Confused about weaning

[Mouette]

Hi all, I was wondering at what age you weaned your babies? I know the official WHO guideline is 6 months, and that's what my health visitor said, so clearly it's what I should do, but all the mums I know seem to wean earlier than that, so I'm a bit confused. My SIL is already going on about giving my baby carrot puree (her DD was weaned at 5 months). He's definitively not getting any though as he's only 18 weeks old and doesn't even finish his bottle half the time! Are there any benefits to weaning early? If not, why do people do it?

[strongblackcoffee]

imo it just depends on the baby - there comes a point when you sort of realise that they're ready for something more. With mine, they seemed hungry even after large feeds, and their sleep patterns changed. DS1 had his first solids at 17 weeks and loved it. DS2 wasn't that interested on first try (18 weeks) tried again a few weeks later, think about 21 weeks, and he seemed much more ready to open his mouth/swallow the food, etc.

[GeorgeTheSlitheen]

All babies are ready at different time. If you feel your DS is definatly NOT ready then the chances are you will know when he IS !

Both of mine have been weaned at 5 1/2 months which i dont think was eary really but a lot of people seem to take the 6 months guideline as gospel.

[Mouette]

Thank you ladies sounds like sensible advice. I will let him decide! He was born 3 weeks early so may be ready a bit later than other babies his age. x

[FaintlyMacabre]

If you do baby led weaning then your baby will let you know- just wait for him to pick up some food, put in his mouth, chew and swallow, then you know he's ready to eat! This is likely to happen at around 26 weeks, co-incidentally (or not) fitting nicely in with WHO guidelines.

[Mouette]

Thanks for that as well!