Advice about weaning for someone who has no idea!!

[BigDogLittleDog]

I have no idea!

Is it normal for the baby to be sick/uncomfortable when weaning starts or is this an indication that he's not ready?

Started 6mo ds on just mashed up avocado...to me, it seems his tongue reflex is still pushing most out...

Last night after having 2 small amounts of avocado - one at lunch, one at tea, he woke up at 4am with what seemed to be a tummy ache. He resettled after I massage his tummy for a bit and rocked him upright. This morning, he's been sicker than usual (and it's green obviously!).

My instincts are telling me he's not quite ready yet and there's no rush so see how he is for a couple of days before trying again?

Any advice please?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

It doesn't sound like he's ready tbh. Some decree of poo change is normal but it shouldn't give them tummy ache.

Leave it a week or two and try some mashed potato. Start mild. Potato or banana.

Really won't hurt to wait :)

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Oh and start once a day. Don't go straight into 2/3 meals. Take it slow

[scrivette]

I agree, leave it a week or so and try again. Perhaps give him some food to hold and see if he is interested in putting it in his mouth, baby led weaning style.

[BigDogLittleDog]

Perfect thank you, I'm im no rush to be honest as I understand they still get all of their nutrients from milk at the beginning?

Will also try something a bit simpler and only once a day- maybe lunch time so the body has time to digest before bed...

Thank you for your help so quickly!

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Most of all don't panic. Yes other people's babies are eating three meals a day and have been since 4/5 months. Dd1 was one of those.

Others will barely touch food til 7/8/9 months .

As long as they have milk they are fine!!! Just let him
Enjoy it, it really doesn't matter if he doesn't eat til later. :)

[BigDogLittleDog]

Ooh thanks for replying too scrivett. Last week I gave him some broccoli to hold and he definitely put it in his mouth and pulled funny faces...but he got a rash around his mouth and I couldn't work out if it was his teething or the broccoli do decided to wait until teething was over the worst!

It's really hard to know when to start - I'm happy to gently introduce things for him to explore blw style but I keep getting the comments from well meaners that I should really be starting him on solids now as he'll definitely sleep much better!! Which I really don't believe!

[siblingrevelry]

Also sounds like a no-vote for avocado! It's quite fatty and rich Di might be too much. Have you looked into baby led weaning? Might be worth a google, I did the conventional mush way with my first two (no problems, good eaters etc) and bless with my third and it was just a doddle and makes so much sense as a way of healthy/positive eating.

[BigDogLittleDog]

I was definitely going to go the blw route but thought I'd mix in a bit of mush for things like avocado or banana etc.

I will definitely way a few days and read up on it properly then try again!

Thanks all

[OsMalleytheCat]

You could try baby rice initially? Mix it with their milk so the taste isn't a million miles away, just to help them with their swallowing.

I found that we spent a week just giving DS breakfast then introducing lunch for a week then dinner helped to slowly introduce food into his diet.

I also put some formula in everything again to try and give it a familiar taste.

You can also buy weaning books off amazon really cheap to help with ideas about first tastes/what's best nutritionally etc.

HTH

[ExBrightonBell]

Avocado and banana are actually ok to do BLW style? Banana can be split down the middle to give 3 long strands - perfect for holding. Avocado I used to crinkle cut (crinkle cutters are about 2/3 pounds on amazon) into batons that were also easy to handle.

[BigDogLittleDog]

Ooh will try splitting a banana down the middle and invest in a set of crinkle cutters!

I don't know the background of baby rice getting a bad time on here but my personal preference is to stick to natural things, especially to begin with.

His tummy has been fine today so might try him with a steamed carrot later baby led style and see what he does with it!

Thanks for all your help everyone x

[OsMalleytheCat]

I'm with 100% about only giving them natural stuff but you can buy 100% organic baby rice and more than anything it helps them get used to swallowing textured food without having to get used to a new taste as well if you choose to mix it with milk.

I'm not saying you must go out and buy some, but don't completely discount the idea, it's all very hard for a little baby.

[BigDogLittleDog]

I just mean non processed stuff.

[TotallyFoxed]

And to split a banana length ways into 3 you just push the top (or bottom!) quite firmly and it does it itself!! Magic!

[BigDogLittleDog]

Is anyone still there?

I've totally given up on the BLW! I don't have the nerve for it...

Gave him some carrot batons but he kept choking! They were soft enough to much so when he held them big lumps would come off in his mouth and he'd gag and choke - it wasn't fun! Have I done it wrong? How can people do this without having a heart attack?!

[ExBrightonBell]

Are you sure he was actually choking? Gagging is really common, and it is noisy. Choking is very unusual and is silent. Choking needs intervention to remove the blockage (safely using appropriate first aid techniques) whereas gagging should be left alone for the child to figure out for themselves.

Gagging is a protection from choking - it's a reflex that pushes food forwards, and then the child can manipulate the food and try again, or spit it out altogether. It's part of the learning to eat process.

In all the months of doing BLW, my ds did lots of gagging, but never choked. The gagging usually subsides quite quickly, and by 7 - 8 months he was pretty good at manipulating food in his mouth.

It sounds like he was doing exactly the right thing with the carrot - lumps will break off, but they will figure out how to chew and swallow them. Even if you go to a traditional approach and spoon feed purees, the NHS advice is to offer finger foods alongside from 6 months. Maybe have a read of the Gill Rapley BLW book to read more about how the process works.

[BertieBotts]

If he's sitting upright and not reclined then gagging is totally normal and not to worry about, a baby's gag reflex is very far forwards - about halfway down his tongue rather than at the entrance to the throat with adults/older kids. It's a safety reflex - he will gag and the food will just fall out onto the tray. When he's got the hang of eating, it won't happen so much, he's just figuring things out :)

I found it helpful to watch youtube videos of "Baby led weaning gagging" (don't just search for gagging - it's a lovely term used in porn ) because obviously the baby in the video is perfectly safe and well so you can watch how they resolve it themselves without panicking and wanting to rush in and help (which can be more dangerous because it can push the food further back).