The Weaning Thread

73trix

I am starting my 23 week old on solids this week but at a loss about how to manage the routine of bottles and solids. He currently goes 6am-6pm. Have almost fully weaned him off the breast so he takes about 4 X 8oz bottles per 24hrs alongside a bf before bed so 5 X feeds in 24hrs. I feed him a bottle when he wakes and then 3-4 hourly thereafter. Will I be reducing some bottles and replacing one/2 with water over time? Do I give solids alongside bottle feed or in between bottles? Thanks.

CarpeDiem85

73trix wrote: »

I am starting my 23 week old on solids this week but at a loss about how to manage the routine of bottles and solids. He currently goes 6am-6pm. Have almost fully weaned him off the breast so he takes about 4 X 8oz bottles per 24hrs alongside a bf before bed so 5 X feeds in 24hrs. I feed him a bottle when he wakes and then 3-4 hourly thereafter. Will I be reducing some bottles and replacing one/2 with water over time? Do I give solids alongside bottle feed or in between bottles? Thanks.

As far as I can remember I introduced the food for the first week to see how she got on with it, without cutting out any bottles. Luckily she took the food well and then the 2nd week, I cut out her lunchtime bottle. They say to introduce the food earlier in the day as they're hungrier then and I'd give the food first as the bottle would fill them up too much. Sorry it was only a year ago and I've nearly forgotten already. I hope this helps

RentDayBlues

73trix wrote: »

I am starting my 23 week old on solids this week but at a loss about how to manage the routine of bottles and solids. He currently goes 6am-6pm. Have almost fully weaned him off the breast so he takes about 4 X 8oz bottles per 24hrs alongside a bf before bed so 5 X feeds in 24hrs. I feed him a bottle when he wakes and then 3-4 hourly thereafter. Will I be reducing some bottles and replacing one/2 with water over time? Do I give solids alongside bottle feed or in between bottles? Thanks.

What about considering baby led weaning and letting baby naturally drop bottles?

shivers27

73trix wrote: »

I am starting my 23 week old on solids this week but at a loss about how to manage the routine of bottles and solids. He currently goes 6am-6pm. Have almost fully weaned him off the breast so he takes about 4 X 8oz bottles per 24hrs alongside a bf before bed so 5 X feeds in 24hrs. I feed him a bottle when he wakes and then 3-4 hourly thereafter. Will I be reducing some bottles and replacing one/2 with water over time? Do I give solids alongside bottle feed or in between bottles? Thanks.

I got a book by the dieticians in Temple street hospital called "how to feed your child well " . I find it great... It tells you exactly what to do re: bottles and how much milk to give, also sample meal plans etc . I find it very helpful.

73trix

shivers27 wrote: »

I got a book by the dieticians in Temple street hospital called "how to feed your child well " . I find it great... It tells you exactly what to do re: bottles and how much milk to give, also sample meal plans etc . I find it very helpful.

Thank you. I will look up that book. Does anyone have any sample feeding routines for a 6month old? I'm not sure how to space out the bottles and solids. Is it a solid before the usual bottle or do you add in extra "meals" with a solid in between bottles?

lazygal

I never had a routine of solids. When we started, I gave baby sticks of porridge, veg and fruit, what we ate really, at the times we were eating. Mine were breastfeed so I was never in a set routine of feeding anyway, but remember food before one is just for fun. They should be getting most of their nutrition from milk until one.

madeinamerica

73trix wrote: »

Thank you. I will look up that book. Does anyone have any sample feeding routines for a 6month old? I'm not sure how to space out the bottles and solids. Is it a solid before the usual bottle or do you add in extra "meals" with a solid in between bottles?

I'm just about to start to wean my guy now too so this is just from what I've read: Babies still get most of their nutrients from milk for the first few months of solids and milk (both formula and breastmilk) is more nutrient dense than baby foods. So it is advised to feed the baby milk first then offer solid food. This way they get to try the solids but won't fill up on them and miss out on the nutrients from the milk. I guess as they get more used to the solids they'll take more anyway. Have fun!

Roesy

madeinamerica wrote: »

I'm just about to start to wean my guy now too so this is just from what I've read: Babies still get most of their nutrients from milk for the first few months of solids and milk (both formula and breastmilk) is more nutrient dense than baby foods. So it is advised to feed the baby milk first then offer solid food. This way they get to try the solids but won't fill up on them and miss out on the nutrients from the milk. I guess as they get more used to the solids they'll take more anyway. Have fun!

