this; a specific routine of bottles and food for the first stage of weaning. Sorry I can't check the page numbers; the small man's feeding away asleep on top of me. I used that as a guide initially, but I worked through the various weeks at a pace that suited my baby rather than following it to the letter. He's 7.5 months/10kg now and he has 3 3-4oz meals and 4 breastfeeds alternating through the day, and 1 or 2 at night.

Edit: It's pages 44-47 in my version.

Thanks very much for that. I'd missed it in everything else but it's quite a bit clearer now.

liliq wrote: »

The anabel karmel book is good for purees. It gives recipes and meal plans. Not sure about the gina ford one, I'm generally not her biggest fan to be honest but I haven't read that book so can't comment on it!

We wouldn't be the biggest fan here either but it came recommended so thought we'd give it a try. I wouldn't recommend it on though.

One other question, if you don't mind. I think we'll need to start upping his volume of food to replace a bottle during the day but we'll need to give him 'juice'. What is 'juice'? Annabel Karmel says that commercial fruit juices should be diluted about 5:1 with water. Is this referring to (for example) a carton of OJ from concentrate that I'd have with breakfast myself?

How Strange · 22-03-2012 8:34am

I just give my son water. There's time enough for juices and they're full of sugars. Also if you start with juice it may be difficult to get him to drink plain water so I'd suggest you start with water and introduce juice later.

For increasing the food intake do it gradually so his tummy and digestive system don't get upset. I'd say if you gradually increase food during 6-7.5 months he should drink less milk himself. Having said that milk, breast or formula, should be their main source of nutrition until 1 year.

nedd · 22-03-2012 12:17pm

Hi.

I haven't read this whole thread yet (going to do it now) but i just want to post about my son because it is becoming a stress point for my wife and I.

My son is 9 months and for the last 3 months has been fighting and fussing every meal time. For the first couple of weeks of solids he loved it. Then he start teething, got a cold, got more teeth and another cold. He is back to himself now but still wont eat.

He will eat OK most mornings. But come the afternoon or evening as soon as he sees the spoon he starts whining, clamps he lips shut and turns his head. We have tried everything with him jars, pouches, sweet potato, regular potato, our own meals.....

He will eat some things from his own hand (not much though)

Can anyone give me some reassurance that this is normal(ish)? We were at the Public Health Nurse yesterday and she said he will get it eventually. That's no good when he doesn't eat his dinner and is awake during the night.

Thanks

Lola92 · 22-03-2012 1:57pm

irishmotorist wrote: »

One other question, if you don't mind. I think we'll need to start upping his volume of food to replace a bottle during the day but we'll need to give him 'juice'. What is 'juice'? Annabel Karmel says that commercial fruit juices should be diluted about 5:1 with water. Is this referring to (for example) a carton of OJ from concentrate that I'd have with breakfast myself?

I would avoid juices for as long as possible if I were you. Baby should be fine taking water from a beaker or sippy cup for now. My daughter is almost 16 months and we have only begun giving her very diluted drinks occasionally in the last 3 months or so. As in 1 part just to 8/10 parts water. I heard a good saying a while back on here - you should never give your child anything other than water or milk to drink until they are able to ask for it themselves. I think it is a very good way to go. My little girl will ask for 'juice' we give her her beaker with water, sometimes a squeeze of lemon or lime juice in with it and she loves it. No need for baby juices or dilutes really at all.

foxinsocks · 22-03-2012 5:10pm

nedd wrote: »

My son is 9 months and for the last 3 months has been fighting and fussing every meal time. For the first couple of weeks of solids he loved it. Then he start teething, got a cold, got more teeth and another cold. He is back to himself now but still wont eat.

He will eat OK most mornings. But come the afternoon or evening as soon as he sees the spoon he starts whining, clamps he lips shut and turns his head. We have tried everything with him jars, pouches, sweet potato, regular potato, our own meals.....

He will eat some things from his own hand (not much though)

Can anyone give me some reassurance that this is normal(ish)? We were at the Public Health Nurse yesterday and she said he will get it eventually. That's no good when he doesn't eat his dinner and is awake during the night.

