Once breastfeeding is established and going well (after around 6 weeks) some mums may want to introduce  a bottle of expressed milk (or formula) so dad can share in the feeding, to have a rest,  for occasional well earned evenings out, or to prepare for returning to work.  Some babies will happily take a bottle with no problems but others will be resistant and take a while to get used to a new method of feeding - after all mummy milk is far more appealing to baby than a plastic teat!  With patience and a bit of time the vast majority of babies do learn to take milk from a bottle.

 What makes me mad about these reports are that surprise surprise the research is linked to formula and infant food companies.  A bit of digging around has shown me that three of the four authors “have performed consultancy work and/or received research funding from companies manufacturing infant formulas and baby foods within the past three years"  and Mary Fewtrell the big name behind it has worked for none other than than Nestle Nutrition Institute!!!!

So we all know babies need nothing but breastmilk for around the first 6 months, but what then...most health professionals promote gradual weaning starting with pureed fruit and veg and gradually introducing thicker and lumpier foods. But there is an alternative...Baby Led Weaning.

BLW has been used for centuries by 2nd time mums who don't have the time or energy to make baby foods with a toddler underfoot.  Instead they work on the basis that just as in breastfeeding, babies eat what they want when they want.  There are no purees, and no ice cube trays of mush in the freezer.  Instead babies are offered a range of finger foods  cut into holdable shapes from 26 weeks (or later if they show no signs of been ready to wean.)

In recent years the Dept of Health guidelines on weaning babies have changed from 4 months to 6 months. Yet mums are still weaning their babies earlier than recommended.  There is a huge pressure on mums to move their baby onto the next stage as quickly as possible. With the mother in law, friends and even some health professionals pushing for early weaning it can be really hard for mums to hold back and wait yet evidence shows that babies that wait to around 6 months to wean are better able to cope with solid foods and progress quicker.  Weaning can be an exciting time as baby explores taste and textures for the first time and mum takes many a photo of yogurt covered, orange stained faces for future embarrassment.  But only if baby is ready.