First week of weaning - how do I do 'gradual' weaning with a hungry 5month old?!

[mamamia1]

I started my 5month old on baby rice a week ago. Out of ignorance/inexperience, we offered her 2 'meals' the first day (1 heaped teaspoon of rice each) and 3 the second. I realise now you are supposed to start them on only a little at first, gradually increasing it. Is this due to health reasons? She would take 'solids' with every feed given half the chance already... she lunges at the spoon at every feed!
Am totally confused as to whether I've been starving her up till now or whether I'm overfeeding her now. We are still just on baby rice but the rate she's going I feel I should be moving her onto other things very soon, even though advice seems to be give it a few weeks. Am I rushing this? She has one healthy appetite! I know this may sound like a luxury problem but we are really confused (first timers).
Anyone with experience of a hungry baby and weaning super-quick-style out there? Advice greatly appreciated!!
(ps - she is still waking 3 times during the night though this is more behavioural than hunger. She was on BF but now on mostly forumla)

[VeniVidiVickiQV]

No need to rush.

If she seems hungry, increase her milk intake. It is early days to be introducing solids, but, if you are going to give solids, it really shouldnt be rushed. Stick to basic pureed veg and fruit, or, give finger foods like sticks of veg to get on with and gnaw on.

The night waking will be unrelated to eating solids. But, again, you could try increasing the milk intake to see if that helps. Milk should be the primary nourishment in a baby's first year.

[mamamia1]

Thanks for advice - think we will try increasing milk, though she does appear to favour spoon-food. Its such a minefield - I had no idea!

[fluffyanimal]

It sounds like you are going slowly enough and your little one will soon be 6 months. You could try some other tastes now - sweet potato or carrot or pear, in similar amounts - a couple of teaspoons. Get some icecube trays so you can freeze tiny portions and get them out individually. Try one food for 3 or 4 days before moving on to another. Initial rejection doesn't mean straight away that she doesn't like it - it can take several times before a food is accepted. Also, that way if there is a delayed reaction you'll know what caused it.

Milk is still the most important thing now so as VVV said, increase the milk, night waking won't necessarily improve with more solids. Just get your baby's palate used to different flavours and textures. it sounds like she's up for the new experience!

[mamamia1]

She certainly is - she'll take anything she's offered so far! And she gets really excited when she sees the bowl and spoon come her way....

Think I'll stick to baby rice for one more week, then get pureeing those carrots/pears/apples.

Thanks for the advice - it is really quite daunting for a first-timer. I still don't know if its possible to give her too much. She is never sick, but she really can eat alot. One day she got 3 meals instead of 2 (believe it or not I forgot and started feeding her at lunchtime) and still took all that was offered to her in the evening.

I know she's only 5 months but I feel like we've been starving her!!

[PinkTulips]

take a look at this site for some really good tips on baby led weaning.

BLW is fantastic if you're worried about feeding too much/too little as it allows baby to completely control their own intake. It saves on all that messing with purrees too, which trust me sounds like fun now but 2 weeks in you'll be wanting to throw your blender off a tall building! And don't get me started on ice cube trays...

If your not comfortable going completely BLW it is also possible to combine some spects of it with still giving spoon feeds. The ideas for easy finger food are brilliant and by the sounds of it you lo would love to feed herself if she's already grabbing the spoon

Most importantly though... up til 6 months, and even beyond that, milk is still by far the most important aspect of a babies diet... try increasing milk intake before doing anything else. My ds started solids early too (not my choice, his!) but although he went through a stage recently of not sleeping and crying that i thought was hunger, i held off increasing solids and he settled down again withut actually upping his solid food intake so obviously it was simply teething or something