Weaning Advice?

Question

My baby is 24wks and has suddenly embraced weaning! I tried baby rice etc and not interested and then suddenly has throughly enjoyed puried veg. I have been offering HIPP jars and he has been eating roughly nearly a full jar of veg and then a good quarterof a jar of fruit. In the morning he has been eating baby porridge. I have gradually introduced a taster of solids (again veg) at lunch time. He has automatically dropped his bottle and I although I still offer it, his consumption has reduced.

When can I introduce meat into his diet? The HIPP jars seem to suggest that I can, but I am not sure and don't want to introduce it too early. I know that he is still too young for Gluten and therefore have not offered that at all.

I don't want to rush him and do harm, but I would like him to experience a full range of foods as possible.

Of course I am not suggesting that he no longer has his milk feeds. I am fully aware that at the moment this is his only source of a balanced diet. I am also aware that not only is it essential that he has his formula at least up to 12mths, but he continues to have milk after then as he needs the calcium etc. I was simply asking if there were any contraindications to offering meat into the solids that he is now taking. I also wanted practical advice from parents who have gone through this stage.

Answer 1

I would say he sounds ready for meats to be introduced. I started my daughter on Hipp veg only jars and gradually introduced varied jars and after about 4 weeks jars with meat in. As you say it is recommended that you do not introduce gluten (pasta etc) until at least 26 weeks but meat is fine.
My daughter also dropped a feed when she started to eat more solid food, I ensure i make up her breakfast (banana porrigde) with formula, and now at 8 months she has about 22 oz a day. As long as your little one is putting on weight and having lots of wet nappies and some dirty ones I am sure this drop of bottle will be fine.
Weaning is such a confusing time and here in the UK there is little information given to help you know you are doing the right thing. I found reading parenting and baby magasines really useful and also Yahoo answers !!!
If you need any more help or advice feel free to e mail me
Good luck

Answer 2

I introduced meat at around 7-8 months I think it was and started with the easily digestables like chicken, I also tried fish as well as its easy to digest, red meat can be a bit harder to digest.
You will find though that baby will start to go off milk mine did the same thing and apart from the milk that was in her food or cereal it was a real struggle to get her to drink milk. As she ate well I didn't worry about it to much even though I know in the first year milk is the most important thing but when I saw the health visitor and she new she was on 3 proper meals a day and snacks and was gaining weight it wasn't a problem. Some children do just go off milk, I always offered it in her bottle and cup but she refused untill after her 1st birthday now she will drink milk but only from a cup which was good as it meant I didn't have any trouble getting her off the bottle so it can have it benefits babies going off milk!!

Answer 3

I'ts not unusual for a 6 month old to want real foods--however, there is a regimen that pediatricians like to stick to as to what foods are introduced first, etc, etc and the reason being is so that the baby does not develop any food allergies---I suggest you call your pediatrician and have them give you their booklet on food introduction---and if you don't take your baby to a pediatrician and just a regular md--go to the book store and find a book which would illustrate the introduction of foods to a newborn........it should outline what order what is served---even the veggies and the fruits are in order---at least they were with my children but they are in their 20's now..good luck.........until then, stick to baby cereal mixed with forumula and apricots......I remember they were some of the firsts.

Answer 4

I introduced meat when my son was about 7/ 8 months old.

I started with chicken and made casseroles etc although I still had to puree for quite some time lol!!

I think they recommend around 25g (1oz) of animal protein per day at the 6-9 month weaning stage.

If he is dropping alot of milk, make recipes that you can add his milk to like macaroni cheese, corn chowder etc to make up his allowance. I have a couple of recipes if you want them.

Good luck xxx

Answer 5

Go for it! Just check that you are buying the appropriate age range for your son.
He should still be getting about a pint of milk a day though. If that's a struggle, then mix some milk into the weaning foods, or buy dried preparations rather than ready made jars and mix the powder with his formula milk.
I loved weaning stages, great fun!
I ended up feeding my girls in just their nappies, so I could pop them straight into the sink for a hose down after! Check your hair before you go out!
Watch out for lumps of goo in it! LOL!

Answer 6

My pediatrician said that meat (even in baby food) should not be introduced before 9 months. My sister's doctor said the same thing.

Their little tummies just aren't ready to digest meats before then.

Answer 7

It makes me laugh when the idiots think weaning means taking the baby off milk altogether, what do they think we are???
As far as the meat thing goes, he can have what you have as long as theres no added salt, and that he can eat it with ease.
I didn't puree my daughters food ( weaned her at 5 months, meat at 6 months, shes now 8 months and eats everything lol)
Even though she has no teeth she can chew, as long as her meat is cut into tiny pieces she's fine.
Also try Pasta dishes, my lil one loves it cos its big enough to pick up and feed to herself, i add a tomato sauce to it and i think its her fav dish.
You sound like you have it sorted :o)

Answer 8

Think it was 6 months when I weaned my son, but the guidelines change all the time. Check out the link below to the babycentre website.

Answer 9

Are you asking about weaning from milk??? Babies NEED breastmilk or formula until AT LEAST 12 months old. It should be the main source of nutrients and calories for your child. Do not under any circumstances wean your child from breastmilk or formula until that age. After 12 months, your child should be given WHOLE MILK (cow's milk) and/or breastmilk. The fats in these milks are very important for proper mental development.

Answer 10

I would - he sounds as though he is ready for them.

The Hipp range is great - my little one loves them.