Thanks

Firstly, this is normal, totally normal. Is your lad being breast or formula fed? Either way, at 9 months old he is still getting almost everything he needs from those feeds. Food at this point is all about learning how to eat, so that when he really needs the nourishment from solid foods, he will be ready and able to eat it.

The fact that he will take stuff he's putting in his own mouth means that he is willing to eat, just that he objects to YOU putting stuff there. What you need to do is let him take control back. If you are still feeding him purees, then put some of the stuff on his high chair tray, strip him down to a vest and let him play with it. It will go everywhere, into his hair, down his neck, on the floor, everywhere, so be prepared for a mess, and don't get upset about it! Some of it might go in his mouth, but if it doesn't, don't stress, he doesn't NEED it right now, especially if he's getting solid food in the mornings, and he's getting his usual milk feeds. Resist the urge to put things in his mouth, even resist the urge to put things in his hands, put them on his tray, or on a plate in front of you, with him on your lap. If he feels in control he's more likely to start eating again. Putting stuff in his mouth for him will just cause more resistance.

What kind of stuff are you giving him in his hands? Have you looked into baby led weaning at all? It sounds like that could maybe take some of the stress out of mealtimes.

Both of you need to take a step back, and stop the stress, at 9 months old, they actually need very very little solid food, and most of the stuff they get from purees isn't all that full of nourishment anyway, even if you make it yourself. Pureeing foods causes them to lose a lot of nutrients.

When you gave him your own food, what were you doing at the time? What are you guys usually doing when he is being fed. Obviously one of you is feeding him, but what is the other one doing?

nedd · 22-03-2012 5:34pm

Hi foxinsocks.

Thanks for your reply, as I mentioned everyone keeps telling us not to stress about this but we keep stressing anyway. I think we need to take a step back.

He will suck and munch on carrot sticks, rice cakes, bread, toast, cucumbers.... anything at all really. he probably doesn't get much eating from this though. He just sucks it until it turns to mush then it is discarded.

We a formula feeding him, 3 bottles a day but the PHN told us yesterday that we need to think of reducing this to 2 bottles.

We find it difficult to sync meals times, I only get home from work after 6 in the evening and my son is already fed at this stage. Today my wife was going to try having her food before feeding him. Hopefully this will encourage him to eat.

Thanks again.

foxinsocks · 22-03-2012 5:54pm

nedd wrote: »

Hi foxinsocks.

Thanks for your reply, as I mentioned everyone keeps telling us not to stress about this but we keep stressing anyway. I think we need to take a step back.

He will suck and munch on carrot sticks, rice cakes, bread, toast, cucumbers.... anything at all really. he probably doesn't get much eating from this though. He just sucks it until it turns to mush then it is discarded.

We a formula feeding him, 3 bottles a day but the PHN told us yesterday that we need to think of reducing this to 2 bottles.

We find it difficult to sync meals times, I only get home from work after 6 in the evening and my son is already fed at this stage. Today my wife was going to try having her food before feeding him. Hopefully this will encourage him to eat.

Thanks again.

What you need to do is actually eat with him. Ie, stick the solid foods in front of him, and then eat your own food. I hate to contradict a PHN, but she's probably wrong about reducing the milk feed, especially since he's not regularly eating solids. Let him keeping getting the nourishment he needs from the formula, it will absolutely not help him eat solids if he's too hungry. I would actually give him a couple of ounces of formula before giving him the solid food, so he can just play and not get HIMSELF stressed either.

The solid bits that he is getting is probably plenty, by this i mean the cucumber etc that he's sucking on. A lot of nutrients are in the juice anyway! And even though you think he's not getting much of it, if you think about how big his tummy is, a very small amount will fill him (ie, his tummy is roughly the size of his fist).

OK, I'm rambling. Here is my advice. When your wife eats, he should have food in front of him. After you get home, and you are eating, he should be sitting with you at the table (either on a lap, or in a high chair) and he should have food in front of him. If you want to continue with purees, try giving him a preloaded spoon full, but do NOT put it in his mouth, let him do that if he wants to. If he wants to eat, let him eat, if he wants to throw food at you, let him throw food at you. He does not know that food matters, at this point he doesn't know food will make him full, all he will do at this point is copy you. Keep up giving him finger sized foods as well as purees. Once he starts eating again he will naturally start to cut down his milk feeds himself.

