Weaning - Day 1

Recently, Alfie has become a lot more unsettled and he seems very uncomfortable when he’s feeding.  I spoke to a doctor and my health visitor and both came up with the conclusion that his reflux is for some reason not being controlled as well by the medicines anymore.  This could be for many reasons, mainly his weight VS dosage.  I mentioned in a previous post that we were advised to wean Alfie earlier than 6 months for medical reasons; at first this really upset me as I wanted to wait until he was 6 months old however recently my opinion has changed.

Yesterday we gave Alfie his first taste of porridge and it’s safe to say he enjoyed it!  It was officially the first day of weaning him.  I understand some of you reading this will disagree completely with weaning before 6 months but for Alfie it’s just the right time.  Babies with reflux rarely get to 6 months on milk alone because it is so painful for them.  Pureed food is thicker and therefore easier to keep down.  I think until you go through a similar experience where your child is so unhappy and in pain you can’t understand.  I too was against weaning before 6 months until I was advised otherwise by a professional.

The plan is to give Alfie porridge after his morning feed for a week or two then we’ll introduce fruit and vegetables and eventually meat.  I plan on weaning him slowly so he can get used to the tastes and textures of the foods.  We’re hoping to stick to making the purees ourselves so I know exactly what he’s eating although there are certain brands I’ll use if needed such as Plum Baby.  I’m both excited and nervous about weaning him.  Mostly, the excitement is because I know in time he’ll feel so much better with the reflux easing off.  The nerves are because I’m a new mum and have no idea about weaning!  I’m following Alfie’s lead all the way on this and the fact that he was smiling eating his porridge tells me he enjoyed it  - that and he practically ate the spoon too!

Time Flies

As I type this, my beautiful baby boy is asleep next to me on the sofa (I won’t mention how it took me an hour to get him to have a nap!!!) and he still manages to take my breath away.  I think he’ll do that to me forever.  I always knew I’d love him more than anything but from the first time I saw him, my heart swelled with love and it’s been doing it since the day he was born.  I hate the expression, “words cannot express” because to me, it seems like a cop out but on this occasion, words on their own don’t even come close to expressing how much I love him.
 

In just ten days Alfie will be three months old.  THREE MONTHS.  Where the hell did all that time go?!  I can’t quite believe how quickly time has gone by [warning cliché alert!] it seems like only yesterday he was born.  Aside from his health problems it’s been a wonderful [almost] three months and I have loved every single second – including the not so good days.  He is developing and growing up so quickly, I’m scared to blink just in case I miss something.  He can almost roll over from his back to his tummy and tries quite frequently.  He can hold his head up with no problems when he’s having tummy time or sat on my knee.  He smiles, laughs and chats away to himself or me.  Over the last couple of days, he puts EVERYTHING in his mouth – toys, bibs, clothes, hands, blankets…you name it he’ll have a good old chew on it!

Our health visitor Nicola has said she recommends we wean Alfie at 16-20 weeks because of his size; milk alone won’t satisfy him for much longer.  WHO (World Health Organisation) don’t recommend weaning before 6 months unless for medical reasons.  I was quite shocked that our health visitor thinks we should consider weaning so early considering the guidelines for weaning.  I always said I would wean at 6 months but I will take Alfie’s cue for when he’s ready.  I’ve done a little bit of research into weaning and it’s a complete mine field!  It seems there are two types of weaning, pureed foods either shop bought jars or homemade or BLW (baby led weaning).  Baby led weaning is what we wanted to do but it isn’t recommended until 6 months.  BLW is when you give your child sticks or bits of food and they feed themselves if and when they are ready.  It can be messy but it helps develop good hand eye coordination and helps them interact with the family at meal times.  If we do have to wean Alfie at 16-20 weeks, obviously I’ll give him pureed food until he’s old enough for BLW.  We made the decision when I was pregnant that Alfie would eat whatever we eat (healthy foods only, obviously!) plenty of fruit and veg.  I’m playing the weaning thing by ear, I’m sure Alfie will let me know when it’s time as much as I’d like to wait until he’s 6 month if he needs it to be earlier, so be it.

On another matter, it seems like everyone is having babies or getting pregnant now.  I’m sure 2011/12 will be considered baby boom years!  I have a friend who is due early September, a friend who’s girlfriend is scheduled to have their twins next Wednesday, Alan’s workmate’s girlfriend who was induced yesterday (no news as yet), a friend who had her little girl on Thursday and loads of friends who are pregnant.  If that doesn’t make you broody, I don’t know what does!  I think Alan has worked out I don’t want to rule out having other babies just yet and whilst he isn’t jumping for joy at the idea he hasn’t said no and if he has, I haven’t been listening to him!  Obviously I don’t want another baby just yet; I’m enjoying my time with Alfie first but in a few years I would seriously consider it.  Maybe.  Anyway for all those mummies who are waiting for their babies to arrive, good luck, best wishes and lots of love – welcome to mummyhood it’s the nicest job in the world.