how do i start weaning my baby?

Question

im a new mum and my baby is 6months old and not 2 sure wot solids 2 give my baby and does she still carry on her bottles?

Answer 1

Your baby won't need more than a taste of solid food for the moment so all you need to do is cook a small amount of extra porridge in the morning (a quarter of an ounce dry weight - literally), mash some carrot and potato together (do not add salt but use herbs and garlic to make anything you cook taste interesting) or mash up half a banana each meal time and offer your baby one or two teaspoons full of one of these with each meal. Then top her up with milk when she refuses to eat any more. Gradually she will want more solids and will indicate this by looking for the spoon and opening her mouth willingly when the spoon is loaded. When she has had enough, she will turn away from the spoon.

At first, she will appear to choke on the solids and may become distressed. Just try to reassure her - cuddle her and speak to her (i.e. tell her she is doing great and she will be okay). But, most importantly, persevere otherwise she will never learn to eat solids. As long as you persevere, she will get the hang of it, pretty quickly.

The other thing to do once your daughter gets the hang of eating is to reduce the amount of formula in the bottle gradually. She will soon learn that the milk isn't enough and will eat more to compensate.

Good luck with the weaning! When I saw your question I remembered weaning my own son more than 19 years ago. He did the dramatic choking and all the rest of it but he turned out to be a great eater once he got the hang of it!

PS: Naysayers who rubbish rusks ought to know that my son had sugar free rusks as a baby and he is now almost 20 and has yet to have a filling! He has no cavities either (indeed, he is a model and is on the books at Storm). So I guess a child will only develop problems if their parents are lax about brushing - which I never was...

Answer 2

Yes, she'll still need the bottles for some time. Weaning is a gradual process.

It's recommended to start with baby cereals - you get them in the baby food section. Pour a little in a bowl and mix with formula or breast milk (whatever is in her bottles) so it's a mush. Feed her tiny bits at a time. At first most of it will end up on her chin or the bib, but in a few days she'll get better at swallowing and most of it will go to her tummy.

Try one new food at time, adding a new one every three days. This will give you a chance to see if there's any allergies or irritations (my baby isn't allergic to anything exactly, but the sweet potatoes gave her a rash so I know not to give her those).

After cereals, you can move on to jar baby food. It isn't really important which, although personally I recommend vegetables, meats, and then fruit, so they don't think everything is supposed to taste sweet.

I recommend giving her baby food twice a day, the equivalents of lunch and dinner, and continue the bottles in between. She'll still need the nutrition and liquid. It will take a few months at least before solids make up more of her nutrition than bottles. But she needs to learn to eat and digest solids, so it's a gradual process.

Good luck! Enjoy the mush chins and surprised faces!

Answer 3

My understanding from my Doctor is solids should be introduced one at a time over the course of many weeks. First rice cereal, then a little added banana, then baby peaches or apple. Formula continues from bottles while you teach the use of a sippy cup. Stay with formula for drinking for the first year. Do ask your Doctor for recommendations of when to feed what to your child. Slowly trying things out avoids constipating your baby and if your baby is allergic to something you will know right away what it is. Many Doctors are recommending avoiding peanut based products, eggs, and wheat flour in the first year to try to avoid allergies. Also, no added sugar to anything.

Answer 4

You need to start slowly. Start with breakfast first. Give her baby rice or porridge and her milk. Gradually extend the meals to lunch. Pureed veggies and fruit for desert are fine. Then you need to introduce dinner. The same applies pureed veggies and fruit. I gave my daughter C & G jars occassionally and she loved them. You also need to incorporate fish and meats. I found that minced steak pureed with tomatoes and veggies was a firm favourite. My daughter also loved fish pureed with potatoes and carrots. You can buy a great product from boots called baby gravy. She loved having this with her veggies and mash. You should carry on with the milk feeds until your daughter is eating a balanced and heathly diet. Don't forget not to add salt or sugar to your baby's food and I would recommend speaking to your health visitor with regards what foods to avoid. I have a two year old and she still has C & G Growing up milk on a morning and at bedtime. Hope this helps!!!

Answer 5

Ive got a tree month old and Ive started him on rice all ready due to the fact that hes a hungry baby, hes on 9oz every feed on cow & gate step 2 plus aptamil step three in the enening and thats still not enough, but putting them on solids u have to do it gradually and yes they still have there bottle only 2/3 at day ie one in monring then one in the evening but your the mother and its all on your instinks you no whats best for your baby no one else, and if your baby does not like what your giving him/her then they will soon let you no. an aother thing to check on with what ever food your giving him make sure hes going to toilet enough if he/she not having 2/3 dirty nappies then the foods not good for him/her.....

Answer 6

Hi, start with a little baby rice first, just give her a taster, but still carry on with her normal amount of bottle, gradually she will eat more and you can decrease the amount of oz's in her bottle. Middday day is a good time, when you have time to sit and try to get her to take food. She will try to suck it off the spoon until she has learned to take it properly. Good Luck

Answer 7

She will soon get ratty if the milk is not enough. I introduced my sons quite early to tastes on the back of spoon. That way I found they got used to a spoon and also the taste. Then slowly I introduced mashed pots or carrots or courgettes and also soft fruit. (one taste at a time) adding differnt thigns each day. I had no problem, they were both hearty eaters and still are (27 and 22!!!)

Good luck and Merry FIRST Christmas with baby!

oh PS they continued with milk before sleep at night until way into their fourth birthday!

Answer 8

every parent is different but myself at 4 months i started with plain baby rice once a day then increase 2 twice a day and add a small amount of veg(peas,carrot,sweetpotato ect)2 the rice.feed each veg seperate for abt 4 days so u know if ur baby has a reaction!good luck!

Answer 9

yes carry on with her bottles. her milk is still very important to have. start her on a little bit of baby rice mixed with her milk. just try a few baby spoonfuls to let her get the taste and get use to feeding from a spoon

Answer 10

You can start giving your baby pureed foods - jarred baby food at six months. But the baby's primary source of nutrition should still be breast milk or formula until she is 1 year old.

I really recommend you speak with your pediatrician. It's too bad baby's don't come with instruction manuals, huh!