How late can I leave it to introduce solids?

[HazyShadeOfWinter]

DS is just over 6mo and bf.We were going to start weaning last week at 6mo but he developed a tummy bug (we think - many greeny mucusy poos a day, no change to my diet to cause this) and I didn't want to introduce new foods while he had this.

He's had the green poos for a week now - took him to GP who said it's likely just a bug taking time to clear through - she was happy that he is hydtrated and well apart from this. She said it could take a few weeks to clear and suggested I could cut down on dairy to help him along (though then added there's no evidence for that ). Said we could start weaning if we wanted.

However, I'm reluctant to start right now, partly because we won't know if he has a funny reaction to anything, secondly because I don't want to exacerbate any potential allergies or intolerances by giving him food when he has a disturbed gut.

Am I being precious? (he's DS2 , but but DS1 is hardly ever ill so maybe I'm worrying too much)

How long could I leave it before it becomes risky/silly? He has vitamin drops most days when I remember, but obviously I don't want him getting aneamic etc.

[BoobooChild]

I didn't start dd until she was about 6.5 months. Even then, it was such tiny amounts of food, it's taken us about 2 months for her to really get going properly. Nothing bad will happen if you don't start at six months on the dot.

Btw mymy bf dd does those kind of poos whenever she is teething. The first time I thought it was a stomach bug, but soon realised it was the same whenever she teethed. Could it be this for your baby?

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

He will be fine.

Really the iron stuff is basically hysteria by formula companies.

If you started at 7 months the only likely difference would be moving through the stages faster.

It isn't like you are planning to leave it to Christmas.

[KeturahLee]

I think delaying things can make it more likely to have intolerances, have read some evidence that gluten should be introduced before 7 months.

[WindYourBobbinUp]

I was told we could start between 5 and 8 months depending on signs of readiness which will be different for every baby. Don't worry about starting at 6 months on the dot!

[HazyShadeOfWinter]

Could be booboo, he's definitely chewing away on his lower gum, and I think DS1 had funny poos when he teethed too, but as it's been going on for so long I thought it might be more. Hope it is something like teething though - trying hard to stop myself freaking out about dairy intolerances after the GPs remark

[HazyShadeOfWinter]

Thanks all, nice to know the iron stuff isn't worth worrying over. Hoping he'll be cleared up and ready to go before 7mo - now you mention it keturah I do recall studies saying that introducing peanuts earlier can reduce allergies.

Also he's still a bit wobbly sitting up, though great at getting things to his mouth, so I guess if people dmil start asking I can use that as a reason as well as the upset stomach.

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

If you think about it, if it were that critical surely they'd need to adjust weaning age based on some test of iron stores, or according to whether born at 37 weeks or 42, and all sorts of factors.

The reality is, they need food for iron. At the start of weaning, they get very little iron from food. It's a gradual process and not something a few weeks will change. It'd be a concern if you were planning on delaying for months, but you're not.

[BoobooChild]

Well hopefully it isn't dairy intolerance, time will tell on that one. My dd (so far) has not shown any sign of it though and she loves cheese! She hasn't done the green poos with her last bout of teething but definitely did a few times and it did go on for ages too!

I was anxious to start my dd on solids for reasons that I can't fully remember now lol. But yes as I said I started dd at 6.5momths and it's taken 2 months for her to really get into it. And I know of another baby who didn't start at all until they were 8/9 months. From what I've read and been told, solid food doesn't isn't really important from a nutrition p.o.v until the baby is 1 years old. Before then it's more about getting them used to tastes, flavours and starting to gradually cut down milk in preparation for going back to work if you are.

[WindYourBobbinUp]

Regarding iron, I think it's only an issue for premature babies (although I've never had a term baby so I don't know for sure!) as they get their iron store in the last few weeks of pregnancy. If your baby was term it should be fine.

[HazyShadeOfWinter]

Booboo, I'm sure I will have forgotten all this stress in a few months too, funny what sleep deprivation and the fast-moving world of babies will do to you.

[squizita]

Snot can make nappies like this - and drool.

DD has a cold so I have the same concerns re common allergens but am weaning on tiny portions of carrot, apple etc which very rarely cause reactions.

[tiktok]

Keturah, where have you read this? I have never heard of gluten having to be introduced before seven months. Think you might have this wrong. There is research going on at present to see if solids given by a certain time reduces allergies but the study has not reported yet and we don't know if it will consider or differentiate between babies susceptible to allergy and those who are not.

[KeturahLee]

It might have been from a British Dietetic Association position paper, but tbh it was a long time ago that my pfb was at weaning age and I cared enough to research these things.

[KeturahLee]

It was this - www.rotherham.nhs.uk/files/Services/Infant%20feeding%20forum/Resources/Weaning%20infants%20onto%20solid%20food%20-%202009.pdf

"Introducing gluten* between 4 and 7 months while breastfeeding may reduce the risk of coeliac disease, type 1 diabetes and wheat allergy"

[Booboostoo]

Your DS will be fine if you wait a couple of weeks.

As a point of fact though the iron stuff is not hysteria and has nothing to do with formula companies. Prem babies, low birth babies and bf babies may be at risk but the time to screen is around 12mo and it depends on your child's individual eating habits. My DD was severe anaemic at 16mo because she loved bf and was not eating large enough amounts of iron rich foods (meat and lentils are the main sources). Recommendations for possible anaemic are blood tests and then if necessary iron supplementation - neither has anything to do with formula.

Not something you need to worry about but it's worth knowing the facts.

[PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom]

My point was not that the need for iron was hysteria.

My point was that the idea they suddenly become anemic at six months and one week was hysteria which, yes, formula companies have had a large hand in creating.

Sorry to hear of your daughter's health problems.

[tiktok]

Thanks keturah. It's far from actually saying that gluten 'should' be introduced before seven months though. It's highly speculative, I would say, and is not part of general guidance.

[ispyfispi]

I'm pretty sure Mayim Bialik's children were ebf for well over a year!