I thought the terrible twos were the first tricky milestone weβre supposed to face, but apparently thereβs a new one: the weanage years.
Thatβs the name Ellaβs Kitchen is giving to the period of time between six and 12 months old when your baby starts to display some distinctive characteristics, like wearing more food than they eat and tipping everything onto the floor. Repeatedly.
So how to do you identify a weanager? Here are 10 signs your baby is a weanager:
1. Your baby wonβt let you leave them, ever.
Most of the time I can’t even go to the loo on my own.
2. Your baby ends up wearing more food than they eat.
That’s baby led weaning for you. Not for the faint-hearted.
3. Your baby loves to empty stuff.
Over and over and over again.
4. Your baby puts EVERYTHING in their mouth.
Yep β that is those things you put between your toes to paint your nails. Yuk. Iβm afraid I donβt have photo evidence of the cat food. Or cat poo.
5. Your baby does a great impression of you.
Not sure about this one – we don’t look anything alike at all.
6. Your baby becomes a big fan of dropping things.
Or in our case, throwing them.
7.Β Your baby will have a favourite food one week, then go off it the next.
Of courseΒ this always happensΒ just when I’ve done a load of batch cooking featuring the new favourite food.
8. Your baby enjoys testing out their new pincer grip, even on you.
Regular readers will know my nipples are testament to that.
9. Your baby starts spontaneously waving hello or goodbye.Β Finally! A characteristic that’s cute and doesn’t involve pain/cleaning/wiping/clearing up afterwards…although I haven’t managed to catch this on camera.
10. Your baby makes their mark on the house.
That’s one way of putting it.
We tick nine out of the 10 boxes so I think it’s safe to sayΒ I have a fully-fledged weanager.
How about you?
Linking up with…
Oh I definitely have one! But its such fun he’s so cute – maybe not after the tenth time tipping the cat bowl over… Must move it.
Our cat bowls are on the worktop to avoid spillages!x
Oh I remember those days! Seems so long ago now. x
I won’t miss the wiping… x
Yes. Yes and yes. Agree with everything in this list!!!!!!!
I hope your little one is ok x x
Vix
#fartglitter
Thank you we’re muddling through x
ahhhhhh so comforting! genuinelt felt like this was just me and mine!!! every.single.point!!! #fartglitter
Nope – we’re in it together!x
Yes, I definitely have a weanager – love the terminology!!! I have one thing to add (maybe it’s only my weanager?), he’s discovered he can make all kinds of unpleasant noises like teeth grinding, gagging and squealing – my nerves!
Yes, I definitely have a weanager – love the terminology!!! I have one thing to add (maybe it’s only my weanager?), he’s discovered he can make all kinds of unpleasant noises like teeth grinding, gagging and squealing – my nerves! #MyFavouritePost
YES! I’d forgotten the teeth grinding thing. Little B also has a horrible habit of making a sound like he’s about to hack up something unpleasant then laughing…
Weanager. I love it! One of our wooden chairs still has a little set of teeth marks on it from my 6yo son’s weanage period – I heard ‘scrape scrape, grind grind’ noises from the other room and found him gnawing on it like a little rat. #fartglitter
That’s precisely why Little B’s cot has got a plastic protector on the top rung!
This sounds worse than the terrible twos! At least there’s one cute step to redeem it lol. I must admit I think he looks very cute in the photo with the food all over, but cleaning up after meals probably ruins that for you! #myfavouritepost
Debbie
Cleaning up after meals is definitely the worst bit!
My boys are old enough for me to have just missed baby led weaning. Although I understand and agree with the the theory behind it, im glad I practiced a slightlupy cleaner form of weaning π
Thanks for linking up, Tracey xx #abitofeverything
These things go full circle – I expect spoon feeding will be the next big thing again soon!x
Yes to all. Think we’re finally passing out of this stage- finally. At least everything doesn’t automatically go straight in his mouth. Usually he waits until our guard is down and then does it.
Thanks so much for linking up with #fartglitter xxx
So far this week I’ve taken the top of a toy tea pot & a cat biscuit out of Little B’s mouth. Nice!
