Hi there ive put this on here as its something everyone will be reading up on soon if not already! just really wanted to say that i was very scared about doing this with my daughter as the government dont recommend doing it until 6 months and definatly not before 17 weeks. however my daughter is 14 weeks and was showiing all the signs of wanting solids, ie: not being full after a feed and so hours of screaming, doing 8oz every 2 hours followed by more screaming, watching me eat and mimicking me, chomping on her hands and not sleeping through the night anymore.

I asked everyone ,and was looked down on for even considering the idea, which made me feel like a terrible mum. however one day i decided enough was enough, she couldnt go on like that and nor could i, i had to try it to see.she had already learnt to support herself nicely and hold her head so i popped her in her bouncer and gave her 4oz of milk, followed by baby rice. She loved it! she even did it with a spoon and didnt spit a drop out. Turns out i was right all along she is sooo much happier and sleeping properly again now her belly is lovely and full. i havent tried her on anything else because she is so young but cant wait to try more flavours when the time is right.

Basically what i am saying is for anyone who did what i did and searched everywhere for information to say that it was ok to start...just go with your instincts. The government are of course worth listening too and taking their advice, but they dont know your baby like you do. 9 times out of 10 you make the right desicion for your child. i hope i may have helped some people anyway!

You are so right with regards to knowing your baby and thier needs. My little girl was showing alot of signs of wanting something extra and I started weaning her at 4 1/2 months old and she's now 8 1/2 months and has 3 meals a day and love her food and is a contented little girl.

Glad you did what you felt right and your lo is getting on well. Enjoy the weaning, it soons become a mine field if you let it. lol. xxxxxx

i know what you mean baby both of my children where the same.
Both where younger than your little one but it was needed. with my son i believe it was more two do with the fact that he was lactose intolarant adn the doc wouldnt listen intill he was almost 4 months, so i had to put him on dairy free solids just so he was getting something in him.

But with my daughter by 10 weeks she was drinking a 9oz bottle ever 1-2 hours during the day and was eying up everything i ate.

I think with solids you need to look at the child not there age. like they dont mention that with the age thing you go by the due date not the day there were born so if they were early hold off for that many weeks, if they are early you can start that meany weeks early. I think you should go by what your child is ready for, it also seems that bigger children are ready earlyer than smaller babys. and both of mine where big babies my son was 8lb 14 3/4oz and my daughter was 9lb 13oz.

Always listen to your self and your baby, health visitors and other medical profecionals all just say what the books say, and unless they have had kids of there own really what do they know