The Weaning Thread

Ms2011 · 15-02-2017 4:54pm

The only things I was told to avoid until one was honey & nuts, everything else was fine so long as there was no history of allergies.
Jam might also sweeten them up if you didn't want to use syrup.

Digs · 15-02-2017 5:04pm

I think you're right, I'm not sure why I hesitated, I've been told numerous times myself it's just honey and nuts to avoid!

Teeley · 15-02-2017 10:06pm

Digs wrote: »

I think you're right, I'm not sure why I hesitated, I've been told numerous times myself it's just honey and nuts to avoid!

Is cashew/almond/peanut butter ok?? Are you talking about while nuts?

Thanks.

Cakerbaker · 15-02-2017 10:13pm

Whole nuts are a choking hazard. Nut butters are fine (though as far as I know you may need to be cautious if there's a nut allergy in the family).

Digs · 15-02-2017 11:15pm

Cakerbaker wrote: »

Whole nuts are a choking hazard. Nut butters are fine (though as far as I know you may need to be cautious if there's a nut allergy in the family).

My GP told me no nuts before 1 in any shape or form because I had childhood eczema and so did my first daughter? Means there's a higher risk of food sensitivities etc and to introduce them in a controlled environment. I'd assume that's particular to our circumstances though.

Kylie06 · 27-02-2017 9:58pm

My almost 10 month old has become a very fussy eater over the past few weeks. She has gone from eating a wide and varied diet to now just eating two veg recipies I cook from the Anabel Karmel recipe book. She refuses to eat her meat/fish dishes. I end up mixing them in with the two dishes she likes, somethimes she'll eat it then but other times she'll refuse.
She has a breastfeed in the morning, followed by weetabix, then lunch, another bf in the afternoon, dinner in the evening and a bottle before bed and 1/2 bf during the night.
I don't see why she would have enjoyed all of her dinner up until a few weeks and is now refusing them.
She's on the 9 th centile for weight and 50 th for length. The phn said at her 9 month checkup that she'll refer her on the the paed. doctor to be on the safe side even though she's not worried about her as she's been at these centiles consistently since birth. I'm worried if she's not eating then her weight might become an issue. Phn also said that she needs to eat red meat 3 times a week for iron and at the moment we're nowhere near eating it that often.
Should I start baby led weaning with her at this stage? I'd love to get some tips on this as I'm unsure where to begin. I thought it was only toddlers who became fussy eater!

dori_dormer · 27-02-2017 10:19pm

Could she be teething? They get very fussy at those times or a leap?
At 10 mths she should already be getting plenty of finger foods and main meals just mashed with a fork. But if not she may enjoy the play and control she would get worth the blw / finger foods. May get her interested in food again

Kylie06 · 27-02-2017 11:12pm

Thanks for your reply, Dori. She in a leap at the moment so maybe that's the reason. But would she not be completely off her food then? I don't understand why it's the meat and fish she doesn't like. Are there any good resources/ websites for baby led weaning? Would I just give her little pieces of meat/fish to chew on along with veg and potatoes?

dori_dormer · 28-02-2017 12:01pm

There's a great baby led weaning Facebook page. Always happy to help there. You basically make all the food into batons so there is enough space for them to hold the food and also get some into their mouth.
Wedges of apple, just squash blueberries, quarter grapes, peas and corn are fine as they are.
My guy is only 8 mths but he definitely prefers fruit and veg. Meat is chosen last and only if he's really hungry. I don't think it's unusual, my older fella was the same but I don't really know why!

dori_dormer · 28-02-2017 12:01pm

Oh is she getting plenty of water at meal time? That helps I find

shesty · 01-03-2017 3:23pm

I think they just get fussy at that age.My second is just 11 months and for the last few weeks, it's been hard work getting spoons of food into her!I remember the same with my first.But anything you put on her tray, she'll shove in no bother.I think it's a combination of teeth coming (yes they will go completely off food when this happens) much thicker dinners and just a developmental leap-more independence, wanting to do stuff themselves.
I get what I can in with the spoon amd after that, give her whatever we're having.Spaghetti, broccoil, penne pasta, fingers of carrot, green beans, peas, baked beans on my fork, bits of mashed potato and mince.....she gobbles it up.I also do blueberries, some banana 'sticks', cheddar cheese fingers, anything she can get into her hand to put in her mouth.
Experience has taught me that they do come round eventually but it is a nightmare.
Oh...I do also try feeding her dinner with my fork amd sometimes put her dinner on my plate so she thinks she's getting the food I have. ;-) It usually works!