If your baby is hungry for a milk feed, and you're trying to give him solid food, he's just going to get upset and frustrated, and more and more hungry, and it will eventually make your problem even worse. So listen to him, and ignore the phn advice for now.

pwurple · 27-03-2012 12:27pm

Small girl is just coming up to the 13 months now, I think we have the egg thing under control thanks to advice here. I bake some egg free rusks and bread, and we found a tiny egg free pasta. The only thing I'm having trouble with now is the gagging and vomitting on any pieces bigger than a crumb. She can't seem to take a bite of anything. Also, whenever I put stuff on her tray she shoves EVERYTHING into her mouth, gags, and throws up. So I give her a tiny piece at a time. Wait until she is finished, then next one. It's getting a bit tiring to be honest. I try to eat my own food at the same time, but usually mine is stony cold by the time I've finished chopping hers and handing it to her a crumb at a time.

She has 16 teeth (everything except the second set of molars) so I thought she should be able to take bites at this point. Everything else I give her I still puree fully. Any spec of a lump and it is vomit all over the place. Even the rusk has to be ground to dust before she can eat it.

I've had some conflicting advice on this... so not sure what to do. PHN says let her throw up until she gets used to it. creche says she is not ready for it and keep trying every few weeks. My mum says give her biscuits long enough that she can stick down to the back of her throat so she figures out where the gag reflex is (Tried this, 6 or seven vomits later it's not working).

Any ideas on what could help, or will I just wait it out?

caprilicious · 27-03-2012 10:58pm

Nedd I also agree with foxinsocks, I think your PHN is a bit quick of the mark with recommending you cut down his bottles just now.
I tried a combination of baby led weaning and feeding pureed foods to my daughter from 6/7 months.

When we reached 9 months & she still was only tasting foods as opposed to eating proper solid meals I was starting to stress.
However around the time of her first birthday she just decided one day she was eating solids & reduced the milk herself.

She still doesn't have a huge appetite (2 years old now) but is a fine size for her age & within the percentile recommended by the PHN.

pwurple that sound's really distressing with your daughter. Maybe just try her on soft foods that she can feed herself (bread/cheese/soft fruit), even if she only eats small quantities, she might be able to build it up over time until she doesn't vomit anymore?

Maybe for peace of mind get your GP to check her out (if you haven't already) as the PHN's advice to let her peuk each time is a little easier said than done. I would be concerned that would put her off solids even more, if she developed an anxiety about food?

foxinsocks · 09-04-2012 4:36pm

Ok, so Izzy is still a couple of weeks from the 6 month mark, but last week she started grabbing my hand any time i was feeding myself. She managed to get a cookie in her mouth. I had decided I was going to give baby lead weaning a try, and she was trying to eat everything, so I took her cue.

We started (officially, as opposed to her randomly grabbing my food) with some pear. She isn't quite old enough yet to pick up food from her highchair with any degree of consistency, so I held up each piece, and she took it from my hand. Then she jammed it into her mouth. She went through the whole pear like this, most of them ending up down the side of her high chair. She licked and licked each piece, getting plenty of juice, and she even gummed some pieces. A couple of times she bit off pieces of the fruit, and then spat them out. Twice, the pieces were quite big, and caused her to gag, but she just worked them out of her mouth, and grabbed a new piece.

Her second food was brocolli. She DEMOLISHED it. Again, she gagged, but never for more than 3 or 4 seconds, and the big pieces all came out of her mouth. We suspected that one small piece had been swallowed, but this wasn't confirmed until the next morning when it showed up in her nappy. \o/

Since then she has had more brocolli, carrots (couple of small pieces in the nappy the next day again), butternut squash, potato (her face was hilarious when she first got the mushy inner bits of potato in her mouth), breadsticks, banana (practically inhaled this, seems to be a favourite), buttered toast, steak (licked and licked and sucked a piece for ages) and chicken. With each new food we give her, she tastes it, makes a face like she's just accidentally eaten a large hairy spider, and then demands more.

