Ok so I might be putting my foot in it here and this is in no way a dig at anyone in particular but can I just say that the WHO guidelines are not just a bunch of people sitting at a desk saying "Oh how can we piss of Mrs Smith and Joe Bloggs? Oh I know lets 'make up' that a baby shouldn't be weaned until 6mths"

These guidelines are decided after YEARS of study on HUNDREDS of children! Yes years ago babies were weaned at 3mths/4mths etc but these guidlines have been in place for well over 7 years now. They are based on studies of infant guts- it was discovered that enzymes that break down the food and protiens etc in the food were not present until about 20weeks in MOST infants (some were earlier of course) and these enzymes take up to 6weeks to mature so it is best to wait if you can. Also a baby has all the nutrients it needs in terms of iron and essestial vitamins and minerals until 6mths regardless of if they are breast/formula fed so again no particular 'need' for anything extra. Obesity has risen enormously in the last few years and yes there is a link with early weaning, I am a health professional so have access to this information and am part of the childhood obesity stratergy so it is something I am quite passionate about. I can give more info and am open to questions rather than just spouting anymore on here! Now of course there will always be exception to the rule and as Mums and Dads we will have a better idea of when our babies are ready. A big baby should not be an indicator to early weaning as their gut is still the same 'age' as a smaller baby. A prem baby (as mine was) should be weaned at their actual age of 6mths as that is when their iron stores etc will run out and that is when their gut is matured.

Now like I said at the beginning I'm not having a go at anyone just thought it might be interesting to see 'the other side' if you like.

Thanks Dinks. :)

That's how I feel about guidelines - they are based on research, not arbitrary ideas. I suppose working in science I am maybe more happy to go along with the idea of the research meaning something? (I don't do anything medical, I'm just a lab monkey!).

Obviously every baby will not be the same, but the guidelines are there to inform parents and help them decide what to do, not to assume they don't know their children.

I have my MIL mentioning the weaning guidelines a lot, and have failed to come up with an answer to explain my opinion that well. He is only 6 1/2 weeks old though, so we have a while! I also didn't realise it was 7 years since the guidelines changed, I will be mentioning that as necessary...

x

[Modified by: thistle on November 07, 2009 10:18 AM]

No worries Thistle!

If I ever have anyone challenge me on these things (namely MIL) and say well my boy's were 3mths when I weaned etc etc I just say well lots of things change- My Mum brought my Brother home from hospital in a cardboard box as carseats weren't compulsory but I wouldn't do that now!

Are you really a Monkey?!

Nah not really a monkey , but not doing any earth shattering research, just testing stuff all day. I like to find out as much as I can about things in a geeky fashion though.

[Modified by: thistle on November 07, 2009 10:40 AM]

Nothing wrong with that!

Dinks.
I am very well aware fo the who reaserch, and it origins - and that reaserch was done based on all children - accross thw world, and as Abby's Dad pointed out - my child has very different circumstances to say a baby in the 3rd world - so excuse me, for making the desicion to place my child's health in the hands of medical proffesionals in THIS country, who know her well and have used common sense, rather than spouting the "guidelines"

as countless people have said - you HAVE to follow your babies lead in these things, not just blindly follow the rules. If I had waited until 6 months then my baby would be seriously ill by now - so thank god I trusted my instincts.

Incidently Dinks, have you read the report in the BMJ (reserch done by British doctors) which states that it is best to wean whenever your baby is ready - rather than going of their age? I can send it to you as a PDF if you like? I have a very close friend (some of you may have seen her comments on facebook) who is very highly qualified in peadiatric development - who also agrees with the decision (to wean early) made by 3 HV's and a GP not to mention countless mum's on BE!!!

Anyone who knows me - knows how much I agonised over this decision, and how much it upsets me when people blindly have a go at me, without knowing the facts.

Now - to be honest. I am getting sick of defending myself. So anyone else who thinks I am a bad mum - please can you keep it to yourself, because I am not sure how much more critisim I can take right now.

