Forum : Mums

The Department of Health recommend that weaning should commence from 6 months. However all babies are different, so it's worth discussing this with your Health Visitor.

However generally speaking, the best first food for babies is baby rice, because it's mild, easily digestible and you can make it with Lottie's* usual milk for a familiar taste. Make it nice and runny at first and just give her a tiny amount. You can use a plastic baby spoon or it might be easier to just put a bit on your little finger. Lottie* will probably only be able to manage a teaspoon's worth the first time but once she's got used to swallowing and eating from the spoon, she'll soon want more.

The time of day to do it depends on your routine, but mid-mornings or lunchtime are usually best so that she's not too tired but hasn't just woken up either. It's a good idea to give Lottie* her first taste halfway through a normal feed. That way she won't be too hungry or too full. It's up to you though – everyone's different and you might find that she likes to try her new skills before she's had any normal milk.

Lottie* will let you know when she's had enough by turning away or refusing to eat any more. You'll soon learn her signals! The main thing to remember is that weaning is a gradual process and takes time. Be patient and if she doesn't seem ready yet, just try another day.

I have just started to wean my 19 week old girl, and have found that letting her play with a plastic spoon while tempting her with baby rice seems to work. She gets very excited, I suppose she thinks shes helping to feed herself!

i have just starded to wean my 17 week baby but she doesnt seem to be very interested

i started my son at 4 mths with baby porridge and pureed fruit and veg he just loved the different tastes and just slowly introduced different foods when i was confident he could handle them he is now 11mths and there is nothing he doesnt like

We have gone through this stage as my little boy is now 15 months old. I found mixing a little fruit or veg puree in with some baby rice helped him to make the transistion. Without the mix it all seemed to upset his tummy a bit, plus he was used to the milky taste so it helped him over the initial stages. We are up to Fish Fingers now and learning to use spoons and forks for himself - and I thought I had seem all the mess food could make!!

I have just started my 17 week old on Baby rice. I give it him on his 10.45-11 O'clock morning feed after he has fed off of one breast or had some bottle as I'm mix feding and he loves it. He opens his mouth wide and gets excited and kicks to say he wants some more..I then change his nappy and offer him some more milk or water. He is then ready for his lunch time nap and sleeps like a dream whcih he didn't do before!! I'm going to start to give him some before bedtime and stop the morning solids whilst trying him out at night and if he takes to that do both feeds and then introduce some veg or fruit. Hopefully it will work out!

i know it sounds early but i have started weaning my daughter at 10weeks old, she was hungry all the time and my health visitor agreed. i started her on really runny baby rice. she took it really well, i give it to her before her bottle at lunchtime then she takes what milk she wants after. she has about 3 spoonfuls a day now. but its messy! just stay calm and don't worry about the mess.

hi i have just been advised to start trying my 10 week old son on baby rice because he is a very hungry baby. He loves it, i agree it is messy and you need patience but they do seem to sleep a lot better and it is doing him no harm being on more solid food at his age.

I started weaning my son a week before he was 5 months old. Three weeks later he's taken to it really well, we've established breakfast and dinner and today we even managed lunch. We started off with baby rice and then mixed in some stewed pear and apple. He seems to like veggies more than fruit and although we've had a few faces like he's sucking a lemon he's definitely getting used to all the different tastes and textures. One thing I have noticed is that he is a lot more content now and where I had put some grisley moments down to tiredness I now realise he was infact hungry. This month has been a real stepping stone in his development, he's sitting up, he's more alert and just generally a happy little lad.

i got an excellent book when i started weaning my daughter, it's by Annabel Karmel, & it's called 'complete baby & toddler meal planner', she has brought out loads of different books to make weaning easier, but this one seems to be the best as my baby is nearly 9months now, & i'm still getting a lot of use from the book, it really made the transition to solids so much easier!