We have officially started the weaning process with Seth, how he is six months old already is beyond me.  He has four teeth that have popped through, so I’m already feeling confident that he will take to baby led weaning, straight away.  He isn’t quite the recommended six months old until the end of July but he’s definitely showing all the signs and actually accepts a spoon easily!  

This time round I have tried to purchase more eco friendly, good quality products to use and have less of them as now I (think) I know what is needed to start the journey.  I purchased a bamboo bamboo bowl and spoon, next month I’ll be investing in a plate too for each of the boys as they’re amazing.  I also got him some silicone bibs which I’ve used on all my children and finally I’m trying a melamine baby cup with two handles for Seth to grip.  

I’ve planned out the process of first foods and how to introduce meal times.  I’m slowly increasing from one meal, to two and then finally to three over a short period.  We’re currently giving him baby porridge in a morning and will continue with that going forward.  Then at lunch time and eventually teatime will be when he is offered vegetables both in purée and handheld form.  This time round I’m not going to do any batch cooking however, it’s wasteful and I don’t have the freezer space anymore, instead whatever is left will be used in Tobias and Hamish’s main meals.  

I’m going to loosely follow the cow and gate five step program together with the vegetable planner from wean in 15 and there’s some fabulous recipes in the Ella’s kitchen book that I picked up for free at Boots when Tobias (my first) was a baby.  Overall this time around I’m really looking forward to weaning, unlike the first time where I was petrified.  It’s a new exciting chapter in Seths little world and I can’t wait to share it with him.  

So here’s the plan of first foods for Seth:
Broccoli
Potato
Green beans
Asparagus 
Swede
Kale
Avocado
Courgette
Cauliflower
Aubergine
Mushroom
Spinach
Cucumber
Peas

And then moving onto these;
Apple
Banana 
Pear
Carrot
Parsnip
Strawberry
Sweet potato
Mango
Squash 
Cabbage
Plum
PeachTomato
Sprout 
Cucumber
Pumpkin
Papaya
Melon

Of course, Seth will continue to get breast milk on demand and he will be offered a bottle of formula at bedtime – he’s currently refusing all bottles however.  Seth also wakes twice through the night currently for feeds too.  

Just for my records I wanted to log Seths current routine:
7am – wake up and breast feed
7.30am – get up and get dressed for the day
8.30am – nap time
9.15am – baby porridge followed by bottle feed
11am – nap time
12 noon – lunchtime followed by breast feed
2pm – nap time
3pm – wake up and breast feed
4.45pm – nap time
5.30pm – wake up and breast feed
6.30pm – bedtime routine
7pm – bed 

Currently, Seth wakes around 1am for a feed and again at 5am. I can’t wait for him to start dropping these wake up calls!

Much love
Rebecca