I am at the end of my teather!!! I really can't go another night without my sleep- my hubby has been sleeping on the sofa!!! I really think Lucas needs weaned now I just can't see him lasting 2 weeks. At the same time I feel guilty because the HV said not to and I quite believe she's right. The two people I know who were weaned early have some sort of digestional problem. I have given him 2 spoons of baby rice with ebm for the second morning and he likes it.

Just a question- anyone else used both breast and formula? I used formula yesterday and it was so much thicker than with the ebm. I had to use more rice this morning or it would have just been like milk.

Any advice? Am I doing the right thing giving him rice?

A whole generation of babies were bought up being weaned at 4 months, myself and my sister included and we survived with no digestional problems. My 6 month old daughter has been on solids for about 6 weeks after I experienced the same sleepless nights as yourself. My HV told me that she spoke to a consultant who specialises in nutrition in babies. He told her that any time after 17 weeks is ok for weaning and that your Lo will let you know when they are ready. He also told her that he believes there are going to be alot of problems with anaemic 6 month old babies. Your baby is only born with 6 months of iron and that was why they used to recommend weaning at 4 months. This ensured your Lo did not deplete their iron stores.
One question you might want to ask your HV.... Has she got any children of her own?

Trust your instincts he's your son and no one at all knows him better than you.Like d1ydiva just said babys have been weaned earlier than 4months for years and years if your child is going to be allergic to anything or is going to be obese((which is why they say do it later)) they'll be like that whether there weaned at 4months or 7months.Grace was doing the same thing lucas is doing and as soon as i started her on rice she went back to sleeping 7-7.Rice is the best thing you can use because theres nothing really in it and its made with formula/breast milk the only thing i would say is give it him at night.What time are his feeds before bed? what time does he go bed? and also if he has a formula feed when does he have this?

Nic, out of interest, what digestional problems have your friends lo's had??? What sort of food have they been feeding their lo's and how old are they? I'm sure if you take it nice and slow with Lucas he'll be fine!!

All my girls were weaned at 4 months and have had absolutely no probs if that's any help. I think the 6 mths thing is ridiculous and i will probably start soon too! Might start sooner if it was such a success for Stefy. Btw i never measured it exactly, i wld always make a little bit and then add milk or rice to make the right consistency.
I'm used to waking regularly with Alex (he seems ravenous all the time!) so no help there i'm afraid. Do u think it's a boy thing? I never had this with the girls...maybe Alex is just a light sleeper.Taking him to be weighed today if i remember so will see how he is.
I'm sure u r doing the right thing.
Nik xx

Health visitor said to wean him no earlier than 4 months and hes only 15 weeks tomorrow so a week or two early. My HV isn't too bad but they dont like you doing it a day before 4 months. Its my husband and brother who have problems and they were both weaned at 9 weeks (hubby) and 13 weeks (brother). My brother has had unexplained stomach pain since he was a baby and although hes a lot better now its not 100%. They did every test under the sun and didnt find an answer. My hubby has problems too and has done since he was a baby its almost like his bowels cant cope with food and everything rushes thru. It probably isnt due to weaning and it was probably why my mum and his mum chose to do it early rather than the cause but I'll never know.

Lucas has a feed from me about 6 or 7 both sides then as soon as he shows hes hungry I give him a 7-8oz bottle then one every 3 hours after that til its 6pm then I let him feed off me when he wants til bed time. Hes now waking up every 2 hours from midnight (done it 2 nights in a row) but im so tired i have only beed feeding him myself in the bed so maybe i should have a formula bottle ready for if he wakes up? I dont really want to feed him during the night tho...so i use the breast as a comfort rather than a feed since he wont take a bottle.

Grr! I dunno. He took 2 spoons of rice (with 10 spoons of bm) this morning and hes napping now which he never does. Maybe thats the problem? Maybe if he naps he wont sleep at night? lol!

Babies must nap in the day tho allow rest. I think they should have 15hours a day i read somewhere. Lucas is doing really well anyway going to bed at 6pm Aimee doesnt go til 8.30 to 9, and then wakes at 7. She has about 3 hours in the day.
My Mum weaned me at 8 weeks, (my dad fed me tinned sardines at 10 weeks!!- Ha, he didnt know what to do, hes a great Dad really tho!!) and I am perfectly healthy xx
I dont know what to suggest, tho i think if u give him formula when he wakes in the night maybe he will sleep longer than with breast milk because its heavier? ??

its a hard one i know. Each baby is unique and giving guide lines for every baby is just silly. A 16lb baby will have different needs to a 12lb baby even if they are same age! lauren and chris were weaned at about 8 weeks. lauren is as healthy as can be but chris is chronic asthmatic, hay fever, eczema, adhd, dyslexic, dyspraxic and a pain in the ass!!!!!!!! lol he is lovely really! now i have no way of knowing is that becase he was 3 weeks early? weaned early ? bottle fed? or just the way he is?
Joseph was about 20 weeks and charlie 6 months. Joseph has mild asthma and charlie eczema and showing worrying symptons of learning problems. They were both breast fed! Amelia is still total bf and i have no plans as yet to try weaning. she isn't quite 13lb yet so no rush! I will judge when time is right. Nik i think it sounds to me as if he ready. Use only gluten free organix or organic fruit mashed up at first. After 6 m onths you can be more adventurous.
good luck and let baby guide you not rules and regs

d xxx

Thanks eveveryone! I think I'll stick to baby rice until he's 4months and only for breakfast. He likes it so much better in breast milk so I think I'll be expressing again! (I must confess to tasting my milk the other day and I have to say no wonder Lucas complained about going over to formula! It's so sweet!).

He is 17 weeks adjusted on Tuesday but only 15 weeks tomorrow so I didn't start too early :S

i would stick to only the rice for a few weeks i did with grace try giving it him at about 6.30 - 7pm ish and try giving him a formula feed for his next feed after the rice see if that works.Also what formula do you use?

Aptamil. I have the problem tho that I kind of have to breastfeed him last as otherwise my milk will go down too much (and my boobs will be bursting in the morning). I might start giving him a little rice at bedtime but not yet.