scarepanda · 04-03-2017 2:42pm

Hey! I'm just wondering, has anyone ever come across a problem with baby after having avocado? We've been giving lo avocado since we started her on solids without any issues, but the last two times she's gotten sick after having it. The first time we put it down to eating too much of a rich food shortly before bed - that night it as a banana avocado mix. But last night she was given about half an avocado on its own and she was kept up a little longer than normal just to be sure but got sick a few hours after and had two episodes of wretching bringing up bile. I didn't think avocado was an allergen, but Dr Google is throwing back answers that it could be.....

kandr10 · 05-03-2017 10:26am

scarepanda wrote: »

Hey! I'm just wondering, has anyone ever come across a problem with baby after having avocado? We've been giving lo avocado since we started her on solids without any issues, but the last two times she's gotten sick after having it. The first time we put it down to eating too much of a rich food shortly before bed - that night it as a banana avocado mix. But last night she was given about half an avocado on its own and she was kept up a little longer than normal just to be sure but got sick a few hours after and had two episodes of wretching bringing up bile. I didn't think avocado was an allergen, but Dr Google is throwing back answers that it could be.....

Half an avacado is still a lot, to me anyway. Why not try an even smaller amount, even mixed in with something like banana and at a different meal time.

scarepanda · 06-03-2017 11:11am

kandr10 wrote:

Half an avacado is still a lot, to me anyway. Why not try an even smaller amount, even mixed in with something like banana and at a different meal time.

It possibly is. We've given it to her before without any issues though.

I think we'll keep her off it for a couple weeks and reintroduce it to her in smaller amounts and see what happens then.

kandr10 · 06-03-2017 8:58pm

scarepanda wrote: »

It possibly is. We've given it to her before without any issues though.

I think we'll keep her off it for a couple weeks and reintroduce it to her in smaller amounts and see what happens then.

Yeah no harm. I know my little girl ate loved it as a baby and hasn't touched it since lol! You win some you lose some I guess!

yummymummyjay · 02-09-2017 8:10am

Following as I am about to start weaning my 5 and a half month old

yummymummyjay · 02-09-2017 8:10am

Any tips welcome

73trix · 26-03-2018 4:11pm

6 month old weaning - spoon - query.
I can't figure out when to give the solid foods apart from breakfast.
She doesn;t have a great routine yet, naps vary but say she sleeps 11-1pm. I give her porridge an hour ish after her morning bottle but when to give next solid meal? Before big nap or after? I#ve read that at this age she should onlt be on 3 bottles by day but I could still give her 4

e.g. 7/ 11/3/7 but the solids are sposed result in dropping a bottle? But Which one?

scarepanda · 26-03-2018 4:36pm

I can't advise about which bottle to drop, but I'd give her second meal after her nap (which could result in the 3 o clock bottle not being needed). If she's sleeping at 11 for 2 hrs, which I would presume is after breakfast she's not hungry. I always kept meals in line with our normal meal times. We have a late dinner here so we only do snacks in the afternoon to tide her over and those only started when she was down to two nursings a day (first thing and bedtime). HTH

whatlliwear · 20-05-2018 4:45pm

I'm returning to work when my little girl is 6 months old so I don't know what to do. She has a tooth and she has great control of her neck & head.

A lot of people have told me I should start her on solids but my PHN says to wait until she is 6 months old. Any advice is really appreciated. Thanks!

bee06 · 12-06-2018 8:34am

Does anyone have any good BLW recipes they could share for muffins etc that would keep out of the fridge for a day?

Starting my little boy on solids in a couple of weeks and then we’ll be going on holidays three weeks later so I’d like to have some food packed for him to eat on the day we’re travelling.

Edit to add: or any recommendations for websites with recipes. I’m already joined a couple of Facebook groups but they’re tricky to search.

shesty · 12-06-2018 10:56am

I'd suggest the Baby Led feeding cookbook by Alison Cox Blundell Bee.She has a site but actually the book is probably worth the investment as it has a lot of recipes in it amd it's easier to use than the site - I have it and it's impressive.Note she calls it baby led feeding, rather than baby led weaning, means it doesn't always come up in imternet searches.

