Hello,

For those of you that have started weaning/weaned... how old was your lo? George is almost 16 weeks and hasn't displayed any signs that he is ready yet which I'm happy about. I would love to delay weaning until 6 months but I've never actually met anyone who has been able to delay the process this long. It seems all the babies I know started weaning at 4 months. For those that weaned earlier than 6 months do you think that in hindsight you could have waited/rushed things?

Obviousky, if George starts showing all the signs I will wean early but I don't want to rush things.

xx

hi i did the same as u, i waited until ds was showing me he was ready, we weaned at 23 weeks, so a little early but he was definately ready for it and was the perfect time for him. we just took it really slow. i joined the 'hipp' baby club and they sent me a chart with what foods and gow much to start- build up, found it really helpful for those early stages as it gave me a guide for how to in,troduce new foods and build up his intake of solids.

xx

just wanted to add that the signs we had at 23 weeks were starting to crawl, sitting unaided for short periods (i know they say sit well with support so by those terms we were running late lol), staring at us when we ate, he had slept trhu from 6 weeks and started waking up again for about a week and he was taking a good 8oz of milk at every bottle feed (he's only a dinky boy) so he was more than ready, i did want to hang out til he was 27 weeks actually cos we had a n appointmen to see the paediatrician for the first time since he had been diagnosed with milk allergies. just saw u have the Ak books, i have top 100 baby purees and its been so helpful, i didn't really read any of her jargon at the front tho as she does over complicate it a bit, so only used it for ideas and recipes.

[Modified by: siany on November 05, 2009 10:28 AM]

I waited until 6mths! And know plenty of others that did!

For me and my LO it was the right thing to do, I wanted him to enjoy food and go more baby led which I don't believe you can do with such a young baby. My LO was nowhere near sitting up at 16weeks and I hated the idea of just spooning slop into his mouth (never give anything other than milk in a bottle).

But saying that, you know your baby. It sounds like you would like to wait and if he isn't showing signs of wanting to wean then I would. Whoever said it's easier once they are weaned was wrong! I know have to think about what he is going to eat/ where and when- not easier AT ALL!

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Ah, Dinks you have given me hope!! I totally agree that once weaned it would probably be harder. At the moment it's so easy to make up a bottle that he can drink anywhere.
I started reading my AK book last night just so I could get a better understanding of how this weaning lark works. I admit it is a great book but I started having moments of "OMG, this is so complicated"! I think I am getting myself more stressed out because of my own eating habits and my fussiness with food. I really don't want George to be fussy or have similar food phobias to me so I am dead set on giving him a super healthy and varied diet. xx

Hi Siany, just read what you added. It sounds like your ds was defintely ready. George has only just in the past fortnight started going through the night, he can't sit, crawl, etc and he takes between 5 x 5-7oz feeds although more often than not just a little over 5oz. He does watch me eat and licks his lips but to be honest he watches me do everything now. He always copies me when I poke my tongue out at him so I figure he is just trying to mimick what I am doing. Little monkey! ;p
xx

I started weaning Abby at 13 weeks, I wasn't happy about it - and like you would have liked to have waited until she was much older. But she was definately ready, and my Health Visitor agreed that I was doing the right thing, we took it very slowly (just runny babyrice at first) and although I got a lot of stick at the time (people told me allsorts of rubbish about how I was damaging her kidneys, making her obease, making her have allergies, etc) which really upset me, I always knew I was doing the best for my baby. We haven't looked back. There is no way I could have waited, and I honestly believe it would have been bad for Abby's development (which had stopped compleatly).

I think with these things that you should read the guidlines, arm yourself with the facts, and then make an informed choice, baised on YOUR baby. You know your baby best, and certainly better than some bloke at the WHO hundreds of miles away!

xxx

I srarted at 18 weeks, as my little one has really bad reflux, was downing 8oz and not putting on weight.
I did want to wait longer, buts it working well for her, and i really wouldnt have started if her weight wasnt an issue, the food seems to help keep her lunchtime milk feed down.
my froend has just atared her little boy and her is a week off 6 months, and this has worked better for her.
I think if you know your baby then you will know when he is ready. I hate the fact that many people start as soon as they are officially allowed, most people I know stared as soon as they turned 17 weeks.

good luck xx

[quote]I started weaning Abby at 13 weeks, I wasn't happy about it - and like you would have liked to have waited until she was much older. But she was definately ready, and my Health Visitor agreed that I was doing the right thing, we took it very slowly (just runny babyrice at first) and although I got a lot of stick at the time (people told me allsorts of rubbish about how I was damaging her kidneys, making her obease, making her have allergies, etc) which really upset me,

I'm not really sure how you can argue and say you don't believe medical research?? How old is your hv? mine stresses not to feed untill your lo is as close to 6 months as possible!!

We started Barney at 19 weeks I think (might have been slightly later) we were aiming for 6 months but the reality was he's a porker, who wasn't interested in milk in the day, and his weight was dropping down the centiles. He was exclusively bfed and after taking advice from a consultant paediatric nutritionist it was decided that slightly early weaning was far better then introducing formula. Like siany's lo he was showing all the signs, not quite sitting unsupported but very stable with support, trying to steal our food etc. We started very slowly but he 'got it' instantly and never pushed out as much as a mouthful so I'm sure it was the right time. He also almost imeadiately started to climb back to the centile he was born on (91st) and has stayed there ever since! (he's now 16 months)
You'll know when he's ready hun, there is no rush, just trust your instincts.
xx

[Modified by: Bedhead on November 05, 2009 03:59 PM]

I weaned my eldest daughter at 4 months, I was advised to do so as she was a very hungry baby.
I have seen everywhere to start soild food at 6 months so surely that doesnt mean you start weaning at 6 months? Whats the harm in giving a 4 month old some baby rice or petits filous?
My youngest daughter is 3 months and I was planning on weaning her next month but Im not sure? xx

Hi,

My lo was 5 1/2 months when I started offering him finger foods and baby led weaning has worked so well for us. My lo didn't show any signs that he needed anything more than his milk and I was in no rush to get him weaned. I also know other babies who have been weaned near 6 months. I know some babies do show signs they need early weaning but I also know some mums who seem to be in a rush to get there baby onto solids especially if other babies they know are. The most important thing is to go with your baby's needs. xx

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That's exactly what it means, anything that isn't milk counts as solid food.