Because she's not quite sitting up by herself yet, I have to keep straightening her up, or I feed her on my lap. She still loves to watch us eat, and it seems to me that she likes being included. I'm going to hold off giving her egg until a couple of weeks after the 6 month mark, and apple and grapes are too much of a choking hazard, but apart from that, whatever we eat, she's going to have some of.

NextSteps · 09-04-2012 7:27pm

Sounds like it's going great! I had to wedge towels in behind the baby for a while to prop him up.

How Strange · 09-04-2012 7:35pm

foxinsocks sounds like you're both getting on great. I'm very impressed that you're so cool about the gagging; that was the toughest part for me.

I had to prop my son up in his booster chair (we didn't get a high chair due to lack of space) until 7.5-8 months. I think he only sat up at 8 months.

foxinsocks · 09-04-2012 8:56pm

This was dinner. I threw a few bits of fusilli in with the spaghetti I was cooking for everyone, and then chucked some bolognese sauce on before giving her bits. Once again, the hairy spider face appeared, right before waving arms to get more!

Baby lead weaning is less cooking.

But MORE LAUNDRY!

(I have a laundry fairy in my house though, so yay me)

pwurple · 09-04-2012 11:58pm

Really? Are you joking or can your six month old actually eat fusilli?

If she can, I defo need to bring the small girl to the gp.

How Strange · 10-04-2012 7:48am

pwurple they don't eat it really but they mash it into their tray, try to pick it up, try to put it in their mouths and if they can do that they gum it a little before its thrown overboard.

foxinsocks · 10-04-2012 9:29am

How Strange wrote: »

pwurple they don't eat it really but they mash it into their tray, try to pick it up, try to put it in their mouths and if they can do that they gum it a little before its thrown overboard.

This is true, it's not really eating. Baby lead weaning at this stage is not about getting food in their tummy, it's about letting them put a wide range of tastes and textures into their gob, and about them learning how to chew and swallow, so that when they need it, they can eat effectively. I gave her fusilli because it's easy for her little fist to hold. And the harder fruits and veg that I have given her (pear/carrot) I have cut with the crinkle cutter, again so it doesn't just slide out of her paw.

Izzy accepted about half of the fusilli, each one got put in her mouth, and gummed to shreds, before getting spat out. I'd say a tiny percentage was swallowed by accident, including some of the meat sauce.

And in the interests of full disclosure, there are a number of things on which she chews with equal gusto, including but not limited to: her fist, my fist, all of her toys, her clothes, my clothes, anything else she can reach, and also a handful of fur she managed to pluck from my slower cat.

In terms of results, it's hard to argue with this though:

pwurple · 10-04-2012 11:58am

ok, phew! We tried baby led weaning at about 7 months, but it was really just baby-led puking! Gag reflex a bit on the strong side, and she would throw up the entire contents of her stomach every time instead of just what she had in her mouth. Got a bit dehydrated from it, so we went back to the purees. A gob full of teeth and no ability to use them... Sigh. I'll run it past the GP anyway on friday when we are getting the jabs.

foxinsocks · 28-04-2012 7:16pm

Have just sat and watched Izzy (6 months and 1 week old) DESTROY some homemade tortilla pizza (idea from Annabel Karmel's finger food book) and some home made butternut squash and banana loaf (recipe from bbc food website).

Course, when I say destroy, I mean lick and gum until mushy, rip the rest to pieces, and then pour most of the contents of her cup (water) on to her tray, mixing well. Also, she rubbed the mixture on her feet! So very funny. I'm reasonably sure she did swallow some of the food though.

Baby lead weaning is fun.

missis aggie · 28-04-2012 7:36pm

Baby led weaning is fun for babies and for us to watch them exploring and tasting food, having total control over what they eat and how much

luckily I have two dogs so no mess here

red fraggle · 20-05-2012 8:41pm

WHEN CAN YOU START baby led weaning? at 6 months? my little one is nearly 5 months and we just started on baby rice. how long do i give her this until i can give her my homemade carrot puree etc!:rolleyes: shes only on tiny bit and is prob swallowin very little but its a start anyway

How Strange · 20-05-2012 9:03pm

red fraggle it's 6 months for baby led weaning. The tongue thrust has to stop before starting blw.

foxinsocks · 21-05-2012 2:39pm

The whole point of baby led weaning is that you DON'T give purees, or baby rice, or any deliberately mushed up food. I'm not sure what you'd call what you're talking about. Maybe you're talking about giving finger foods at 6 months?

