4 months..... too early to wean??

[angelz]

Our ds was diagnosed with silent reflux at 2 months, now 14 weeks he has shown dramatic improvement but still has 'refluxy' bouts every now and then.

Have just returned from follow up hospital appointment where pediatrician has advised us to start weaning ds when he hits 4 months, and to wind down medication over the following months (he is on ranitidine).

Before today i was planning on waiting till he was 6 months.... does anyone have experience of early weaning? What are the best things to start him on?

Thanks x

[overmydeadbody]

just wait till six months

[FABIsInTraining]

What omdb said.

[IMoveTheStarsForNoOne]

Yes. Wait til 6mo.

[daisyj]

There's loads of good advice here under the feeding topic, and you'll probably get more advice posting there, too. I know some people don't like her, but Annabel Karmel is useful on foods for early weaning. Basically for weaning at that age, it's a case of baby rice and simple fruit/veg purees (apple, carrot, sweet potato, etc.) Personally, though, I would be uncomfortable weaning before 22 weeks minimum.

Have you asked the paediatrician why they think it of benefit to your ds's condition to begin weaning so early?

[daisydora]

Wait...honestly, tis best really it is

[angelz]

Even if I just give him baby rice ?

Doc seemed pretty convinced it would help him by keeping his stomach contents down, and he said that as long as we kept away from known allergens there was no proof to say that early weaning encourages allergies???

To be honest, I would prefer he came of the meds sooner rather than later and doc seemed to think early weaning was the way forward???

[shermoray]

hiya if the pediatirician thinks 4 mths and you think 6 maybe try 5, i weaned my 4 boys at around 4 mths and they're all good eaters with no problems, it's just in the last few years they have been advising 6mths, you could maybe try just plain baby rice at the tea time feed and see how it goes, the peadiatrician wouldn't advise you if didn't think okay to do so, good luck hope this helps

[daisydora]

But is your DS ready for food? Will he tolerate it in mouth or a spoon? My DS was almost 7 months before he would entertain even the smoothest puree?

4 months is very early....plus baby rice is vile! And pointless imo

[hellion]

I weaned my son from four months. (He is six now, and that was the advice then). He suffered with terrible colic, and would throw up an entire bottle of milk after drinking it.

The colic and stomach pains improved once he started weaning and I never looked back. I started him on pureed carrot, then added in other vegetables and soft fruits.

You paediatrition should know what he is talking about.

Good luck - hope whatever you do works.

[JimJammum]

I weaned at 4 and half mths. Very very runny baby rice to start and slowly thickened it up.....no veggies pureed until 6mths. He eats like a horse now at nearly 3.

[IMoveTheStarsForNoOne]

If you do, make sure it's fruit and veg and baby rice only. No gluten, eggs, meat, wheat, dairy etc.

Check labels on things. Just because they say suitable from 4mo doesn't mean they are.

[pippel]

under those circumstances I would wean. I have 2 dds one is 4 months and I have no intention of weaning her yet and her sister is nearly 6 and she was weaned at 6 months when she started to swipe peoples food from their plates (I think when she was born the guidelines had just changed from 4 to 6 months I had no clue about babies so didn't even realise people did wean at 4 months )

but it depends on how strong his tongue thrust reflex is, if its still strong there is no point in even trying to wean him because it will all come out anyway!

[bubblagirl]

my ds was weaned for same reason wasn't fed meals dinner dessert etc but was fed maybe bit of rice didnt wean onto real foods until 6 mths and wasn't weaned fully until 8 mths by fully i mean the 3 meals and cutting milk down

[mumtoem]

My DD was weaned at 14 months. It really did help her reflux. She was also crying for food 2 hours after a bottle, but could not tolerate any more milk (it would come straight back up).

I started DD on baby rice flavoured with banana. After a few small spoons she grabbed the spoon from me and put it in her mouth, so I think she was definitely ready.

I stuck to simple veg and fruit purees until 6 months - no wheat, dairy or meat til then.

[BertieBotts]

I have heard that there is a medical argument for weaning early in the case of severe reflux, but I have not got any evidence to back this up, it's just something I remember hearing. I do think a paediatric dietician ought to know what they are talking about - it's not like this is an overenthusiastic health visitor. If you are unsure though you can always ask why they think it would help and ask for references of studies etc. The WHO guidelines (6 months) are not just about allergies, they are about gut maturity.

If you do wean before 6 months there is a large amount of foods you need to avoid. To keep it simple stick to rice, fruit and veg but there are a few fruits you are supposed to avoid, I think tomatoes and strawberries? As these are more likely to be allergens.

[angelz]

Thank you everyone.

I think I will consider weaning him at 5 months, and stick to rice, fruit and veg - and yes BertieBotts, avoid the tomatoes and strawberries - both of which I was allergic to as a child!

With baby rice - do you always give with a spoon?

[pippel]

yes its a chocking hazard in a bottle

[MumofJTM]

My DS was a hungry bugger from day 1 and we weaned at 4 and a bit months after he stopped gaining weight and started waking more in the night, and he never looked back. SOlids finally helped us get some structure into the day and night and get him going longer between feeds. He seemed much more content too.

Annabel Karmel is good but quite fiddly, I found, but I'm crap in the kitchen . . .

[wishingchair]

I weaned my DDs at 4-5 months (DD1 is 7 and that was the advice given to me at the time). They are fine. No allergies. No stomach problems. Fine.

Your paediatrician should know what he is talking about.

Start with baby rice, maybe few weeks later add in pureed pear or carrot.

[wishingchair]

Gina Ford weaning book was excellent I found. Simple, basic information. Not convaluted recipes you get in Annabel Karmel

[ShowOfHands]

The majority of children do not benefit from solids before 6 months. Some will be put at risk by it. Do not use anecdotal tales regarding sleep, weight, hunger etc to make your decision.

Some children, very few, will need weaning before the guidelines for medical reasons and in these cases it is under medical supervision and advice.

I do not know your baby. I think in some severe reflux cases where a child is losing weight and/or is consistently dehydrated, early weaning has been useful.

This decision should be made between you and the health professionals as it's not as simple as 'is my average baby ready to wean'. This is a baby on medication and under the care of a paediatrician. The guidelines about 6 months are for the average child and allow for situations where medical conditions are involved and direct parents towards medical advice in making alternate decisions.