Ella’s Kitchen

I started my son on them when he was 4 months old, he loved them! He’s now 7 months old:)

I did start weaning early with my first son but he he got very constipated (bananas makes the babies very constipated) so this time with my daughter I’m gonna wait until 6 months. I remember thinking he might sleep better at night if he’s had gentle easy solids but I was wrong. Still didn’t sleep through…

I was advised by my midwife and GP to not start weaning until 6 months due to undeveloped stomaches at 4 months old. Was no1 else advised this?

We had our 12 week check with the HV this week and she specifically brought up not to start solids until 6 months due to their stomachs not being ready. I’ve also had an automatic text from the health visiting service this week saying the same.

Agree with the majority here, weaning really shouldn’t be done until 6 months (guidance by NHS and most GPs / HVs). Their underdeveloped gastro tract will make it tougher to digest and more often than not they’ll end up constipated. He was still constipated last time! I’d wait personally and didn’t start until 6 months last time and will be waiting until then again this time.

I weaned my son at 5 months, there are clear readiness signs like sitting up, grabbing, showing interest. Someone’s 7 month old might not be there yet but a 5.5 month old might be. I think look for the signs of readiness and don’t rush your baby based on the guidelines. They’re general rules to help but not the law

@Elz the hospital recommended I weaned early due to too much milk intake, my son has CMPA

I agree with Holly in that u should look for signs of readiness rather than waiting to a certain age. They generally won't be ready until at least 5 months. I started my now 4 yo when he was 5 months he was already showing interest in food around 3.5/4 months but it got more and more by times he's was 5 months and he was pretty much sitting unaided at 5 months. I'd literally have to fight him off my food 😅 I did wean my first at 4 months but like Kristina I thought it would help him last longer at night and he didn't even drink that much milk never seemed that keen on milk so I thought having real food might help get more food in him.

@Alana my son is 2.5months and has now started staring at us when we eat so I know he’s going to love food (hopefully) x I will wait till 5/6months if I feel he’s ready then

Yea tbh I think I remember my 4 yo staring at me eat that early on but started to increase his interest as in trying to grab things around 3 months or so. I didn't have any negative effects on either of my previous children weaning them at 4/5 months although my 12 yo did have a lot of constipation later on but I think that more came off a bad diet and fear of going to the toilet .

What is everyone planning to start on? It has changed over the years. Used to be banana/peach/carrot/sweet potato. Then it went to non sweet/something green/green beans or peas. Of course that’s purées some people say only to table food. Some people say oats. My daughter also has CMPA/cow milk protein allergy so I’m just curious what we’ll be reaching for in a few months. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Also I started with greens on my older son now 7 and I don’t feel it made a difference on his eating habits now...sometimes he’s picky about how things are served/prepared but he does eat most vegetables and flavors. He looooooves sweets though. I will say my older daughter went straight to table foods and she never took purées. She hated them all! She is currently my best & most varied eater. She is not a huge sweets craver either. Anyone else have any correlation?!!

I did part baby led weaning and part purees with my 4 yo and tried starting with the unsweet stuff veg etc and gradually introducing fruit and he will not eat much veg at all now and is very picky. My 12 year old had purree and he is also very picky but he has sensory difficulties so his picky diet is to do with that. I just think every child is different and either they are good eaters or not I think it's more ur attitude towards it, you know being more relaxed .

Weaning can cause digestive discomfort as everything is new to their stomachs so I’m personally waiting until 6 months. I started my weaning my first son at 5 months and there was no real benefit to this. The digestive discomfort went on until he was about a year depending on what he’d had to eat. So I’m in no hurry this time. My son has severe silent reflux so I’m probably going to start with simple things like baby porridge; butternut squash purées as oppose to acidic or bitter fruit and veg.

@Cristina I weaned my son on whatever I was eating, he usually just had a lick or sucked it (like the juice out of an orange) or I made veg purées. We did do pouches but now we cook more as my so is now home in the week. My son eats whatever we eat - he is like a mini adult, he wouldn’t eat kids food lol. His favourites are sweet potato, chicken and orange juice. He does love chocolate but I’ve given him small amounts every now and then so it’s not a big deal and although he enjoys it he doesn’t eat much. I think my littlest I will let him taste from when he seems interested but actually weaning I’ll wait as he has a much more delicate tummy than my oldest!

@Alana see this is interesting and I couldn’t agree more. We all need to listen to our doctors since our situations are unique to our children but honestly all chill haha myself included

@Kimberly squash is a good one! I forgot about that one! My girl has reflux too plus the protein allergy so I will definitely wait until the dr suggests.

@Holly this is the easiest way but we’re also on WIC and they give tons of store bought purées. We’ll see how it goes. I have two this time around and like yours I’m sure they’ll need and like completely different things!