Baby led weaning starts at 6 months, which is when they start to develop the physical skills necessary to feed themselves. You don't give any solids at all before then, as milk is 100% enough for them, and they won't even begin to digest any other food until 6 months at the EARLIEST.

The recommendation is not to give solids at all before 6 months, I'm not entirely sure why you've started to give baby rice at 5 months, did you think your baby seemed hungry? Did her sleep patterns change? Need more info!

red fraggle · 21-05-2012 6:37pm

foxinsocks wrote: »

did you think your baby seemed hungry? Did her sleep patterns change? Need more info!

yes and yes to the above. she was also very interested in our food, had to sit at the table with us and was grabbing food from our plate. we felt we had to start even tho i would have liked to wait but i think it was the right decision. its very hard making these desisions especially with all the conflicting advice:eek::(

dublinlady · 22-05-2012 12:18am

red fraggle wrote: »

foxinsocks wrote: »

did you think your baby seemed hungry? Did her sleep patterns change? Need more info!

yes and yes to the above. she was also very interested in our food, had to sit at the table with us and was grabbing food from our plate. we felt we had to start even tho i would have liked to wait but i think it was the right decision. its very hard making these desisions especially with all the conflicting advice:eek::(

I think there's conflicting advise as babies are all different and you can't make one rule for all. Hse advise is to start between 17 weeks and 6 months - I was always told you know by your baby when to start - u can't decide a time before u meet the person!!

How Strange · 22-05-2012 7:38am

I totally agree about conflicting advice. Ask 10 healthcare professionals and you'll get 10 different answers. I read that if your baby's tongue thrust has stopped and they're sitting up before 6 months then they're ready. Grabbing food and putting it in their mouths isn't necessarily a sign as they put everything in their mouths at that stage. Night waking also isn't a sign of readiness as night waking is developmental and sleep through the night is a milestone.

Sitting up is a sign that their gut is closed so food doesn't simply run through them and their tummies can process it. Thats why purée is purée because their gut is too young for food. The gut closing usually happens around the 5th month but could happen a month or so later.

Baby led weaning is about letting your baby tell you when they're ready for food and letting them set the pace. They decide how much they'll eat and you shouldn't coax them or cajole them into eating more. That's why finger food is best; they pick it up, mush it, taste it etc.The theory is food is fun until one so it's for experimenting and exploring and milk should remain their main source of nutrition until one year. It suits breastfed babies more because they've most probably been fed on demand and not to a prescribed routine.

red fraggle · 24-05-2012 6:50pm

just wondering when is the best time to give babies their little meal and when do you start to give 2 meals?

Hannibal Smith · 29-05-2012 8:09am

How long are you giving baby rice for red fraggle? Did you say she's 5 months? (can't believe she five months already) Is she devouring her brekkie?

If so you can introduce a second meal. Have you got one of the baby food ice cube trays that you can put your purees in to? They're a god send because you can also keep account of how much they're eating.

If you can get butternut squash or sweet potato you could start with that. Sometimes carrot can be clumpy when you puree it and can make them gag lol. If you can get the butternut squash already chopped up (I know superquinn) do it, all the better. Otherwise be prepared to cry! Lol

With ordinary potatoes they recommend you mash them through a sieve as opposed to puree in a blender because its so starchy and becomes gloopy and vile looking.

red fraggle · 29-05-2012 3:02pm

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

How long are you giving baby rice for red fraggle? Did you say she's 5 months? (can't believe she five months already) Is she devouring her brekkie?

If so you can introduce a second meal. Have you got one of the baby food ice cube trays that you can put your purees in to? They're a god send because you can also keep account of how much they're eating.

