If you were me, would you wean my baby?

[DonnaBallona]

I have a 6.5 month prem, born at 31wks. Jude has had 2 severe gut infections whilst in SCBU; so severe in fact that it started eating away at his insides. He was going to be transferred to a diff hospital for surgery before suddenly picking up. He was also on home oxygen until about 4 weeks ago. Jude is quite well at the moment, although he cries literally NON STOP-and I genuinely mean all day, every day. he's on formula, having 5oz bottles 5x in 24 hours. he's also got a cough.

Jude has been offered various puréed foods over the past 2 weeks, but not regularly, just a couple of spoons here and there. however, every time he is given a spoon Jude LITERALLY goes mental. absolutely berserk. he starts coughing, choking and screaming at me. he will happily eat banana at a push but everything else is a massive battle.

now, (and I feel ridiculous asking this, he's my 3rd baby!!) but would YOU wean him if he was like this with you? I'm mentally exhausted with him, I just don't know what to do for the best anymore.

thoughts? x

 

[25weeker]

I probably would stop and try again in a few weeks. Bliss says between 5-7 months is the window to start weaning but TBH I think every child is different and each of them wean at different times.

Maybe try giving him an empty spoon in the meantime and let him play with it and he might put it in his mouth himself etc. If it does continue you could maybe ask for referral to a dietician as he may have a bit of an oral aversion which may need worked on. You could also try the baby led weaning route and just go with finger food.

Good luck xx

 

[DonnaBallona]

thanks for your reply 25wker. I have tried giving him finger foods but again, he just goes beserk and also doesn't put anything in his mouth yet. He has managed to get his hands in his mouth literally for the first time last Friday.

I guess I'm just a bit worried as we are approaching 7 months now and no closer to eating anything at all! he's so happy on his milk but I'm concerned ill miss the weaning 'window' iv been told so much about! x

 

[buttonnose82]

I'd ease off a little and just let him explore, maybe when your older children are eating you can give him a bowl, spoon and cup to just play with, then once he is comfortable with that maybe add some finger foods to his tray, I know easier said than done, but just try to to stress about food as he will pick up on this and it might worry him more, literally just let him play with it, if he rubs it around, mashes it, throws it on the floor, just leave him too it and try remember, they say 'food before 1 is just for fun' x

 

[25weeker]

TBH if I had another prem (although fingers crossed I don't!) I wouldn't be so quick to wean this time. Last time I was worried about the 'window' but TBH I know others who have weaned much later and were fine. My friends full term baby wasn't really interested in food until she was about 9 months. Until my lo was 1 I was very flexible so if I was going out over lunch she just wouldn't have a solid lunch she had milk. While she never rejected food I didn't notice any differences in days were she had missed a meal because milk was her main source.

 

[lozzy21]

If hes not interested in food i would do a more BLW route, he will do it in his own time. When your eating sit him at the table with you and give him some to play with.

 

[colourful20]

I would wait a while and then try again. Your LO has an adjusted age of 4.5 months. Current guidelines suggest weaning at 6 months so waiting until he is at the adjusted age of 6 months will do no harm.

 

[AP]

^ premature baby guidelines are different and a wider starting point - more based on actual age rather than corrected regardless of gestation

OP, Let him explore, don't force the situation. Leave food on offer. I only learnt that the second time round, weaning was much easier if I just reminded myself milk IS fine on its own, if no food is eaten, it's cool, it's all for fun just now. My term baby will not under any circumstances let me spoonfeed her, but leaving her to it it made a big difference. Our prem baby was trying out at about 12-13 weeks corrected, but it's was a seriously slow process and we didn't even move from thin purée til after 1

I realise now, it's best to let the LO take the lead.

ETA: donnaballona I called you OP didn't recognise you without your avatar sorry

 

[Lisasmith]

My 32 weeker was almost 12 months old before he was even remotely interested in eating more than a taste here and there. I would suggest that he is trying to tell you that he isn't ready yet honey