How to know when to start weaning?

[BellaBoo0512]

I was just wandering how you know when it is best to start weaning. I know each baby is different so it won't be the same for them all. I also know it is recommended to wait until 6 months, which is what I'm trying to do. A few weeks ago I gave in to family and friends pressurising me and I gave LO baby rice on a couple of occasions and then stopped and decided it was too soon.

He is now 5 months old and I've decided that when I do start him I'm not bothering with baby rice but am going to start him on puréed vegetables or fruit instead but only after his milk.

These past few days he is only drinking less than 5oz of his bottle each time and he usually has between 8-9oz. He also keeps trying to give him his bottle himself. He can almost sit up on his own and I've been giving him a spoon (with nothing on) to practise when I eat my tea and he is quite good at putting the spoon to his mouth.

I'm really not too fussed about weaning until he is 6 months old but the fact that he is drinking less than half of what he usually drinks is concerning me a bit and I'm scared of him losing weight. He is fine in himself and his gums are a little sore (no teeth yet) but a bit of teething gel sorts that out. I know there are days that I don't eat much but this is 3 days in a row now. He screams for the bottle why I'm making it up and then when I give it him he has a few oz and then isn't bothered.

I really don't know what to do. I'm posting this for advice, not for people to have a go at me because I'm considering weaning before 6 months.

 

[MindUtopia]

For me, it was when she could sit up well enough in her chair and had the motor skills to handle her food (we're doing BLW). We started at 6 months, but I'd say she still wasn't great at sitting up straight in the chair and picking things up until about 6.5 months. For me, it had nothing to do with what she was eating as far as milk. She was eating less then, but because she was teething. Now even after a month and a half of weaning, she still drinks the same amount of milk as before we started and I don't think it will change for a little bit yet.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

For me, it was when she could sit up well enough in her chair and had the motor skills to handle her food (we're doing BLW). We started at 6 months, but I'd say she still wasn't great at sitting up straight in the chair and picking things up until about 6.5 months. For me, it had nothing to do with what she was eating as far as milk. She was eating less then, but because she was teething. Now even after a month and a half of weaning, she still drinks the same amount of milk and I don't think it will change for a little bit yet.

Without sounding dumb... What does BLW mean? I keep seeing it on various posts but not a clue what it means.

 

[baileybubs]

BLW is baby led weaning and it means basically that babies self lead the food they eat, usually starting with solids (soft ones) rather than mum spoon feeding purées. There's a thread on the stickies that is BLW support thread and that gives a good description. I'm trying it myself soon once LOs grip skills get a little better.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Ah right my health visitor didn't even tell me about this she just said to try him on baby rice and then move on to purées! I'll have to look into it more. Are babies capable of feeding themselves solids at such a young age? Does it not increase the risk of choking because they can't chew the food? Weaning is so confusing!

 

[Etoiles]

Our Dr. recommended starting DS on solids but I don't think he's ready yet but while I was reading up on this I read (I think on Kelly mom?) that if you want your baby to 'practice' eating or get the feel of eating without really having solids yet you can let your baby try eating milk cubes (breast milk or formula frozen into cubes) or you can melt it slightly and let your baby try eating milk slush with a spoon or with his/her hand.

I thought these were great ideas and will definitely be trying them with my little one!