If you can get butternut squash or sweet potato you could start with that. Sometimes carrot can be clumpy when you puree it and can make them gag lol. If you can get the butternut squash already chopped up (I know superquinn) do it, all the better. Otherwise be prepared to cry! Lol

With ordinary potatoes they recommend you mash them through a sieve as opposed to puree in a blender because its so starchy and becomes gloopy and vile looking.

i know where have those 5 months gone!!! she LOVES her food. shes eating carrots now. only thing is im not sure how much i should be giving her. do i let her decide??

where would i get baby ice cube trays? are they normal ones?

thanks for the tips. i got a sweet potato so might cook that next. i froze some turnip i made for myself yesterday so thats ready to go.

thanks for the tips. so much learning for me never mind poor e!!!

Hannibal Smith · 29-05-2012 4:12pm

red fraggle wrote: »

i know where have those 5 months gone!!! she LOVES her food. shes eating carrots now. only thing is im not sure how much i should be giving her. do i let her decide??

where would i get baby ice cube trays? are they normal ones?

thanks for the tips. i got a sweet potato so might cook that next. i froze some turnip i made for myself yesterday so thats ready to go.

thanks for the tips. so much learning for me never mind poor e!!!

Babies will eat as much as you give them, so even when they're full they'll keep going and will end up puking half it back up. So that's why I find the icetrays so handy, because you can keep an account of how much they're eating. I got one online about 3 years ago, this is similar to it...http://www.tonykealys.com/oxo-tot-baby-food-freezer-tray.html For quantity, just use one to start off (I think one cube = 2 table spoons of food).

So you make a big batch of something, say your sweet potato, save some for the day you've made it and put the rest of it in the tray and freeze it. After 24 hours, put it in a ziplock bag and just take a cube as you need it. Then make something else, say your turnip do the same thing and before you know it, you've a freezer drawer full of food to select from. You can keep the food for 6 weeks (I think) so you can write a date on the bag if you need.

You can use a normal icecube tray if you like, but I find the baby ones more bendy and easier to get the cubes out of.

red fraggle · 29-05-2012 8:48pm

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Babies will eat as much as you give them, so even when they're full they'll keep going and will end up puking half it back up. So that's why I find the icetrays so handy, because you can keep an account of how much they're eating. I got one online about 3 years ago, this is similar to it...http://www.tonykealys.com/oxo-tot-baby-food-freezer-tray.html For quantity, just use one to start off (I think one cube = 2 table spoons of food).

So you make a big batch of something, say your sweet potato, save some for the day you've made it and put the rest of it in the tray and freeze it. After 24 hours, put it in a ziplock bag and just take a cube as you need it. Then make something else, say your turnip do the same thing and before you know it, you've a freezer drawer full of food to select from. You can keep the food for 6 weeks (I think) so you can write a date on the bag if you need.

You can use a normal icecube tray if you like, but I find the baby ones more bendy and easier to get the cubes out of.

cool thanks for the tips. i think 2 tablespoons is about what im giving her. i thought that too that if i keep feeding her she will keep eating til puking!! she roars when i finish giving it to her but i just distract her:rolleyes:

dublinlady · 03-07-2012 12:12pm

red fraggle wrote: »

Hannibal Smith wrote: »

Babies will eat as much as you give them, so even when they're full they'll keep going and will end up puking half it back up. So that's why I find the icetrays so handy, because you can keep an account of how much they're eating. I got one online about 3 years ago, this is similar to it...http://www.tonykealys.com/oxo-tot-baby-food-freezer-tray.html For quantity, just use one to start off (I think one cube = 2 table spoons of food).

So you make a big batch of something, say your sweet potato, save some for the day you've made it and put the rest of it in the tray and freeze it. After 24 hours, put it in a ziplock bag and just take a cube as you need it. Then make something else, say your turnip do the same thing and before you know it, you've a freezer drawer full of food to select from. You can keep the food for 6 weeks (I think) so you can write a date on the bag if you need.

