Is 3.5 months too early for weaning?

[HawaiianSunset12]

Friends baby is 15 weeks old and she is giving her apple puree. Was very surprised to see this as thought baby was too young really. Not said anything as she's the mum not me (I don't have children).

[ShakkaKhan]

Yes, far too early.

[Sirzy]

you aren't supposed to wean until 6 months but certainly not before 16 weeks

[Moxiegirl]

Too early under current guidelines but was from 12 weeks when my teens were babies.

[geologygirl]

Far too early. I just dont understand why people want to rush things to be honest. Digestive system needs time to develop and strengthen.

[maja00]

Yes, much too early - 6 months is recommended, 17 weeks is absolute minimum.

NHS guidelines have never been 12 weeks. It was been 6 months since 2003, and 4-6 months since 1994. From the 70s to 1994 it was 16 weeks.

[valiumredhead]

I started at 16 weeks,12 years ago.

[backwardpossom]

Yes.

[Locketjuice]

Each to there own, guidelines change all the time and generally I would say trust the mum unless of course she is feeding her week old wkd and knobbies nuts I wouldn't worry

[maja00]

Do they change all the time Locketjuice? Once 10 years ago, and once 10 years before that, and only going from 4 months to 6 months in 40 years anyway.

[ArabellaBeaumaris]

locketjuice guidelines change a result of research indicating best practice. Not on a whim.

[Moxiegirl]

Ok it was ideally from 16 weeks but health visitors often suggested from 12 weeks for hungrier babies.

[ShowOfHands]

There's probably little you can do tbh. Perhaps ask her if her hv knows she's weaning so early.

It's far too early but having watched my SIL determinedly wean her eldest at 11 weeks with nothing anybody said making a difference, I'm afraid I am reluctant to believe your friend will change her mind. Sadly, dn was the one who suffered and with SIL's next baby, she weaned at 6 months.

[specialsubject]

she's giving it stomach pains and making it fat. And you are right, you can't say anything.

[Forgetfulmog]

I just don't get why people would want to wean their child that early!

[Sofie88]

Ok I do not want an earbashing. But my LO is 15 weeks and he has been having 2 baby spoonfuls of rice before his evening bottle and he has 1 spoonful of baby porridge before his morning bottle. I have had criticism from some member of family, but I have spoke to my HV. Basically he poops regularly, pees regularly and is in perfect health. Since he has been having some 'extra' he has been sleeping through the night and seems to be benefiting from it. HV said the usual 6 months thing but weighed him and everything and said that all babies are different, she even came out so she could see how good he is at taking the spoon. (He's 15 weeks but is more advanced) I personally think that when the time is right you know, all these strict guidelines in place nowadays......back in the day they weaned whenever I was weaned at 3 months (25 years ago)

[notso]

The signs that a baby is ready for weaning,
being able to sit up and hold their head steady,
being able to see food, pick it up and put it in their mouth,
being able to swallow food, not pushing it back out with their tongue and ending up with it all over their face.

[Varya]

Six months so the infants digestion can cope with solid food.

[mrsmartin1984]

I meet someone who started weaning at 11 weeks. I had to pick my jaw off the floor. I saw her baby and couldn't image sticking food in a baby that's small's mouth. I have recently started weaning at 5 1/2 months and felt guilty about starting early.

[Discolite]

Lots of my NCT friends are weaning from 5 months, it's hard not to say anything. I do feel like the odd one out but I'm going to wait til 24 weeks and give whole food. They're all mad on purees too. So yes, your friend is bonkers.

[extracrunchy]

Yes.

[WestieMamma]

The recommendation in the majority of western countries is around 4 months. In Sweden, where I am, they strongly recommend weaning from around 4 months as there is evidence that waiting until 6 months can be harmful and according to UNICEF Swedish children are the healthiest in the world.

The point being, it's not as black and white as some people think.

[Elovena]

My sister and her husband have just started weaning their 14 weeks old baby. Advised by the pediatrician. This also happened in a Nordic country (but not Sweden)

[TondelayoSchwarzkopf]

There's not huge amount of evidence supporting waiting til 6 months but there is a huge amount of evidence supporting waiting until at least 17 weeks.