I definitely have one of these! We tick pretty much every one. I didn’t do baby-led weaning with my first but we have with my second and my goodness the mess!! Especially when you cook him the fish he adored last week (ate a whole fillet) but that, this week, he just threw all over the floor! #abitofeverything
Misery Guts once hoovered up fish BB dropped on the floor – in the end we had to get a new hoover!x
Got 8 out of 10 so yep! Love the term weanager!
I know I’m using it all the time now!x
Lucas is very clingy at the moment!x
chillingwithlucas.com
#justanotherlinky
Clingy can be quite cute though!x
I have one of these for definate haha! #TenThings
Glad to make you laugh!
Ah I remember this well! I think the child not enjoying the same food from one day to the next is something that really stood out! #tenthings
Yes that’s a REALLY annoying one!
This describes my boys at that age perfectly! They’re also still ridiculously messy eaters….I give up! π Thanks for linking up to #TenThings
Stevie x
Thankfully BB has grown out of this stage nowx
I definetly had a weanager!! Thanks for linking up to #justanotherlinky xx
I’m wondering if he’ll ever grow out of it…
Gosh, mum-nesia really does play tricks on you! I’d forgotten about the constant tipping things out, having to retrieve dropped items 50 times in a row and all.manner of substances getting stuffed in their mouths!
I’ve never heard mum-nesia before, that’s a good one!x
A fabulous list I agree with completely and utterly! That pincer grip and throwing/emptying skills are unbelievable. Cutest waves ever though π
Thank you so much for linking to #TheBabyFormula
Hope you can link up next time too xx
I do love a list!x
What a cute name, I must say I rather liked the “weenage” years, or at least looking back fondly now I do! #KCACOLS
Hopefully I will look back fondly too…when I’ve forgotten the reality!@
LOL…Yes, yes, yes to ALL. The food thing is rather annoying too — especially after you think you have solved your fussy eater’s menu for the next four weeks!! Coming from #KCACOLS.
It’s sooo frustrating when they suddenly refuse to eat something they previously loved…
Haha..yes I think my boy was a weanager too. He’s 2 and half now so we are dealing with a whole load of different problems!Happy weaning π xx #kcacols
You’ll soon have a threenager!
Hehe, we definitely have a weanager. Her favourite thing at the moment is just throwing stuff about the place. The more likely it is to break, the better! x #KCACOLS
I THINK we’ve finally moved out of the throwing stage…famous last words..!
Oh yes I can definitely say we have been there lol. Great list.Xx #KCACOLS
Been there, done it and got the t-shirt!!
Weanager – love the term although I’ve never heard of it before now. This does being back memories though, especially the not being able to leave part. My youngest was terrible with that but has thankfully grown out of it now.
I don’t think the messy eating stops?
Thank you so much for linking up to #KCACOLS and I hope to see you back on Sat 27th Feb when the linky opens again.
Have a great week ‘off’!
My second was definitely like this at that age (except she wouldn’t actually eat food!) #KCACOLS
That’s so annoying when they won’t actually eat what you made!
This describes both of mine at this age perfectly! In fact, the last picture looks like the toy area every day at my house once Dot’s been there!
Laura xx
#KCACOLS
That makes me feel better!
Hahaha, G definitely was/is a weanager!! Especially the throwing/emptying out of toys, I pick up the same things about a million times a day! Xx #KCACOLS
It’s so annoying isn’t it!
This is funny – the eating everything one drove me completely crazy! My twins would constantly put my older daughters toys in their mouths all day everyday. I was so relieved when this was over. They still haven’t grown out of the emptying everything phase.
Little B still sticks all BB’s tiny toys in his mouth too – I can’t turn my back for a second…
Ops should have said I’m popping over from #KCACOLS
Thank you!
I have a love/hate relationship with the weanager stage! Haha great post #KCACOLS
Me too!
Yes I agree with you. I definitely think that my girls have gone through this stages on and off. SIenna still loves throwing away her toys or emptying baskets or boxes full of toys. Yes my house looks exactly like your last photo a lot of times, lol. Very funny!! Thanks so much for sharing this at #KCACOLS, π x
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