Sorry - just re read your post, and I was a bit harsh, I just hate all this so much.

Abby really did need to be weaned, and people can talk about enzymes, extra feeds etc till the cows come home, but it just makes me so angry because they didn't see her between 10 and 13 weeks.

I thought I didn't care about people judging me, but clearly I still do.

This whole thread has upset me so much, that I guess it has made me a bit sensitive.

sorry.
Nx

Oh Nikki, I am so sorry if you felt I was picking on you, I really and truely wasn't. I understand you may feel defensive and I am sure you gave weaning ALOT of thought and came to the best decision for you and your baby.

My comment was really to everyone who says things like "How dare these people tell us when we can wean our baby and they know nothing. That just annoys me. Not Mummies like you who are agonising over things and ultimately make the best decision for THEIR baby.

I am so glad that your LO is happy and healthy and you were able to get the best advise and help to aid you with weaning.

Oh Nikki, I am so sorry if you felt I was picking on you, I really and truely wasn't. I understand you may feel defensive and I am sure you gave weaning ALOT of thought and came to the best decision for you and your baby.

My comment was really to everyone who says things like "How dare these people tell us when we can wean our baby and they know nothing. That just annoys me. Not Mummies like you who are agonising over things and ultimately make the best decision for THEIR baby.

I am so glad that your LO is happy and healthy and you were able to get the best advise and help to aid you with weaning.

I don't think any one ever takes the decision to wean lightly, and most people say they plan to wait until 6 months (I certainly did) but sometimes the baby has other ideas.

I think if you had a baby who was content with just milk, then it can be hard to understand how difficult it is for mum's who have babies who do need that little bit extra, and I think it can be easy to think that because you and your baby were happy to wait, that other mummies are doing something wrong.

I will always be a big advocate for doing what your baby wants, and following your own instincts as a mother, and to be honest - I genuinely couldn't give a damn what the WHO or the BMJ say, I know my baby better than they do. I have said a lot how various health professionals agreed with my decision to wean early, but if they hadn't agreed - I would still have gone ahead.

I think that is what the OP was asking really- what age did you wean/why and do you feel that was right for you and your baby? So all of our points are valid and all of us gave the OP our stories of weaning.

I weaned early as my little one was having problems with weight and reflux and it has really helped her.

The majority of people I know have weaned at 17 weeks, just because they think this is the minimum age they can do so. This I disagree with as some were quite obviously not ready, yet were pushed into it.

Im not keen on the idea that just because the general advice is that you can wean from 17 weeks, then the day they hit 17 weeks you should start weaning regardlesas of if they are showing signs or not.

I think if you speak to your health visitor, and know your baby, then wean at the time that is right for you, not when you are told you can do it!

I don't think people really believe that Health professionals know nothing, and that ertainly wasn't what was meant by my post. I just think that a mother will always know her baby best. I understand that the research is often done extensively and thoroughly, but I don't believe that the facts and figures presented about other people's babies can dictate what you do with yours, only point you in the right direction and give you something extra to consider when making your own decision.
Carly xx

Gosh, this is a very sensitive subject isn't it?!

It's like everything else really - those who decide to breastfeed / those who don't; people who co-sleep / people who don't - I could go on for ages!!!

Obviously the guidelines are there for a reason and I don't suppose they have been just made up by someone for no reason (!!!!!), but I also believe that each case should be treated individually. I think it's not a decision that should be taken lightly and should be done for the right reasons - what is right for that particular baby.

I didn't wean Daisy until just about 6 months because that was right for her (and she has pretty severe reflux), but I think that I would have done it earlier if the health professionals had suggested that I should.

I would imagine that lots of babies that are weaned early are done so for the parent's and not necessarily in the child's best interests. I guess that if you are doing it for the right reasons though, there is nothing to worry about. And who knows - in 10 years time, someone could well be telling us that we should have weaning earlier because of something or other?!

C xx