On the eve of our Christmas trip to faraway lands of Christkind rather than Santa, the Blog From a Baby as well as Cubling's attempts to feed mummy and daddy have made me review the whole weaning adventure so far.

While I was determined not to wean early, at 24 weeks Cubling clearly was drooling when she watched me eat, so without plan, just on the spur of the moment, I gave her some baby rice. And down it went, so easily. I had thought about baby led weaning, but didn't fancy the mess and found it hard enough to cope with going back to work almost full time, and didn't go down that road. In the last few weeks, I saw a few babies of Cubling's age (as in, a few days younger/older) feed themselves really well, while Cubling delights in feeding mummy and daddy her finger food, after mushing it up herself that is, and clearly enjoying the independence of it. Until she realises she can't fill her tummy as quickly as she'd like, loses patience, and cries for mummy to do the spoon feeding thing to get rid of that rumbling tummy.

I realise now that, had I put more effort in letting her feed herself at each meal, even in addition to spoon feeding, she could probably do without purees by now. Still, we're having fun. While she stuffs her face with bread and bread sticks (rice cakes are not her cup of tea), mummy can get dinner ready, just in time for the "I've lost patience" meltdown. In goes the guacamole, or rather avocado puree, while she picks up the finger food leftovers and stuffs them into mummy's mouth with a shriek of delight. I quite enjoy being fed by my daughter.