Paediatrician says to wean at 16 weeks

[Cupcakemummy85]

We went to see the paediatrician last week and he confirmed dd cmpi and also suggested we start weaning her. I'm just not sure she is ready yet and I don't want to start off on the wrong foot in regards to weaning. Dd1 was five months and it was an extremely positive experience. I'm ebf at the moment as the special formula is gross but will hopefully taste better in food. He said weaning her will settle her a bit more as she feeds A LOT!!! Lol. I've forgotten everything about how to wean too. My dd1 is only 23 months lol so wasn't that long ago.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I'm not trained and don't want to contradict your Paed but I think there are some important things to consider here.

Paeds don't get any training on bfing as far as I'm aware, so they are working on the same information as you.

Is the Paed just suggesting weaning because if the frequent feeding? How often is Lo feeding roughly and for how long?

Have you spoken to a BFC about ways to help you space out the feeds a little more? Going to your local Bfing Support Group and asking them to check for tongue tie and asking them to observe a whole feed and check your latch might be a good idea before you start to wean. There are some useful latch videos here and the numbers of the Bfing Helplines are here.

At 16 weeks there is very little you can give them, its only really fruit and veg puréed. This has less calories than your milk and combined with Lo getting used to digesting it, could mean more night wakings. Have a read of Will giving solids or formula help my baby sleep? and Wakeful 4 month olds.

I've weaned 2. One a long time ago at 16 weeks and one at 23 weeks. Trying to feed a 16 week old baby a meal the size of an ice cube takes an age, you've then got to also factor in all the time it takes to prepare, freeze etc and taking food out with you, at the moment all you need to take is Lo and your breasts . For me it also led to more night wakings and still the same number of feeds.

I'm not telling you what to do but just wanted to suggest some things to try

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Have you thought of posting in breast & bottle too? There are a couple of BFC who post in there, including tiktok and you might get a few more responses.

As for your original question (sorry I didn't answer that before . At this age its usual to start with cooked and puréed fruit and veg. One meal a day should be enough. I'm not a fan of Annabel Karmel but her books should give you some inspiration of purees to try

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Just thought I'd bump for the evening crowd. Hopefully you'll get a few more responses other than my drunk whitterings

[Cupcakemummy85]

:) thank you I appreciate that. Have taken your advise and posted on breast and bottle feeding too. I think my dd isn't ready yet she doesn't show any signs of being ready so I think we will have to wait at least another month.

[easterbaby]

Hmm...I'd take the advice of your paediatrician. She/he is highly trained, knows what the latest thinking is and has your baby's best interests in mind. It's important not to see this as a bf issue.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Yes agree that she may be highly trained but in all probability isn't trained at all in bfing issues, its very sad but true. I think its also important to occasionally question the advice you are given regarding babies and feeding, some of the advice I've been in the past by HCP has been at best misguided and at worst potentially dangerous.

Cupcake what reasons did the Paed give for suggesting such early weaning?

[Cupcakemummy85]

He said to help with the reflux, which seems to have calmed down a lot and he said it will settle her and fill her up more thus helping with frequent feeding at night. I just feel like I'm at the end of my tether and I just want to give her a bottle and be done with it but if course she won't take a bottle and I have at least another month of feeding and screaming until then. :(

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

Poor you, know exactly how that one feels, my DS was exactly the same and it was tongue tie. Has Lo been checked for that?

Weaning at this age is unlikely to help with the amount of feeding and the night wakings. It actually made my DS wake more.

Roughly how often is she feeding and for how long?