You can use a normal icecube tray if you like, but I find the baby ones more bendy and easier to get the cubes out of.

cool thanks for the tips. i think 2 tablespoons is about what im giving her. i thought that too that if i keep feeding her she will keep eating til puking!! she roars when i finish giving it to her but i just distract her:rolleyes:

How is it going now red?
A had her first play with baby rice yest - and strawberry and banana baby cereal this morn! Loves it! Spits most back out - but swallows a few teaspoonfuls! Gives out when take it away! Think she just enjoys having new texture on her mouth -worth it even for that!

red fraggle · 03-07-2012 9:42pm

dublinlady wrote: »

How is it going now red?
A had her first play with baby rice yest - and strawberry and banana baby cereal this morn! Loves it! Spits most back out - but swallows a few teaspoonfuls! Gives out when take it away! Think she just enjoys having new texture on her mouth -worth it even for that!

its going great dublinlady. she loves her food. she had chicken the last few days and loves it. made a face at the different texture at first. so funny. its so hard to know how much you should feed them but i suppose we figure it out.

its great she is taking to the spoon. its so exciting!! and messy and alot of work but good craic. they are growing so quick!:D

dublinlady · 03-07-2012 9:55pm

Very messy... Very very messy!! Hehe! I love it! Totally appeals to the nerd in me too... So happy organising all my pots and ice cube trays etc... And my blender.. I love my blender....!!!

Ms2011 · 04-07-2012 10:50pm

Gonna be weaning J in about 4 weeks so have been keeping an eye out for any bits and pieces I might need and I found these great little pots in the Euro shop today for freezing batches of food. They are supposed to be used for making frozen drink shots but would work just as good for baby food, they are a good size and come with a little tray to sit the pots in so they are not falling all over the freezer. Best part is you get 8 for just €2, I thought they were great

picture.php?albumid=2176&pictureid=13358

Xdancer · 05-07-2012 8:48am

Well my daughter's weaning was going great, she was eating anything and everything I gave her and I had started her on some finger foods too (she'll be 7 months tomorrow) then as of last Saturday she is refusing to eat her usual lunches and fruit purees. She will still drink her bottles, eat her cereal and literally salivates when she sees her yoghurt....very strange. My mother thinks it could be more teething (she has 2 bottom teeth) or the heat and she is losing her appetite a bit.

As regards little pots and things for freezing and storing the purees, I use Babypotz. I got the starter pack which have 10 each of 1oz, 2oz, 3oz, 4oz and 5oz pots. They are so handy. I also use ice-cubre trays for the fruit purees.
http://www.babypotz.com

dublinlady · 05-07-2012 9:06am

Gave A her first butternut squash purée yest - had lots of fun and she really enjoyed it! I gave it to her around 11am. She was fine all day - napped well etc, then we put her down at 10.30 for the night - she woke at 1am and I had to take her into the bed where she spent until 7am writhing and wriggling with discomfort - and farting! No sleep for me - well 1 hr b4 she woke - actually worse than when I was breastfeeding!!
Anyone experience anything like this?? I'm thinking back to baby rice and cereal and then try introduce it again in few days but less than I did - maybe mix some in with some rice? I gave it straight. She seems to really want and enjoy her morning meal so don't want to take it away.... But rice and cereal aren't what I had in mind!!! She had those for 3 days with no problems after.

Xdancer · 05-07-2012 10:17am

dublinlady wrote: »

Gave A her first butternut squash purée yest - had lots of fun and she really enjoyed it! I gave it to her around 11am. She was fine all day - napped well etc, then we put her down at 10.30 for the night - she woke at 1am and I had to take her into the bed where she spent until 7am writhing and wriggling with discomfort - and farting! No sleep for me - well 1 hr b4 she woke - actually worse than when I was breastfeeding!!
Anyone experience anything like this?? I'm thinking back to baby rice and cereal and then try introduce it again in few days but less than I did - maybe mix some in with some rice? I gave it straight. She seems to really want and enjoy her morning meal so don't want to take it away.... But rice and cereal aren't what I had in mind!!! She had those for 3 days with no problems after.