This is what I did in terms of milk. I more or less did what Lazygal did with what food I offered her after doing a very brief foray into the world of puree. I found that if she wasn't after her bottle then she got too hungry and frustrated in the early days. She dropped oz's/bottles in her own time. At 16 months she still has a morning and bedtime bottle and a cup of milk during the day if she looks for it. She has water with food.

kandr10

Came across this. Simple idea but fun!

https://www.facebook.com/BBCGoodFood/posts/10152880672538547

Marz66

With BLW, do you introduce one food at a time or a few together? Thanks

RentDayBlues

Marz66 wrote: »

With BLW, do you introduce one food at a time or a few together? Thanks

I introduced everything as we ate it. For anything that might cause allergies I used it first thing in the morning so if there was a reaction I'd know. Only foods I held back on were whole nuts and honey until they turned 1, everything else was fair game

Marz66

RentDayBlues wrote: »

I introduced everything as we ate it. For anything that might cause allergies I used it first thing in the morning so if there was a reaction I'd know. Only foods I held back on were whole nuts and honey until they turned 1, everything else was fair game

Thanks just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. We did 3 days BLW and he had a reaction to something and cos we tried a few foods, I'm not sure what it was. I'm thinking of doing spoon feeding instead and doing it one purée at a time as my nerves are not right after it. Bubs is ok but had horrible rash like sunburn.

Edited to say I know he would have had the reaction with spoon feeding too but I think I would feel a bit more in control this way.

mirrorwall14

Marz66 wrote: »

Thanks just wanted to make sure I was doing it right. We did 3 days BLW and he had a reaction to something and cos we tried a few foods, I'm not sure what it was. I'm thinking of doing spoon feeding instead and doing it one purée at a time as my nerves are not right after it. Bubs is ok but had horrible rash like sunburn.

Edited to say I know he would have had the reaction with spoon feeding too but I think I would feel a bit more in control this way.

Maybe keep up the baby led but only give him one of the foods ye are having at a time?

How Strange

I guess even with blw it's a process of watching if they react to anything which is why you should take it slowly to start and introduce the usual allergic foods one at a time. What I like about blw is that food is for exploration of taste and texture until 1 and milk is the man source of nutrition until then.

Marz66

Thanks for advice.

mirrorwall14 wrote: »

Maybe keep up the baby led but only give him one of the foods ye are having at a time?

That's an idea. Though maybe it should be the same one food at every meal for 1-3 days?

How Strange wrote: »

I guess even with blw it's a process of watching if they react to anything which is why you should take it slowly to start and introduce the usual allergic foods one at a time. What I like about blw is that food is for exploration of taste and texture until 1 and milk is the man source of nutrition until then.

Ya, I like the BLW principles. But I've asked around and no one I know has done it. That's not a reason not to do it but now that I've had a reaction to something so soon, I'm put off.

I had to get an anti histamine at pharmacy and he said to do the 1 food for 3 days, then another food for 3 days. Purées might suit better for doing that.

Did anyone else here start spoon feeding solids at 6 months? Just curious did you follow Annabel Karmel guidelines (eg just one purée a day for the first week) or go a bit faster. Her book starts with puréed apple, pear, carrot etc. Should I use fortified rice for iron or could I introduce puréed chicken soon enough?

kandr10

Marz66 wrote: »

Thanks for advice.



That's an idea. Though maybe it should be the same one food at every meal for 1-3 days?



Ya, I like the BLW principles. But I've asked around and no one I know has done it. That's not a reason not to do it but now that I've had a reaction to something so soon, I'm put off.

I had to get an anti histamine at pharmacy and he said to do the 1 food for 3 days, then another food for 3 days. Purées might suit better for doing that.

Did anyone else here start spoon feeding solids at 6 months? Just curious did you follow Annabel Karmel guidelines (eg just one purée a day for the first week) or go a bit faster. Her book starts with puréed apple, pear, carrot etc. Should I use fortified rice for iron or could I introduce puréed chicken soon enough?

I used the anabel Karmel book as a reference really and took my cues from the baby. We didn't stick to just one type of purée for a week. As far as I remember we gave carrot or sweet potato for a few days then potato on its on for a few days. Then it quickly became clear she was enjoying solids do we introduced a few different veg in week 2 and various combos of veg. It might be an idea to keep a diary of there's already been a reaction so you can refer back. Even if there were 2 or 3 potential culprits (say if it was a mixed purée) it'd be easier to narrow down.
Your baby is still getting all his nutrients from milk so don't worry about iron content. Move onto chicken when you're happy he's getting on ok.
Since he's 6 months you'll be able to introduce finger foods soon. I know there are specific principles behind blw but perhaps using purées and then adding finger food when he's ready would be a good compromise? Again with being that bit older, the purées don't need to stay liquidy for long - you can add more texture relatively quickly and work up towards mashed food or food with lumps.

dori_dormer

We did the anabel Karmel here but blw soon took over. Spoon feeding was so stressful and time consuming! We did the fruit / veg purée for a few weeks and then moved on to a bit of meat.

You have to remember your baby would have had the reaction regardless. I used to give him a few sticks of carrot or raspberries or thin slices of apple.
He also loved the rice cakes and corn snacks.

From 6 months all babies are supposed to get finger foods anyway regardless of weaning type

How Strange

As far as I know there's no medical reason to introduce food by puréeing and only one at a time for a week. It's just the norm. Before 1920's babies were breastfed to 18 months and then giving gruel type foods made on a meat stock. That changed as more babies were being given formula milk so it was necessary to add nutrients at a younger age.

I think blw is becoming more popular. Anabelle karmel seems to be the most famous 'brand' of weaning but parents seem to turn to blw style on subsequent children because it's easier.

