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Weaning

I'm a bit confused about the whole weaning debate

30 replies

DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 10:24

I've read a few weaning threads recently as DD is 16 weeks, and with my DS 5 years ago I had already started weaning him at this stage. I realise current advice is to wait till 6 months, but some things I've read seem confusing to me.

I have seen written a few times that baby gets more calories from milk than from solids so better to have milk alone.

However, if at this stage all you are giving them is a few teaspoons of baby rice mixed with either ebm or fm, then surely they are getting the same calories from a little baby rice on top of their usual milk quantities? It's not as if you are replacing a milk feed with solids at this stage; it's just a little extra to get them used to eating.

Can anyone clarify?

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lulumama · 29/09/2007 10:29

you don;t need to get your baby used to eating by giving baby rice. baby rice in the milk is a sloppy substance, and not thick and not like solid food. it is thick milk. why would a baby need extra calories at this stage.. well, maybe a growth spurt, which often happens around this time,and parents can think the baby is ready for food....

an extra milk feed is better than a bit of baby rice and milk. the baby has no need for anything other than milk.

their gut might not be ready for anything other than milk

there is no mythical window of opportunity and if you miss it, your baby will only ever want mush.

your baby does not know anything other than milk exists so is not missing out or has to get used to food at this stage

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GroinAvengerCusack · 29/09/2007 10:45

baby rice is a nonsense
I cannot see the point of it AT ALL

and what lulu said

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 11:01

thanks lulu (its daisyandbabybootoo here)....I'm just being pressured on all sides to start weaning, and getting fed up with the comments so need some ammunition. I'm starting to feel like a feak for carrying on with BF, but, as we have only just got it sussed, I'm buggered if I'm giving it up just yet.

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 11:01

feak freak, obviously.

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Jojay · 29/09/2007 11:07

Tell everyone to mind their own business!!!

Your baby will do fine on milk for some time yet. Stick to your guns!

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 11:10

LOL jojay....I just have visions of my MIL trying to feed her rich tea biscuits when she babysits on monday!

mind you, I have coeliac disease, so I will be holding off with wheat for as long as possible and I hope she will respect my wishes on that one (even though she keeps trying to force biccies and cakes on me all the time..."just for a wee treat")

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lulumama · 29/09/2007 11:18

tell your MIL it would be dangerous and putting her grandbaby's health at risk by giving her anything other than milk as you don't know if she has coealiacs

be firm, and put your foot down

and exaggerate if neccesary

no harm will come to your baby by waiting to wean until around 26 weeks, whereas it could cause harm to wean sooner...

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GroinAvengerCusack · 29/09/2007 11:20

I have just waited til 6 months with DS, he only had breastmilk to then

he is now eating loads, I reckon he'll soon be eating the same amount as a baby of the same age who has had rice and puree shovelled into them way before 6 months. With the advantage that he can feed himself things and I'm not having to bother pureeing stuff (life is too short for that)

and he was 10lbs 5 at birth. So it can be done. I never understand why people are so keen to start giving babies solids. flipping messy hassley business, I've tended to put it off myself!

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bubblagirl · 29/09/2007 11:26

my hv said wean when you think baby is ready thats the only advice i will give my ds was having rusks at 15 wks more solids at 4 mths weaned properly by 8 mths i just went with what he wanted and needed

people will always say its not good bodies are not read y will cause problems then speak to your parents who say you were on solids just after 3 mths or 4 mths were all ok so just go with what you think

as always said with anything mothers intuition the only advice to follow

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lulumama · 29/09/2007 11:32

your HV gave the wrong advice, i'm afraid

yes, previous generations were weaned earlier, but it has been linked to gut problems in later life and allergies

also, years ago, women were advised to do things that we now know are potentially harmful

eg drink guinness and eat liver

babies are now recommended to sleep on their backs as opposed to advice from years ago

advice and recommendations change for a good reason, not on a whim.

you cannot see inside your baby;s gut to see if they are ready for food.. this is one area where instinct should not come into play, IMO.

you cannot harm your baby by weaning later, so what is the hurry?

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hercules1 · 29/09/2007 11:33

Yeh, no one is obese, got irritable bowel syndrome, allergies etc...

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 11:39

lulu having spoken to my mum about it i was being fed wheat based rusk at about 9 weeks....maybe a factor in the coeliac disease?

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GroinAvengerCusack · 29/09/2007 11:47

rusks are sooooooooooo sugary too

I always laugh at those lists of things which 'tell' you that your baby is ready for solids

does he show interest in the food you're eating?

er yes - from as soon as he could focus on it really. he'd have started solids at about 7 weeks if I'd taken that as a guide

You can only really follow the latest advice given really, as I point out to my mother when she says 'well in my day etc.'. She was just following the guidelines given then; they're different now and in most cases (waiting til 6 months for solids, sleeping on back etc.) for good reasons.

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ruddynorah · 29/09/2007 11:55

i'm sending dd (17 months) out to work for a living as of next week...she has started showing an interest in where i'm going when i put my work clothes on

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 12:32

lol ruddynorah

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lulumama · 29/09/2007 13:04

you just don;t know daisy..it might have been a factor, it might not... , the point is, not giving solids early can not cause harm !

babies take around 40 weeks to develop in uteros, why , a few short weeks later, are they ready for food

and giving a rusk is like giving a chocolate biscuit

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bubblagirl · 29/09/2007 13:06

you can buy no suger rusks

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lulumama · 29/09/2007 13:29

no sugar, or no added sugar ?

the thing about rusks is they are designed as a first food for babies pre 6 months, as gluten should not be introduced before then.. chomping on a rice cake or stick of toast is better than a rusk IMO...

although rice cakes get very gloopy after a while, and need chiselling off any surface they land on

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 15:29

oooh, rusks are up there with fruit shoots i think!

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Rosylily · 29/09/2007 15:53

My ds is over 6 months now and will not entertain a spoon or a bottle so I felt a bit flummoxed about the weaning thing.

Now I've chilled out, read a bit about the baby led weaning thing, so now at meal times he has bits of fruit, vegetables or fish plonked on his tray and he has a great time trying to stuff it all into his mouth copying his brothers and sister...he manages some of it and it's a huge mess

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 16:10

sounds like fun rosylily....

I've been looking at BLW stuff this afternoon and am happy to wait. I did all the pureeing with my DS 5 years ago as the advice was 16 weeks back then and it was such a faff. Now with another child and a bigger house to look after, I just can't see me having the time. BLW will suit this just fine.

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AitchTwoOh · 29/09/2007 17:21

if you've just got the bfing cracked then don't waste all that effort, imo. am very that you've got the bfing sussed. and like these good ladies have said, there's plenty of time to wean them when they're ready. (best sign imo when they pick up the darned food and eat it. which may actually be a little before 6 months, as it happens...)

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 20:42

but aitch I have a good few weeks head start on you. dd is nearly 17 weeks and it's takebn me 16 to get to a stage we're comfortble.

Of course she's doing the 4 mo growth spurt now so i haven't moved from the sofa all day. It's a good excuse for sitting on my big backside though

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AitchTwoOh · 29/09/2007 21:42

well bloomin' done to you for sticking at it. i only managed to mix-feed until 17 weeks...

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DaisyABandyBoobToo · 29/09/2007 21:53

I'm confusing you with tutter ...she had a bub in july didn't she?

I had a horrible time with my DS and only lasted 6 weeks, so have had sheer determination and bloody mindedness on my side this time around. That and we got off to a flying start (problems only arose at the eight week mark )

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