I experienced something similar with my little girl, and found that she took to pureed fruit better than vegetables so I stuck with fruit for a few days, then tried sweet potato again and she had a bad night's sleep.
I went to the pharmacy and bought these granules that you can add to a baby's bottle to aid digestion - chamomile and fennel. I added this to her last bottle of the day for a week or 2 and it seemed to help.

dublinlady · 05-07-2012 11:26am

Xdancer wrote: »

dublinlady wrote: »

Gave A her first butternut squash purée yest - had lots of fun and she really enjoyed it! I gave it to her around 11am. She was fine all day - napped well etc, then we put her down at 10.30 for the night - she woke at 1am and I had to take her into the bed where she spent until 7am writhing and wriggling with discomfort - and farting! No sleep for me - well 1 hr b4 she woke - actually worse than when I was breastfeeding!!
Anyone experience anything like this?? I'm thinking back to baby rice and cereal and then try introduce it again in few days but less than I did - maybe mix some in with some rice? I gave it straight. She seems to really want and enjoy her morning meal so don't want to take it away.... But rice and cereal aren't what I had in mind!!! She had those for 3 days with no problems after.

I experienced something similar with my little girl, and found that she took to pureed fruit better than vegetables so I stuck with fruit for a few days, then tried sweet potato again and she had a bad night's sleep.
I went to the pharmacy and bought these granules that you can add to a baby's bottle to aid digestion - chamomile and fennel. I added this to her last bottle of the day for a week or 2 and it seemed to help.

That's rreally interesting thanks! Do u remember the name of granules? Sure I can just go in and ask!
I think I'll try rice or cereal and then maybe add done banana or sonething if fruit better!
Mind u I just offered her cereal and she didn't want at all! Will leave her be with her bottles at all and see! Thing is over last few days shes much hungrier! Downing her bottles which is great!

Xdancer · 05-07-2012 12:35pm

dublinlady wrote: »

That's rreally interesting thanks! Do u remember the name of granules? Sure I can just go in and ask!
I think I'll try rice or cereal and then maybe add done banana or sonething if fruit better!
Mind u I just offered her cereal and she didn't want at all! Will leave her be with her bottles at all and see! Thing is over last few days shes much hungrier! Downing her bottles which is great!

They're called Blevit Digest, but I don't think they are available in Ireland. I think the Spanish equivalent of Aptamil do something similar, so you should be able to get that.
I keep a tub of them now just in case, I introduce something new to her at least once a week so I like to have them on standby.

red fraggle · 05-07-2012 4:20pm

maybe some chamomile tea in the evening might help as it helps with the digestion in some way. i give E about 2/3 oz half an hour to an hour before bed and i think it helps her. health shop said just give it a bit more watered down than you would for yourself but ya could always go in and ask anyway. and its only about 2 euro for 20 bags!:D

liliq · 05-07-2012 11:27pm

Love babypotz!
I use them now for freezing hummus or portions of berries etc, and then just put them in the changing back if we're going out and they defrost along the way

They're great in the dishwasher as well

AND they're Irish

Xdancer · 06-07-2012 6:23am

liliq wrote: »

Love babypotz!
I use them now for freezing hummus or portions of berries etc, and then just put them in the changing back if we're going out and they defrost along the way They're great in the dishwasher as well
AND they're Irish

I know. They're so handy. My sister's phn told her about them and she told me. They ship abroad too which was very handy for me. Baby stuff is so expensive here!

Ellsbells · 11-07-2012 2:57pm

What do you put with the baby rice? Ds is 7 months and eats potato, veg etc but hasn't had rice. Any ideas?

How Strange · 11-07-2012 3:09pm

Ellsbells I'd say at 7 months your son is too old for baby rice. It's usually given to babies who are weaned around 16 weeks. There's no reason to give it to him. At 7 months his good should be lumpy in texture and he should be given finger foods to hold, eat/mush up himself.

Ellsbells · 12-07-2012 12:25am

Yeah he is on that stuff but the dietitian (has v bad reflux) said to give him the rice at tea time...

How Strange · 12-07-2012 7:17am

In that case I'd give readybrek or some adult food with a similar consistency as baby rice has zero nutritional benefit. It's an empty carb that just fills the tummy.

Hannibal Smith · 12-07-2012 7:45am

You can put anything with it...apples...pears....any kind of fruit or vegetable you like ellsbells. Fruit can make them windy though, so if you mix it with apple and he wakes up screaming in the night, I apologise in advance for suggesting it

You can mix the fruit and veg with natural yogurt too, for something a bit different. Just check with your dietitian that the baby is old enough...I can't remember was it from 7 months, or 8 months that I used it.

The Weaning Thread

Comments