Weaning and Breastfeeding

[Dansolo92]

Hi, my baby is currently 5 months old and I am starting to look into weaning him and start him on baby porridge or baby rice in the next couple of weeks. He is exclusively breastfed right now and he feeds every 2 hours. He does sleep through the night from about 8 until 7 in the morning with no feed.

As he feeds off the breast and I don't really pump I thought I would pump and see how much I could express ready for when I need to make his baby porridge or rice and I only expressed 3oz. When I have expressed in the past I could pump around 7oz but that was when he went every 3 hours and I was also feeding him during the night.

Do I need to try and increase my supply by pumping more often and how much should I pump to make his porridge or rice and for him to drink during the food?

My last 2 babies were not breastfed at this age and were on formula so just need a little advice from people who know more about it than me. Thank you xx

[pinkie93]

I found that pumping earlier in the morning yielded better results, if I pumped in the afternoon I would only get 2-3oz, but I got 5-6oz in the morning. I would have my baby boy on one side and the pump on the other ( this made it easier to pump) then I would drink about 1l of water and have a snack during; I always noticed my supply increase a few minutes after some big gulps of water. Also pumping isn't a good indicator of supply because baby is much more efficient!

[Dansolo92 in reply to pinkie93]

Thank you for the advice I will give it a try. I was just worrying i would have to buy formula just to make his porridge and really wanted to avoid that x

[pinkie93 in reply to Dansolo92]

Good luck! But if you're really struggling to pump enough then over 6 months it's perfectly fine to mix a little plant milk in with a baby cereal, as long as it isn't their main milk then it's completely fine. My little boy loves a bit of unsweetened fortified coconut milk with his weetabix. It has a sweet, fruity taste and it's not as harsh on a babies digestive system as cows milk.

[Seb9]

Hi we never used baby porridge or rice for weaning as they have no nutritional value.

We started with some vegetable purees, brocoli and ready brek with whole milk.

Theres some great info and recipes on weaning on the nhs start4life website nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/

We also cooked some Annabel Karmel recipes, Jo Wick wean in 15 and what mummy makes, all had some good weaning recipes.

The first few times not much went in but now she's got a good appetite and loves her food.

[Dansolo92 in reply to Seb9]

Thank you i will have a look. I'm going to try the porridge for a week then try some vegetable purees x

[Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

I wouldn't necessarily worry about having enough breast milk until you know if your child will eat it. Mine thinks breast milk is for drinking from the breast and nothing else. Refused to eat anything it was mixed with so I pumped and had to throw it away. Ended up just using milk to make it up. Though she never really like porridge when little. More finger foods, vegetables and fruit. I guess all I am saying is play it but ear, you never know what they will eat. I pureed a whole load of things ready and she preffered finger foods.

[Dansolo92 in reply to Claireeeeeeeeeeeee]

Thank you for the advice. He will eat porridge with the milk I pump. It seems to be enough for him too. But like you said I can try with some finger foods and puree some things and try them too xx