The Weaning Thread

loubian

lolademmers wrote: »

So I started my LO on solids this week. Just started with sweet potato did a couple of days might try pear today. I give it to him about an hour after his lunch time bottle so he has it around 1 or 2. I was just wondering how soon it takes for this feed to replace his bottle ? Just gave him a couple of spoons so far.

I'm wondering the same thing! Lo is on solids around a month now, sometimes she has 2 meals a day, sometimes only one. But she's been having small amounts (smaller than the palm of my hand) and would like to give her more but I don't really know the next step! She usually has a meal midday and then possibly early evening (if she has two). Will she just automatically stop taking a bottle at the time of solids or do I have to take it away myself? Weaning confuses me!

nikpmup

Me three! I ordered the Annabel karmel book just to give me a starting point. I've been giving him a few teaspoons of food before his lunchtime bottle every day, more to get him used to the texture than anything else. So far, Apple and pear are good, baby porridge is good! But I don't know how/when to start replacing bottles with food.

Edit : just tried to sterilie the Annabel Karmel silicone freezer tray my sister gave me. Don't put them in the microwave :-/

lmullen

I can't actually remember how or when food started replacing bottles for my dd1 but just remember that food is fun till one! If you go onto annabell karmels website she might have a plan. I've it all to look forward to it again in a few weeks dd2 will be 6 months at the end of this month!!

lolademmers

I just got the Annabel karmel book and the plan in it says by week 3 their lunchtime bottle will be replaced by lunch so 4 bottles and a meal at lunch.
I think I've created a monster!! He had carrot yesterday just 3 spoonfuls and he was roaring I thought he was over tired so tried to put him down for a nap but that made him worse. I put him back in the high chair and tried another bit of carrot He fell asleep after swalloing the second spoon. Was the cutest thing ever but I don't want to over feed him. He took all his bottles yesterday too.

nikpmup

lolademmers wrote: »

I just got the Annabel karmel book and the plan in it says by week 3 their lunchtime bottle will be replaced by lunch so 4 bottles and a meal at lunch.
I think I've created a monster!! He had carrot yesterday just 3 spoonfuls and he was roaring I thought he was over tired so tried to put him down for a nap but that made him worse. I put him back in the high chair and tried another bit of carrot He fell asleep after swalloing the second spoon. Was the cutest thing ever but I don't want to over feed him. He took all his bottles yesterday too.

My lad only has 4 bottles in a day as is; but they're 8/9oz. Of late though, he seems to be struggling with the last oz or two - I wonder should I give him 5 smaller bottles, or stick with the 4?

lolademmers

My guy was refusing some of his bottles last week think it was sign of teething but still no teeth!
If you stick with the four bottles but just an ounce less maybe? He will take less when the solids gets established I presume.

Cunning Stunt

Would it be possible to add a poll to the thread, to show when people started weaning their babies ( 3mnths / 4mnths/ 5 mnths etc.)? I am sure there are many like myself who are toying with the idea of weaning and not sure whether to start yet. I know every child is different, but it would be good to see what the majority are doing.

yellow hen

When did you (if at all) stop giving a morning bottle to your baby? My little guy us just gone one and we're slowly weaning him onto cows milk. He currently has an 8oz bottle first thing in morn (7:15am) and another 7oz at bedtime. I'm wondering if I should be getting rid of the morning one and replacing it with his porridge? (He currently has his cereal/porridge at 8:30)

Gee_G

yellow hen wrote: »

When did you (if at all) stop giving a morning bottle to your baby? My little guy us just gone one and we're slowly weaning him onto cows milk. He currently has an 8oz bottle first thing in morn (7:15am) and another 7oz at bedtime. I'm wondering if I should be getting rid of the morning one and replacing it with his porridge? (He currently has his cereal/porridge at 8:30)

My 19month old still gets a bottle in the morning and before bed

yellow hen

Gee_G wrote: »

My 19month old still gets a bottle in the morning and before bed

Thanks gee g. I haven't a clue what the norm is so just wanted a feel for whatever other people do.

Ms2011

yellow hen wrote: »

When did you (if at all) stop giving a morning bottle to your baby? My little guy us just gone one and we're slowly weaning him onto cows milk. He currently has an 8oz bottle first thing in morn (7:15am) and another 7oz at bedtime. I'm wondering if I should be getting rid of the morning one and replacing it with his porridge? (He currently has his cereal/porridge at 8:30)

My fella was about 14 months when he started only taking an oz or 2 from his morning bottle after his breakfast so I stopped giving it to him & he never missed it. He'll be 2 in 2 weeks & he still has 8/9 oz of cows milk going to bed, don't know how I'm going to get him off that one:rolleyes:

Gee_G

yellow hen wrote: »

Thanks gee g. I haven't a clue what the norm is so just wanted a feel for whatever other people do.

