Weaning orphaned kittens, really need help!

I have been hand rearing two kittens that were abandoned. Had them since birth. They're now 30 days old (I think). They'd been both been taking their milk really well with a syringe.

I stopped syringe feeding them on the 01.06. They've been happily drinking their milk from the bowl. They were trying to suckle the milk but now seem to be lapping at it a bit more. I am trying to get them onto solids...

I have been mixing in a pate type kitten food into their milk, however much I blend it there's always a few small chunks of meat at the bottom that they just ignore.

One of them has teeth coming through now, the other teeth are just starting to erupt. I've tried them on small chunks of kitten meat today. They will take a little but generally just spit it out and bite me. I really want to get them onto solid food and am starting to feel like a failure so would really like some advice!

They are now toileting themselves and are using the litter tray some of the time. I am struggling to keep them clean as they've been swimming in their milk and find they've been suckling on themselves.

Am I doing the right things? I'm getting upset and stressed and feel like I'm not doing the best for them

Everything you are doing for them is great. Right now they are just beginning to learn to eat, but will pick it up fast. It is also very messy in the beginning, but the way they usually learn is by getting it all over themselves and then cleaning themselves. I usually use the pate wet food, and smear some on their tongue, then put there nose to the plate where the rest is. They'd usually take three or four bites the first few days and eventually progressed to having massive feasts haha. Also start leaving a saucer with just water as well down, so they can get used to that. You're doing wonderful though!

Thank you for the reassurance. Think I've just got other stresses as well and I'm worrying about them so much. Finding weaning a lot more stressful then when I was feeding them every few hours with a syringe! I think I'll just have to persevere.

Easy to forget just how little they are as well. I know I can't be a proper cat replacement mum but want to do the best I can.

You've done well to get them to starting to wean.  Weaning is messy especially without a mum to clean them up, but hopefully in a week or two you will be a lot further on with them. 

I'm very glad you seem to think I'm on the right track. It's such a worry! They're noisy at the moment but as they're teeth as coming through they must be in a bit of pain so a bit of noise and grumpiness is to be expected. Don't think I can do anything to make them any happier.

It's very hard work but rewarding! Gave them a bit of a clean up last night and they're still grubby but not looking quite so scruffy. Still can't convince them to eat the solid food but I guess they'll get there in their own time.
 

Yes, the wean themselves in their own good time.  They might be a bit slow as they can't seem their mum eating - they learn lots by copying here - but they will get their.

Very sadly one of the kittens died this morning. Had always been the weaker of the two. Was fine last night, ate her tea as normal. Found her this morning collapsed. She was abdominal breathing, blue and limp. Other kitten was sitting over her watching. Rushed her to the vets but she was dead by the time I got there.

Vet thinks she may have had a heart condition to die so suddenly. Vet checked over remaining kitten and said he seems healthy.

I feel so quilty, can't help thinking I should have done something. Cant stop crying. Remaining kitten is very quiet but has eaten his breakfast this morning