The Start of Weaning

June 10, 2014

 

weaning diary

 

We are here again, time to start the twins on solid food. It’s gone so quickly and if I’m honest I wasn’t really looking forward to it. It all went fairly smoothly with Lucas but he is an incredibly fussy eater now so it has been in the back of the mind, had it been as a result of something I did when weaning? The twins are 24 weeks and I just couldn’t hold off any longer, as much as I would have liked to. I had a wander down the baby food aisle and refreshed myself with what was out there. I dug out my Annabel Karmel book and this time also decided to buy the River Cottage Baby and Toddler book as I want to do more baby led weaning. This book is great, full of advice about cooking more grown up food for babies and toddlers which is something I really want to do more of. I’ve been having a good read of one of my favourite blogs, Redhead BabyLed who has a great series of posts if you are interested in baby lead weaning. I am hoping that if the twins start off well and eat a variety of foods it might convince Lucas to give some new foods a go.

I’ve decided to start off on some simple purées then I’ll add in some more finger foods and let them have a play around. I’ll still keep some spoon feeding and there will be times when they have pouches; I just really want them to try as many different foods as possible and for mealtimes to be something they look forward to. It’s scary how quickly it progresses once you start and in a few short weeks they will be on three solid feeds a day. I try to get most of my food blitzed and frozen on weekend mornings but I top up some of an evening. I think I’ve done loads of portions but it’s just beginning to hit home how quickly it goes with two babies to feed! It will be nice when I can just pop a couple of cucumber sticks in front of them and see how they go.

weaning

I already had some bowls and tubs from first time round; these are a mixture of things as I would generally just buy whatever was on offer in the supermarket but I also got some good bowls from Ikea and tubs from Home and Bargain. As I need double portions this time round (and I have VERY hungry babies) I’m freezing my purées in silicone muffin tins or cases and some little plastic tubs I found in Tesco; £1.40 for four and they are the prefect size! I also got some colour changing spoons by Munchkin and the cheap, reliable Tommee Tippee first cup for when we try some water. At the moment I feed them either in their bouncer chairs or the Bumbos but they’ll soon be upgraded to the Ikea high chairs so I can have them at the table with Lucas.

I’ve just started off steaming and blitzing with my hand blender, all the usual first tastes; carrot, sweet potato, peas, bananas, plums, broccoli, apple, pear all of which have been happily accepted so far. We’ll be moving on to some mixed foods soon and in a few weeks I hope to try them on some finger foods. So far they have taken to it perfectly, no fuss, just trying everything. I’m feeling quietly optimistic and positive about it, hoping it carries on smoothly and it will be nice when it frees us up to get out and about. It will be nice to just pop a pouch in the changing bag and know we can go out for a few hours. I’ll update again in a couple of weeks and you can see how we are getting on! Please share your weaning experiences and what worked best for you.

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17 Comments

  • Notmyyearoff

    Ooh I remember being terrified first time round and then trying bananas and strawberries and he loved strawberries instantly. Even now it’s one of his favourite fruits. I think id have more confidence second time around. Bet it’ll be so cute watching then with finger foods 🙂

    June 10, 2014 at 2:10 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      It hasn’t seemed quite as daunting this time round but I think I was more nervous about having to feed two of them! Hoping it carries on as well as they’ve started off!

      June 10, 2014 at 7:10 pm Reply
  • Alexandra Mercer (Life of mummy)

    I think baby-led weaning is the perfect way to go, it’s messy but it lets babies really explore food in their own way and their own time, this is what I’ve done with my children and there isn’t one fussy eater out of the six of them, whether or not it is a result of using the baby-led weaning approach I’ll never know! I’m sure seeing his brothers eat lots of different types of food will really encourage Lucas to try much more which is going to be fantastic x

    June 10, 2014 at 5:51 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thanks Alex, that’s great to hear! I am definitely keen to give it a go this time, I did bits with Lucas but not enough I don’t think. I’m looking forward to them sitting at the table with us and getting stuck in x

      June 10, 2014 at 7:09 pm Reply
  • Sarah

    I did a mixture of purees and baby led weaning too. It worked well, hope it does for your lovely boys too. Those photos look so beautiful and colourful, how could they not love it?! xx

    June 10, 2014 at 8:49 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      That’s good to know, think it’s the best of both worlds! I do hope it carries on well x

      June 11, 2014 at 8:19 pm Reply
  • Chloe

    Great read, and some fab photography. Great to see how others wean their babies. Although not a mummy yet, I have so many tiny little ones in the family so I always like to be involved in the conversation too!