He has his bottle when he gets up first and his cereal a bit after that. He is always starving in the morning so personally I think he still needs it!

Also, from what I've come across so far since I've had this little man, there is no norm!!:) They are all so different and do what suits you x

yellow hen

Thanks. I'll just take it as it comes then. He loves his bottles

Julo12

Gee_G wrote: »

He has his bottle when he gets up first and his cereal a bit after that. He is always starving in the morning so personally I think he still needs it!

Also, from what I've come across so far since I've had this little man, there is no norm!!:) They are all so different and do what suits you x

We still do this too for our 20 mth old. 7ozs in morning and 9 at night. She gulps them down so I guess she still needs them. In the morning she'll also then have cornflakes and maybe toast or a weetabix as well - hungry hippo!

loubian

What age can you start giving weetabix?

Julo12

loubian wrote: »

What age can you start giving weetabix?

I think from as soon as they're able for it. The Annabel karmel book I used to wean recommended any of the non sugary normal breakfast cereals so cornflakes, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, ready brek and weetabix as being better than the expensive sweet baby cereals for weaning so I generally have alternated between those since she was 6 mths. Weetabix is a bit stodgy tho so I add some fruit purée and plenty of milk to it

kandr10

Those cereals are all really high in sugar. Even cornflakes! Not sure about ready Brek though, I've not bought it yet. There seems to be some debate on baby cereals. Is the thinking that they're too processed?

yellow hen

I'm not convinced that there's a 'perfect' cereal for a baby. From 7 months, we alternated between baby porridge mixed with mashed fruit, readybrek and weetabix. He loves all three. I agree there's sometimes more sugar in products than i'd like, particularly yoghurt. I just try to find the most inoffensive and go with that.

kandr10

It's true yellow hen! I got quite obsessive over the amount of sugar in yogurt for myself so god knows what I'll be like with baby. You're right though - least offensive option is best. Do you know at what stage you can give "real" porridge?

yellow hen

My guy is just turned 1 and I still haven't given him real porridge. Mainly because I have baby porridge and readybrek to use up though.

lmullen

I've given porridge from about 7 months once she was ok with lumpier food. Just add a little extra milk so it's not too stodgy. She's 21 months now and has a large bowl of porridge or2 weetabix for breakfast.

How Strange

I gave both of ours weetabix from 6 months but both only started solids at 6 months. I think wheat should be introduced between 6-8 months. I give my 10.5 month old porridge so it's a spoon for me and a spoon for her every morning. I got oat Cheerios for free so I've let her have some as finger food but we only eat porridge or weetabix for breakfast. We may have holiday flakes (crunchy nut cornflakes!) on holidays or Cheerios in my mams but not at home.

I'm sure blitzing ordinary porridge in a food processor is a lot cheaper than branded baby porridge.

We only have glenisk yoghurt or natural yoghurt. The petite filous type ones are full of sugar and additives. We all eat the same yoghurts.

icescreamqueen

Could anyone please post up a brief sample menu for what I should be giving an 8 month baby, bottles and food wise. I'm really not sure if I'm doing the right thing to be honest..

loubian

icescreamqueen wrote: »

Could anyone please post up a brief sample menu for what I should be giving an 8 month baby, bottles and food wise. I'm really not sure if I'm doing the right thing to be honest..

Since our bubs are very close in age, ill post mine. It is only draft!

I don't have swt times or anything but this is how it usually goes

Morning - rice mixed with banana and a bottle (I usually leave about 30 minutes between)

Lunch - apple/spagetti/beans/mash&veg

About an hour later she will get a bottle. This is usually around 2pm (lunch at 12.30/1)

At around 5, she might have another bottle and sometimes ill give her a little bit of my dinner but I usually play it day by day.

Then she has her last bottle at 7/8 and goes down after that. She's been waking up during the night for a bottle the last week or so too. Hopefully that will stop soon hope this helps

Roesy

icescreamqueen wrote: »

Could anyone please post up a brief sample menu for what I should be giving an 8 month baby, bottles and food wise. I'm really not sure if I'm doing the right thing to be honest..