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For the baby rice? Probably not much, although there is some evidence that early weaning can cause kidney damage and increase the risk of food allergies. For the petits filous? Babies under 6 months shouldn't have cows milk, or anything made from cows milk (excluding formula) as they simply can't digest it. It can cause milk intolerance, crippling stomach pains and other health issues. Also petits filous have a frankly ridiculous amount of sugar in them (I don't even let my 3 year old eat them often because of the sugar content) and can lead to your baby developing an even sweeter tooth than babies have anyway and subsequently refusing vegtables and savoury flavours when you introduce them.

Personally I wouldn't try and set a date for weaning. If you watch for the signs and let your lo guide you, she'll let you know when she's ready

Michelle07 - I am sorry if i missunderstood your post but it sounded a bit like you were having a go at me for my decision to wean Abby early, if that is the case then how dare you! you know nothing about my daughter, or her needs. I do not feel like I need to justify my decision to you or anyone else for that matter, but Abby needed to be weaned, 3 HV's and my GP all agreed, and more importantly, I agreed, and if that isn't good enough for you, then tough.

Oh and not that it matters, or makes any difference, but my HV is in her 30's - she has a child in primary school. I assume you were inferring that she was some old doddery woman going round shouting "in my day ..." sorry to disapoint you.

I really don't think others should be judging other mum's on their decisions when to wean their babies. Just felt a bit sorry for N&N reading that post attacking her decision.

All babies develop differently. This is in terms of digestive systems, walking, teeth, talking, everything. I had a full set of teeth at 7 months old... my oh was still toothless on his 1st birthday... I know this isn't anything to do with weaning but it just demonstrates how different babies develop.

For those mums that do not agree with weaning earlier than this... remember that it wasn't that long ago it was advised to start weaning at 4 months.

Mmm.. I guess I am starting to get a bit more clued up on this weaning malarky. Just hope I can delay until 6 months!!!

[Modified by: alcott on November 05, 2009 05:07 PM]

Quote:

I wasn't trying to attack you! but you said arm yourself with the facts and the fact is medical research done by doctors says it is better for baby to ween at 6 months! i know its not always possible but getting as close to 6 months as possible is best for baby surely?

I weaned jake at about 16 weeks. He was 9lb 2 oz at birth and breast fed up until he was weaned and then self weaned off bm.I only ever made my own food using my mums organic veg and it was right for us. I dont think I have ever interrogated another mothe about it, nor did i consult my HV but when i told her she said fine. Guidelines are there for a reason and I guess the guidelines at four months were. A mothers instinct is the best guideline for me so do what is right for your LO. If ready then fine. x

We tried weaning Toby at about 4 months because he was off his milk and very unsettled generally and not sleeping well. We now know that this was all probably due to silent reflux... we tried him again at 5 months as he was showing some more signs but still no joy (he was showing SOME signs at 4 months but would NOT have the food at all - was totally NOT interested!!!)...
We tried him again at 5.5 months and persevered with one meal per day... he was still not really interested but I was determined to keep going. He's now 6 months (TODAY!!!) and literally only this week has started to do really really well with eating. I wished I had waited until 6 months, but only as this seemed to be when Toby was ready, I wished I had not dipped in and out of it, but thankfully he seems to be turning the corner now and we are much happier!
Good Luck! Its SO much more rewarding when they ARE ready for it so I hope you time it right! xxxxxxxxx

I started weaning the girls at 21 weeks for various medical and personal reasons. I'm glad we started when we did as they love their food and it means I've been able to stop giving them their vitamins which taste and smell disgusting.

I think we need to be careful about quoting medical research though. For some babies (including premature babies like mine) it is recommended to wean them before 6 months. Everyone's situation (and baby) is different so trust your instincts and do what you think is best for your baby xxx

we managed to wait untill pippa was 6 months and started baby led weaning, and she's doing fab she loves her food, but all babies are different and develop differently so it follows they all need weaning at different points, if pippa had showed signs of needing weening earlier then 6 months i would have considered it. I think waiting worked for us as pippa's been able to eat everything we hav there's no restrictions apart from honey which we don't eat anyway. If you want to look at a different way of weaning have a look at baby led weaning it's worked really well for us
xxx

i waited till after 6 months actually as Max wasn't ready and was fine on just milk!

We tried at around 4 months as advised by the hv as she was such a hungry baby but she wasnt interested. Then at 5 months she went right off milk and was mezmerised when we ate so we started again and it had a duel effect in that a) she began eating food and b) she began taking her milk again but only AFTER she has had some solids. Now at 7 months she loves her grub, and is dropping her milk herself although I do still try to ensure she gets as much as possible.

I think all babies are different, my sister had both hers fully weaned at 3 months as thats what the advice was back then and it was less than 10 years ago; Charlotte never would have waited till 6 months but my friends baby still isnt interested in food even at 6 months so has been told to wait another month. You have to read your baby, trust me you'll know when they're ready.