    June 11, 2014 at 9:25 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thank you, it’s good you have little ones in the family as I had no clue first time round! You will be well prepared 🙂

      June 11, 2014 at 9:46 pm Reply
  • Mummy Hargreaves (Kerri-Ann)

    I followed a similar journey as you, albeit with one child, for the first 12/18 months Lil G would eat anything, for the last 12 months he’s been the worlds fussiest eater, I did everything the books told me and still he refuses most days to eat.Its all down to him wanting to eat. Sounds like you’ve made a good start. Good luck

    June 11, 2014 at 9:32 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      My eldest became so fussy at 18 months and is just a nightmare now, like you I’ve tried it all and nothing works I just hope he grows out of it. I’m dreading the twins being the same but they do seem to really like their food so we’ll see!

      June 11, 2014 at 9:43 pm Reply
  • Not A Frumpy Mum

    Good luck, I remember weaning was the one thing I worried about constantly. O started off really well and at 12 months would only eat Ella’s kitchen pouches, cost us a fortune. Luckily he eventually came out that phase and is a much better eater but can have his fussy moments!
    Love the photos xxx

    June 12, 2014 at 7:34 am Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thank you, I always have Lucy in the back of my mind now when I’m taking photos 🙂 It seems like most people git a bump in the road with weaning at some point, but on Ella’s Kitchen pouches is a brilliant one! At least he would still be eating a variety, that’s what drives me mad about Lucas he eats such a small selection of foods! xx

      June 13, 2014 at 9:10 pm Reply
  • Jenny

    First off brilliant photos. Look amazing. Sorry not the point I know but had to say I loved them. lol I am a beginner photographer. hahaha Oh I remember the weaning days and was so nervous and always got worked up if Buba didn’t finish everything or have balance diet. and made everything puree and homemade from the start. But the second time I was so relaxed I did the baby led weaning. I gave her steamed and cut up solids from the start. She is a better eater and amazing with it. And I have never done puree with her whereas Buba I struggle to go to solids. Every baby is different and it sounds like you have it all down perfect and going well. Hope it continues for you. Thank yo u so much for linking up to Share With Me. #sharewithme

    June 12, 2014 at 1:59 pm Reply
    • hayleyfromhome

      Thank you Jenny, my photos were done very quickly with a two year old trying to steal my props so I’m actually quite pleased with how they turned out! It’s so great to hear other peoples experiences of baby led weaning, they have already moved on to trying some sliced cucumber so I am working my way up to trying more new things, feeling more confident now xx

      June 13, 2014 at 9:07 pm Reply
  • Donna

    Thanks so much for the mention! It sounds like you’re very prepared and I love that you’re getting Ikea highchairs! I look forward to reading more about your weaning journey x

    June 13, 2014 at 10:04 pm Reply
  • Bex @ The Mummy Adventure

    How are the twins 24 weeks already?! I bet BLW will be much easier than trying to feed two small mouths at once, we did it with Archie and he was really happy that way. Lots of mealtimes naked once things get messier though. Good luck x

    June 13, 2014 at 10:37 pm Reply
  • The Reading Residence

    It was homemade purees & Annabel Karmel’s recipes with Boo, but then Little Man was finger foods & he was soon eating whatever the rest of us were eating. He’s much better at feednb himself than Boo was at his age, and uses cutlery better than she does now! But, he’s fussier than Boo, as she’ll eat loads more variety than him, so who knows which way was best? I think his personality is more the issue than the weaning! Good luck with it x

    June 13, 2014 at 10:49 pm Reply
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