Struggling to get started with weaning!

[nlk]

It's been a while since I've posted on BnB, but I'm in need of advice and this was the first place I thought to turn to

We have recently started our weaning journey, a little earlier than the advised 6 month mark on the advice of our HV. We initially tried to introduce baby rice, but LO acted as though he was being poisoned - it didn't get better over time. I tried mixing pureed fruit etc, but nothing worked. He just didn't seem to like it. So I gave up for a week, thinking he was just not ready.

We've now started up again, but this time I've gone straight into pureed pear with him (no baby rice). He will take a little, but scrunches his face up, and seems to spit an awful lot out. If he doesn't spit it out immediately, he just seems to gag a little. After a few minutes, he'll start crying, and we stop. My question is, is this a normal response to starting weaning? Is it just that he's unsure of having something in his mouth? I'm finding it difficult to persevere with it, when it seems to be causing stress (for both of us). Typically we only do it once a day, around lunch time. It's always after a nap, and between bottles, so I know it's not that he's too tired or too hungry.

Does anyone have advice for making this stage a little easier? I don't know whether I'm just expecting too much of him..

 

[noon_child]

It does sound like it is causing a lot of stress. I suppose it depends how much stress the other issue (the one that persuaded you to wean early) is causing. If his food is literally coming straight back out it could be he still has his tongue thrust reflex.

Does LO have any readiness signs yet? How good is his back and neck support, does he bring things easily to his mouth and explore them with his lips and tongue?

 

[MindUtopia]

It shouldn't be stressful and you shouldn't feel like you're having to force him to eat. It kinda just sounds like he's not ready. I would probably hold off for a few more weeks, maybe even until after 6 months and then try again. There's no rush and you want it to be a positive experience for him. You might also find after 6 months that he's much more amenable to finger foods, rather than purees, so you might even consider going down the baby-led weaning route as he might take to feeding himself better than being spoon-fed. But you're right, it shouldn't be stressful. So I'd just take a step back, just focus on offering milk for a few more weeks and then try again. You might find he's more ready then.

 

[mel28nicole]

The food is very new to him and its definitely a different texture to milk. He may not be quite ready for it. Like PP said maybe give it a few more weeks before trying again weaning should be fun!

 

[mummytobe_93]

He doesn't sound ready for it. I would say wait a few weeks and try again. It's not a necessity right now and sounds like it's making things more difficult x

 

[justplay91]

It does definitely sound like he isn't ready. We started giving my son solids around the time you're starting, too, but that's because he was trying to eat all of our food lol. And when we fed him, he gulped it all down. If your son is just pushing it back out, I'd wait and try again when he hits the six month mark.

 

[nlk]

Thank you everyone. It's difficult...He grabs food off of us, and makes the mouth movements of eating already.

We tried a few different things and he absolutely adores rusks! He also likes baby porridge, but still seems funny with the purees. So I think he's ready, just being fussy! When he eats porridge he able to take it off the spoon and swallow it, but won't with pureed food?! Strange!

 

[Kitters]

Do you make the baby rice with his milk? It's probably just a more familiar taste to him, and warm, too. Could you try putting a bit of puree on a rusk and introducing it that way?

DS is only 4 months so I can't talk from experience, but have you looked in to baby led weaning? Sounds like it could be good for your LO as he is in control and have fun with food.

 

[nlk]

Yes, his baby rice is made with milk. He still refuses it! Good idea about trying the puree on his rusk though, thanks! I'm getting more tempted to go more BLW and see if he prefers it, but it's more that I don't want him to choose not to eat the purees if you see what I mean?