I use Anabel Karmel too as I haven't had the guts to do exclusively BLW on my two so far.But the second definitely progressed to finger food and chunky solids much quicker than the first, I sort of did purees and mashes and also finger foods, bits of what we were having combined.She's a little trencherwoman when eating now, loves her food!!!!

I believe Nevin Maguire has a kids cookbook too, but I haven't read it so I can't recommend it or not.

Milly33 · 12-06-2018 11:34pm

Plus for Anabels recipes they are great, once you know what he likes it should be easy to make up some snacks

Anne_cordelia · 13-06-2018 2:10am

bee06 wrote: »

Does anyone have any good BLW recipes they could share for muffins etc that would keep out of the fridge for a day?

Starting my little boy on solids in a couple of weeks and then we’ll be going on holidays three weeks later so I’d like to have some food packed for him to eat on the day we’re travelling.

Edit to add: or any recommendations for websites with recipes. I’m already joined a couple of Facebook groups but they’re tricky to search.

Sweet potato muffins from the Baby Led feeding cookbook would work. That’s a great book.

I’d skip AK and Neven. Can’t beliveve some of the tripe they are allowed publish tbh

bee06 · 13-06-2018 9:00am

Thanks, I actually follow baby led feeding on Instagram. I didn’t realise she had a book as well. Her website has some good muffin type recipes too.

Annabel Karamel seems more like traditional weaning anyway. Lots of purée recipes on her website. My husband would divorce me if I brought a Nevin Maguire book into the house. He really dislikes him

shesty · 13-06-2018 9:34am

She does, and I have to say it's very good.Admittedly I don't bother too much with the child friendly chocolate and the like, but she covers the three main meals and snacks fairly thoroughly and has good recipes.AK is traditional weaning-I got it as a present on my first and used it for combinations for freezing.On my second I mostly gave her what we were having.
I like Nevin's latest family cookbook, has some good stuff in it, but I've no clue what his kids recipes are like.But sure you won't need it anyway once you have the other one, your husband can breathe a sigh of relief :-) !!

Milly33 · 13-06-2018 4:51pm

Annabels book has both methods in it just incase. Sorry to ask the question it has probably been asked a lot. But right herself is on two meals a day brekie and dinner. Just wondering she is hitting the 6month mark soon. So the back of the tin of formula says she should be getting 4 x 8oz bottles (32oz) by 6 months and then reading a few places they say she should get 20oz of formula when weaning. Which one is correct?

Just trying to have the new routine set and ready to go thanks for any advice

Plan so far is 7am - 8oz
11am - Brekkie and water (maybe milk for first few days)
2.30 - 8oz
5.30 Dinner and water
7.30 - 8oz

Milly33 · 13-06-2018 8:26pm

sorry after more reading I see the suggestions are between 18 - 20oz. So sorted a bit confusing when reading the tins.

Pocos · 23-06-2018 9:45am

Hi ladies,

Quick question regarding weaning and steralising? I know bottles are meant to be sterilised up to a year! With her bowls spoons and sippy cup is putting them in the dishwasher enough? Or do I need to be putting them in the steriliser before I use them? Seeing as she licks the floor I’d imagine dishwasher is fine but never asked anyone before! Thanks for advice

bee06 · 23-06-2018 6:40pm

Pocos wrote: »

Hi ladies,

Quick question regarding weaning and steralising? I know bottles are meant to be sterilised up to a year! With her bowls spoons and sippy cup is putting them in the dishwasher enough? Or do I need to be putting them in the steriliser before I use them? Seeing as she licks the floor I’d imagine dishwasher is fine but never asked anyone before! Thanks for advice

Bottles need to be sterilised when used for formula feeding because the formula itself can contain bacteria. You don’t need to sterilise bottles when used for breastmilk or bowls, spoons etc either (unless you mix some formula in I suppose).

shesty · 23-06-2018 6:43pm

No need.
Admittedly some people actually use the dishwasher to sterilise the bottles (not something I'd be ok with myself) but dishes etc should be fine.
I've had a 12 week old with gastroentritis and believe me, it's bad.Paranoid about sterilising bottles, but never worried about their cups, bowls etc.

Milly33 · 24-06-2018 12:08am

I havent been either, the spoons and bowls. Just washing them very well thats about it... Yeah i have heard people using the dishwasher to sterilise the bottles and seen it mentioned in places. But would not be a fan myself. Himself put one bottle in one time, and there was turmeric used in something cooked. sure it dyed the bottle. Still hasnt come out!..

