Weaning!
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I'm using the book 'how to wean your baby'. It has a plan of first foods, introducing allergens etc. I'm quite excited!
Ella’s Kitchen do a free weaning guide, also look at Annabelle Karmel, Solid Starts, My First Meals (once you’ve liked a few posts you’ll get more in your feed). You’re starting on small amounts - I think it’s advised to do individual allergens first then move on - and continue giving milk as standard. Amount might drop a touch on the bottle after they’ve eaten but otherwise their main source of nutrition is still milk. Usually people say start on savoury as babies have naturally sweet teeth; they probably won’t enjoy it much at first but it’s about getting them used to new flavours and textures x
Broccoli sounds like a good start. Go to the ellas kitchen website and get the free weaning chart in the post. I'm petrified too, but my plan from my research so far is to start with the first week of single purified veggies mixed with milk. Maybe baby rice too. Once a day. I think it is just about getting them used to the taste for now and their nutrients should be primarily from milk still, so they probably will not need too much. Next will be fruit and then mixes of different fruits and veg. If LO looks like he wants to feed himself, I will offer sticks of food alongside in a kind of mix with BLW, but who knows, plans might all go out the window once I get started.
I second the Ella's kitchen book. You can also sign up on their website and they send you a free weaning chart. At the moment we're on one single veggie a day. We do his bottle about 20 minutes after his meal if he eats much so he hasn't dropped much milk but he does take slightly less on the mealtime bottle. Its so easy to stress about it beforehand but baby will tell you pretty quickly that they are full so just follow your babies cues. They don't actually eat much for a few months when you start because it's all just about introducing it and fun for them. The Ella's book breaks down what to do month by month and the whole first half is information and advice it's been really helpful
@Megan thank you! My little boy has a milk allergy too but we unfortunately couldn’t make an appointment as we’re on holiday so now it’s end of June so now after we start weaning xx
@Michelle thank you I’ve just ordered this off vinted xx
@Danielle its a tough journey with CMPA!🙈 completely empathise lol good luck with weaning xx
I used this weaning chart which I found really helpful to make sure I was giving my LO a variety of foods. I actually date in the circles rather than tick so I can see when he’s had what so he’s not having the same thing everyday. Then each week I plan out my meals for him (or a rough idea) and pick a few things to put together in a meal for him. It’s essentially helpful for tracking allergens too. I try not to overthink it with making fancy things, especially at this age so will just select a few couple of things he’s not had recently and give him them and he loves it. Hope this helps! https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1883715605/?ref=share_ios_native_control
Tbh I got my little one some of the dummies with the holes in and have been putting different fruits in so he can have a taste of food without the fear of actually eating it! Hoping it makes things a bit easier for when we get to weaning but have also got the Ella’s kitchen guide coming in the post!x
I have honestly found tiktok so helpful!! Search weaning 6 month olds and it will come up a variety of meals you can do etc and other peoples routines. We have weaned early (just puree) from advice of a dietician due to a milk allergy and I only give her a few spoonfuls of puree once a day inbetween feeds (usually early afternoon). I signed up to Ella’s Kitchen and they send you out a free weaning chart and it states it can take up to 10 times for baby to get used to the taste of a certain food! Food before 1 years old is only to get used to tastes and textures and shouldn’t take away from usual milk intake (though every baby is different and may change when say baby is 8/9 months) but most of their nutrients are from their milk for the most part!