is 15 weeks too early to start weaning??

[needsomesleepplease]

Ds showing all the signs he is ready but we are going on holiday next week and was hoping to wait till we came home but now not sure what to do!!!

[Schrodinger]

15 weeks is far too early. Absolutely minimum is 17 weeks IIRC.

Why the rush? Weaning's a massive faff, especially with one this little.

[Scorps]

The signs for weaning include sitting up unaided and a pincer grip to be able to hold food themselves

Waking in the night or looking interested in food are not signs. 15 weeks is too early IMO

Milk milk and more milk!

[norktasticninja]

Yes, 15 weeks is far too early. The guidelines are to start at around 26 weeks. What signs are making you think he's ready?

Please do try and hold on.

[Schrodinger]

wait at least another couple of months.. preferably til 6 months!

[tiktok]

What signs are you seeing?

TBH, apart from the really unlikely prospect that he needs solids at this early age, doing it on holiday is surely going to make life more complicated for you...and even if you think he really is 'ready', he will not be harmed by waiting

[norktasticninja]

Government advice here.

[needsomesleepplease]

our health visitors reconmend starting at 17 weeks so it is only a few weeks off. Also DD was weaned at 17 weeks and has never had any problems - she is now a great eater

[norktasticninja]

at your HV needsomesleepplease. That is not good advice, take a peek at the link below.

[Schrodinger]

why do people come on here, ask for advice, and then ignore it?

needsomesleep - please just wait. search the weaning threads on here and you'll find more information.

If you are absolutely determined to wean at 17 weeks then you need to avoid wheat/gluten/dairy (other than formula)/eggs/meat etc. Basically only fruit and veg, and there are more calories in milk.

[IUsedToBePeachy]

Thats great needsome, ds1 was weaned at that age and has p[lenty of issues now including casein and gluten

cancelled out experiences necessitates return to official advice then

[tiktok]

No HV should be 'recommending' 17 weeks...honestly, what will it take to drag HVs up to date?

[Biglips]

i weaned my dd1 at 16 weeks as i couldnt keep up with the milks that she was going thru per day...(8 bottles @ 9 oz per day on white SMA) she was a very very hungry baby. DD2 was weaned a week before she turned 20 weeks cos she only got a small appetite so i felt there was no rush. (she was on gold SMA)

[needsomesleepplease]

sorry schrodinger exactly when did i say i was ignoring any advice? if i wish to wean at 17 weeks then that is my choice, my original question was is 15 weeks too early which i take on board everyone thinks it is. But there is no need for negative posts like yours or the sarcastic smileys!

[JodieO]

All I can say is that your hv is an idiot, does she not read? In answer to your question, yes it's too early.

[ThingOne]

Weaning at 15 weeks is a very bad idea. What signs of readiness do you think your son is showing?

Weaning at 17 weeks is not a good idea.

What's making you want to rush things? Milk should be babies' main source of nutrition until they are one.

[ShowOfHands]

By weaning before the recommended time you are willingly and knowingly risking your child's health. Not just his immediate health but his whole life. There is no harm in waiting. You may save him from a lifetime of intolerance, allergies, obesity and illness. Of course you may wean early and your child will be fine. Why exactly would you take that chance?

Your hv needs a rocket up her.

When your child is able to sit up unaided, pick up with his finger and thumb, chew, swallow etc, he is probably ready.

[LuluMaman]

the answer is categorically yes

sorry if it;s not what you wnt to hear

what signs is your baby showing? i imagine it is more frequnet feeding and waking more and wnting more and more milk

this is classic growth spurt time and the best and safest thing to do is offer more milk

[needsomesleepplease]

starlight thanks for your comments i appreciate that everyone has different views and i am not saying anyone was wrong in what they were saying, i was just pointing out to schrodinger that at no point did i say i was ignoring any advice.

I think you have got me mixed up with someone else though with regard to the rude responces as i only joined mumsnet at the start of this year when i was pregnant??

[seeker]

Your health visitor is being exceedingly unprofessional and should be reported to the authorities. I would treat any advice she gives you about anything with extreme caution.

[GreenMonkies]

Yes, 15 weeks is too early and your HV is giving out-dated, dangerous and unprofessional advice by saying 17 weeks. Your baby is not ready for solids until he can sit unaided, pick food up, put it in his mouth and chew and swallow it.

I doubt this is what you wanted to hear (seeing as you've already said "DD was weaned at 17 weeks and has never had any problems - she is now a great eater") but the truth is babies shouldn't be given any but [breast] milk until the middle of their first year.

You asked, we have all answered, either listen and do the right thing for your baby, or ignore and put his health at risk.