Pocos · 24-06-2018 2:20pm

Thanks ladies! I was thinking no need for sterilising but wanted to be sure!!!

Baby rice and carrot has been tried! Going down ok! She’s liking the whole spoon thing, taste wise she doesn’t seem to bothered!!

Milly33 · 27-06-2018 3:04pm

The baby rice is a great filler, glad she is getting on well with it.. I tried herself on Parsnip the last few days and while she like it, she was very windy after and also not sure did it give her a pain in the belly or what.. She was very restless the two nights she had it, dont know was it that or teeth...

bee06 · 30-06-2018 11:56am

We started to solids yesterday! Carrots for lunch and scrambled egg and avocado for breakfast this morning. Oh the mess!

I’d say he got more up in nose than in his belly but that’s all part of the fun.

Pocos · 02-07-2018 7:14pm

Hi ladies,

Solids here are going well! Loving the baby rice and avacado! Not too keen on brocolli and carrots!

I have noticed she’s been hard to breast feed this weekend!! I was wondering did anyone else notice this? Is it to do with solids? Or is it the heat? I can’t decide! Also we were away for the weekend in a hotel so could have been the change of venue! So hard to know!

bee06 · 02-07-2018 8:28pm

My fella loves broccoli! Today was the first day where he was chewing the food as well. Before he was sucking. It’s facinating to watch him learn so quickly.

I have him a ice pop made with natural yogurt today and he loved it but he has a bit of a rash now on his face where the yogurt ended up so we’ll have to give that a miss for a while.

It’s hard to say what could cause the reduction in feeding. My little boy defintely fed less during the day from the heat last week but his nappies were ok so I wasn’t worried.

Pocos · 02-07-2018 8:53pm

bee06 wrote: »

My fella loves broccoli! Today was the first day where he was chewing the food as well. Before he was sucking. It’s facinating to watch him learn so quickly.

I have him a ice pop made with natural yogurt today and he loved it but he has a bit of a rash now on his face where the yogurt ended up so we’ll have to give that a miss for a while.

It’s hard to say what could cause the reduction in feeding. My little boy defintely fed less during the day from the heat last week but his nappies were ok so I wasn’t worried.

Thanks bee! She’s had 6 wet nappies today probably not as heavy as usual but with the weather they haven’t been too heavy the past few weeks! She’s feeding really well there so I’d say she’s just too warm during the day to feed with my body heat and hers!! It’s so hard to know really!

Great your fella likes broccoli! My little one def didn’t like it

Milly33 · 02-07-2018 10:48pm

You could try the broccoli in a few days again, it is a thing that some babies are quite weary sorry to slow an internet connection to look up spelling, but of green coloured foods. Herself was the same, and I really wanted to get her to eat them as they are full of all types of goodness, so ended up doing then sure ill have a bit and then you have a bit... Loves it not.

Crybabygeeks · 07-07-2018 6:06pm

Hi everyone. Have a 4 month old that I think will need to start solids within next month or so. currently BF and looking for a good resource to help me understand and start the process.

Have heard baby led is good and worthwhile in the long run but unsure of how it works

Any help or links much appreciated!

Thanks all.

Pocos · 07-07-2018 6:30pm

Crybabygeeks wrote: »

Hi everyone. Have a 4 month old that I think will need to start solids within next month or so. currently BF and looking for a good resource to help me understand and start the process.

Have heard baby led is good and worthwhile in the long run but unsure of how it works

Any help or links much appreciated!

Thanks all.

I have a 6 month old and we started solids 2 weeks ago! To be honest I went to about 3 or 4 different sources and they all tend to say the same things but in different order and amount! So the assumption I came to was there’s no way of doing it wrong per say! Just introduce foods slowly!

But I am interested to hear other people’s opinions and advice as I’m completely winging it!

bee06 · 07-07-2018 9:04pm

Crybabygeeks wrote: »

Hi everyone. Have a 4 month old that I think will need to start solids within next month or so. currently BF and looking for a good resource to help me understand and start the process.

Have heard baby led is good and worthwhile in the long run but unsure of how it works

Any help or links much appreciated!

Thanks all.

To start baby led weaning the baby has to have lost their tongue thrust (the reflex to push things out of their mouth) and be able to sit up well (they need to be able to push themselves forward when they gag). These things usually don’t happen before 6 months. Basically you give them finger food instead of purees. Chip shaped so they can pick them up and long enough so there is some sticking out the end. They eat very little at the start but it’s all about learning to chew, move food around the mouth, picking up food, texture etc. I would also recommend a first aid course because babies do gag and it’s completely normal but it’s nervewracking!