Hey,
I'm only in the research stage, trying to decide between baby led weaning and purees. I've just finished reading the Annabel Karmel weaning book. I'll post up a few days from the sample menu planner for 6-9 months. She says it's important to include iron into her diet as soon as possible at this stage as stores start to run out after 6 months. She also suggests introducing new textures from about 7/8 months.

Day 1
Breakfast
Baby cereal and apple puree
Breast/bottle

Lunch
Chicken with sweet potatoes, peas and basil; banana puree
Breast/bottle

Mid afternoon
Breast/bottle

Tea
Cod with Butternut squash and cheese sauce
Breast/bottle

Bedtime
Breast/Bottle

Day 4
Breakfast
Grilled cheese on toast fingers
Breast/bottle

Lunch
Beef casserole with sweet potato and apple; apple and pear with apricots
Breast/bottle

Mid afternoon
Breast/bottle

Tea
Cheesy leek, sweet potato and cauliflower
Breast/bottle

Bedtime
Breast/Bottle

Day 6
Breakfast
Scrambled egg with toast fingers
Breast/bottle

Lunch
Poached salmon with carrot and peas; mango puree
Breast/bottle

Mid afternoon
Breast/bottle

Tea
Beef casserole with sweet potato and apple
Breast/bottle

Bedtime
Breast/Bottle

Hope this is of some help to you. Apologies if you were looking for more specific serving sizes/suggested oz's in bottle etc. No idea about portion sizes of anything, suppose it depends on the baby. Spot the newbie Looking forward to getting started myself as my poor little madam is jealously eyeing every morsel that goes in our mouths at the moment!

icescreamqueen

Thank you Roesy and Loubian, very helpful. I think I'm on the right track

dublinlady

icescreamqueen wrote: »

Could anyone please post up a brief sample menu for what I should be giving an 8 month baby, bottles and food wise. I'm really not sure if I'm doing the right thing to be honest..

We did:
Bottle 6 oz at 7.30 am
Brekkie 8.30 ish - milupa creamed porridge ( small amt)
Bottle 6oz at 11.30 after nap
Lunch 12.30-1ish - approx 4 cubes purée /mashed veg and fruit mixed
4.15ish bottle 6oz after nap
5.30ish dinner 4-5oz blended casserole etc usually containing fruit veg and small amt meat
7 pm -6oz bottle and bed

We would offer bits of finger food and water at both meals like steamed softish broccoli or carrot sticks, or baby rice cakes.
Never fussed if she only ate a few spoons, literally just ignored it, didn't force at all and just continued on with day.
At ten months it's much the same except more finger foods and the purée is all mashed or lumpy.
Reducing her 4 pm bottle to 4oz but she's still eating her food and finishing bottles so I'll let her at that a bit longer!
Main thing is the food is not important as getting what they need from milk - keep it fun and try not to worry - let her lead the way and refuse things or meals if she wants - it's all ok.
I give mostly home cooked but the odd ellas kitchen sachet if it suits me or out and about.
Not sure that helps!

pwurple

Julo12 wrote: »

I think from as soon as they're able for it. The Annabel karmel book I used to wean recommended any of the non sugary normal breakfast cereals so cornflakes, Cheerios, Rice Krispies, ready brek and weetabix as being better than the expensive sweet baby cereals for weaning so I generally have alternated between those since she was 6 mths. Weetabix is a bit stodgy tho so I add some fruit purée and plenty of milk to it

Cheerios, corn flakes and rice krispies are all high sugar, i would not consider them suitable for a baby at all. Ready brek is ok i think, no added sugar in that one.

How Strange

The oat Cheerios are noticeably lower in sugar although I'm sure they're still quite high compared to porridge or weetabix. I let my 11 month old eat them ocassionally as finger food.

Cunning Stunt

Cat Melodeon wrote: »

I gave my lad rice once and never again. He hated it and to be honest I didn't blame him - it's like eating wallpaper paste and gave him awful constipation. We started straight off with pureed fruit, sweet potato and squash. He didn't like normal potato at the start but will eat it now.

I have this going on now. PHN said start him on the boring rice and move to other flavours in two weeks. But it's only been three days and he's started shying from the spoon or spitting it out. To be fair it does also remind me of wallpaper paste. I have a banana and strawberry baby porridge from cow&gate here that I was going to wait the two weeks before trying, but I might give it a go tomorrow - I don't want to traumatise him with the other stuff ....