If you want to stick to spoonfeeding then skip the puréeing. A 6 month old can handle a bit of texture so fork mash whatever you're giving.

Marz66

Thanks all, that's really helpful.

I think maybe starting with purées but moving quickly to finger foods and lumps might work best for me. Eg once I know he can take apple purée I could give the thin apple slices as finger foods.

pwurple

Marz66 wrote: »

Thanks all, that's really helpful.

I think maybe starting with purées but moving quickly to finger foods and lumps might work best for me. Eg once I know he can take apple purée I could give the thin apple slices as finger foods.

Marz66,
what might be helpful to identify allergies is the list of 14 food allergens.



https://www.fsai.ie/legislation/food_legislation/food_information/14_allergens.html


Gluten
Shellfish (crustaceans - prawns, crab etc)
Shellfish (Molluscs - Mussels, squid, Snails etc)
Eggs
Fish
Peanuts
Soy
Milk
Nuts
Celery
Mustard
Sesame
Sulphites
Lupins


For us, it was egg first (very common in the under 4's), and later we discovered a mild nut allergy.


If you've a rough idea of what it is, I highly recommend getting it confirmed by an allergy specialist, who can come up with a treatment plan. Our daughter is now allergy free, she was fully tested in the hospital every few months, and at age 3 she stopped reacting.

madeinamerica

Marz66 wrote: »

Thanks all, that's really helpful.

I think maybe starting with purées but moving quickly to finger foods and lumps might work best for me. Eg once I know he can take apple purée I could give the thin apple slices as finger foods.

I've heard that apple can break off into hard chunks so it isn't a good finger food at the start. But if you microwave it first for a few secs it softens it. I haven't tried it yet as we're just starting weaning too.

How Strange

Slices of pear, banana sticks, steamed broccoli, steamed carrot sticks and pieces of toast are good starter finger foods. At the beginning most of it goes on the floor and whatever goes in comes back out.

kandr10

I never noticed before having a baby that a banana splits nicely into thirds lengthways :-)

Marz66

Thanks for the tips, great thread

73trix

Still struggling with routine for weaning. Afternoons the hardest. My guy goes to bed at 6. How should I work his last solids? I want him to take his bottle before bed but he hasn't been taking it as I assume too full from last solids. Currently I give his breakfast about 8/8.30; lunch 11.30/12.

What do you do when out and about ? I have found I ended up missing the last solid as I couldn't get timing right. Is it okay to miss one and give a bottle instead? Someone suggested making it up at bedtime by giving some baby porridge with last bottle. Thanks.
????

How Strange

I honestly wouldn't stress to much about it. It's always a bit haphazard in the first weeks and I found on both of mine that a routine fell into place around 9 months. Your little one doesn't 'need' his solids 3 times a day. He needs his milk for nutrition and his solids are for taste and exploring regardless if whether you're spoonfeeding or doing blw.

kandr10

Yeah well said how strange.
Don't put porridge in the last bottle, there's no need really. If he's hungry give him more milk.
If he goes to bed about 6 why not try the last solids at say 3 or 4? That could be something simple like a few spoons of yogurt with fruit, a mashed up banana (or fingers if he's able) both are easy to give when out too. If I was out for lunch I'd either bring a pot of stuff I'd prepared if I knew there was going to be somewhere to heat it or else I'd use those Ella's kitchen pouches with the recloseable spout. You can squeeze those directly onto the spoon so it's not too messy when you're out. If you do blw any of the finger foods are transportable. What do you usually give as the last solid? Could it be too filling maybe? Could you try something smaller/lighter so he's still hungry enough for the bottle?

shivers27

73trix wrote: »

Still struggling with routine for weaning. Afternoons the hardest. My guy goes to bed at 6. How should I work his last solids? I want him to take his bottle before bed but he hasn't been taking it as I assume too full from last solids. Currently I give his breakfast about 8/8.30; lunch 11.30/12.

What do you do when out and about ? I have found I ended up missing the last solid as I couldn't get timing right. Is it okay to miss one and give a bottle instead? Someone suggested making it up at bedtime by giving some baby porridge with last bottle. Thanks.
????

My 7 month olds routine is :
8am 6oz bottle
0830 weetabix with banana
1200 6oz bottle
1300 lunch - dinner type meal ie mashed potatoes with veg followed by fruit pot
1600 4oz bottle
1700 dinner and desert
1800 yogurt
1845 7oz bottle and bed

If you're out and about just bring a jar of food or Ella pouch or a home made meal. No need to heat as it will be fine at room temp.

veggie newbie

Considering doing blw and will need to start in a few weeks. Can anyone recommend a good reference site or book on how to do this? Still breastfeeding at the moment, baby hasn't managed to master a bottle yet (tried pumping but she can't manage the different suck mechanism). Might have to start her on solids soon and not sure where to start if attempting the blw. Thanks.

dori_dormer

There's a great baby led weaning Ireland Facebook page. They have links to the recommended books and philosophies.

The main one is though to not start until 26 weeks. Unless the baby is totally ready ie sitting unaided, grasping and brining things to their mouth etc. then you might start a week early but it's not really a good idea.