We started last week at 6 months and so far he’s had a good few different veg, shredded chicken, scrambled egg, nectarine and banana pancakes.

Crybabygeeks · 07-07-2018 11:21pm

bee06 wrote: »

To start baby led weaning the baby has to have lost their tongue thrust (the reflex to push things out of their mouth) and be able to sit up well (they need to be able to push themselves forward when they gag). These things usually don’t happen before 6 months. Basically you give them finger food instead of purees. Chip shaped so they can pick them up and long enough so there is some sticking out the end. They eat very little at the start but it’s all about learning to chew, move food around the mouth, picking up food, texture etc. I would also recommend a first aid course because babies do gag and it’s completely normal but it’s nervewracking!

We started last week at 6 months and so far he’s had a good few different veg, shredded chicken, scrambled egg, nectarine and banana pancakes.

Great thanks bee. Must look into the first aid course too to have the basics. Are you pureeing everything or cutting it up?

bee06 · 08-07-2018 3:17am

Crybabygeeks wrote: »

Great thanks bee. Must look into the first aid course too to have the basics. Are you pureeing everything or cutting it up?

I’m doing all finger food.

Toots · 16-07-2018 2:56am

Quick question for you guys, I started introducing a small bit of solids last week - a little bit of pureed fruit or veg at lunch time - and my daughter is really enjoying it. How long do I leave it before introducing a second "meal" in the day? She gets very annoyed when we're having dinner because she wants to be eating as well, but I don't want to go to fast. I thought I'd never forget this stuff, but I can't remember how long we left it before adding meals with my son.

shesty · 16-07-2018 1:11pm

If she wants something Toots, I'd give it to her.There's guidelines, but no hard and fast rules let's face it :-).A couple of small spoons of something will hopefully keep her happy!
Unfortunately this is the problem with second and subsequent kids, the rules change for them because they demand what their siblings have!!!!

Milly33 · 16-07-2018 2:19pm

I introduced one meal each week. First week went for brekkie or well 11 brekkie and gradually cut down that bottle feed too, then the following week went with dinner and done the same with the bottle. The book I go back to reference says she should be on three meals a day but they she isn't up at the crack of dawn so tis more brunch she gets.. She is happy with it so going with it..
Kinda started to give her the odd snack during the day too, like even if we are having dinner early she can have half a lega or piece of bread (just so messy

) maybe a bit of yogurt.. Tried her recently with Apricots and she loves them, I think she likes the texture of something a little more chunky and also the melt in the mouth bit. Also tired chicken this week and she is getting there, not too sure of it but working with it... It is actually lovely Chicken and Garlic blended like a pate, id have it for a party piece on toast or something.. Really enjoying making up the foods...Have her drinking better out of the cup now too trying to get rid of the bottles at brekkie and lunch time so working on the cup daily with her..

Toots · 16-07-2018 3:40pm

Thanks guys! I think I'll let her have a bit of sweet potato during dinner this evening. She had apple and pear for lunch so that'll be 2 meals today and we'll see how she gets on. We had these banana wafer things for her - basically a communion wafer that had spent time in the same room as a banana - and she really liked them, but I noticed the days we gave her them, she'd be very unsettled going to bed, so I'm not sure if she was finding them hard to digest.

Not looking forward to the change in the nappies. I've gotten used to the virtually-odorless breastmilk poos :pac:

Milly33 · 16-07-2018 8:55pm

Oh the stinkers!!! haha they are quite potent the new poops.... What are these wafer things they sound good and mess free.. Herself loves the lega but it is so messy... Could be the banana flavour, do you or your hubbie have any allergies or something like that with foods? Himself cant eat bananas gives him stomach pains and found herself was the same, while she liked it and would it, similar to your little one she was upset later and spewed a lot more after it..

Pocos · 16-07-2018 11:04pm

Hi ladies just following the thread there! Someone mentioned about reducing milk feed during the solid food times and using cups!

In the cup feeding what are ye giving? Is it milk or water? I’m EBF but haven’t reduced how often I Breast feed should I be? I think it’s kinda happening naturally but is it something I should be doing?? This weaning thing is very confusing

The Weaning Thread

Comments