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Original poster

Friend feeding 12 week old porridge.

103 replies

easterbunnie · 07/04/2023 22:04

I went to visit a friend today who's recently had a baby. When I asked how DS sleeps, she replied " well " and then proceeded to tell me she feeds DS porridge at night before she puts him down.

DS is 12 weeks. I didn't say anything as it's not my place but I'm wondering if this harmful?

OP posts:
Coffeellama · 07/04/2023 22:05

Yeah it can be, the guidelines are there for a very good reason. Nothing you can do about it though.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 07/04/2023 22:06

It's not recommended but there will be plenty of children who were fed the same. I don't think it makes any difference personally, she's just lucky she has a baby who sleeps through.

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 07/04/2023 22:06

I was started on solids at 6 weeks - it was the norm back in the 50s. I seem to be fine but obviously it’s not what is recommended nowadays.

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ballsdeep · 07/04/2023 22:07

Not your sink, not your dishes. People give their children food at different stages. Between my first and last child, weaning guidance changed.

TrombonesAreNotBones · 07/04/2023 22:09

It isn't ideal but what can you do? My brother and his wife started their baby on solids at 11 weeks - the health visitor told them to, apparently (I didn't believe that for one minute)

recklessgran · 07/04/2023 22:09

Well fashions change. I know the advice these days is weaning from 6 months but my 5 adult DD's started on baby rice at 6 weeks as was the norm then. They're all completely fine and none of them have been harmed as far as I know and the added bonus was that they all slept through the night from 6 weeks and were perfectly content. Farex or Milupa baby rice were recommended by the health visitor too at the time.

FlowersAndBonnets · 07/04/2023 22:09

Yes, it’s very dangerous and I would tell her so.

slowquickstep · 07/04/2023 22:30

Guidelines were 12 weeks when my youngest was born, all slept through the night and 30 odd years later they are healthy. The guidelines will change again and in 30 years from now young mums will think todays mums were wrong.

SparkleSpangle · 07/04/2023 22:34

Im in my 30's and was fed baby rice at 6 weeks and was put to sleep on my front. Was is right? No. Did it keep my mother sane? Yes. You do what you need to do. No judgement here.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 07/04/2023 22:42

FlowersAndBonnets · 07/04/2023 22:09

Yes, it’s very dangerous and I would tell her so.

Is it?

Luredbyapomegranate · 07/04/2023 22:48

FlowersAndBonnets · 07/04/2023 22:09

Yes, it’s very dangerous and I would tell her so.

I’d have said it was very common a generation ago.

Why is it dangerous? Because the baby can be sick? But if it’s baby porridge would they be really more likely to choke on it?

Whenharrymetsmelly · 07/04/2023 22:52

No, its not recommended for a reason. I would tell her. Honestly some people just shouldn't be allowed to have children! Smh.

Phoebo · 07/04/2023 22:56

slowquickstep · 07/04/2023 22:30

Guidelines were 12 weeks when my youngest was born, all slept through the night and 30 odd years later they are healthy. The guidelines will change again and in 30 years from now young mums will think todays mums were wrong.

Guidelines change because people do research and learn things 🤦‍♀️ smoking was also popular in the past 🙄

GodspeedJune · 07/04/2023 22:57

Surely you could have googled this? No it’s not recommended and increases the risk of illness and health conditions.

Whatthediddlyfeck · 07/04/2023 22:58

It’s not ideal, and guidelines change for a reason, but there is a generation for whom the guidelines said 12-16 weeks, and that generation (aka my kids!) are only 20-25 now.

TooOldToCareAboutOthersOpinions · 07/04/2023 22:59

All mine weaned from around 14/16 weeks.
It was guidelines when eldest born but not with others as large gap. But they were fine then and they're all fine now. No issues.

But personally i wouldn't have at 12 weeks. But id also leave others to do as they wish

Allmarbleslost · 07/04/2023 23:00

Dangerous? It really isn't. Generations of babies were weaned before six months.

Swansandcustard · 07/04/2023 23:02

Not your business. My HV told me to put DD1 onto it because she didn’t take enough milk, or brought it all up if she did.

mybeautifuloak · 07/04/2023 23:03

It used to be 12 weeks. Then 4 months. Now 6 months but recent research is suggesting leaving until 6 months increases the risk of allergies so it may be changed again. So people should crack on.

Penny5534 · 07/04/2023 23:04

The guidelines haven't changed in something like 18 years. People always behave like they're changing every week and they're really not.

Surely we all want to do what is best for the next generation, and that is listening to the current peer reviewed science and acting on it.

I think some people who weaned their children early, when it was recommended, take it as a personal attack when it generally is not. I'm sure there will be things that our children will not do that we currently are but we can only act with the information we have at the time. That doesn't make us bad parents now and it doesn't make older parents bad parents for the decisions they made in the past.

whattodo22222 · 07/04/2023 23:04

There will be many people who fed their babies solids this early when guidance was different, but I'm a firm believer that if we know better we should do better. I would just mention it once, but ultimately its up to her. Her baby will probably be absolutely fine but frequent waking is a protective mechanism against SIDS, so a baby that sleeps because they are so full isn't necessarily desirable.

gkd1234 · 07/04/2023 23:06

It used to be 3 months 30 years ago, 4 months 20years ago and was changed in between my kids (so about 18 years ago) from 4 months to 6 months.

yikesanotherbooboo · 07/04/2023 23:06

One of my DC ( now 30) was started on solids at 12 weeks due to failure to thrive. It wasn't usual then but had been so a generation earlier. My first child started solids at four months which was the accepted norm in the early 1990s. No harm came to either of them and I certainly don't think it is your place to offer advice unless you are asked for it. That particular horse appears to have bolted in any case.I would add that I was delighted to find that recommended age of weaning was at six months by the time I had my third child . Waiting until they are physically ready, of course, makes so much sense . No messing around blending awful looking mixtures only for them to spit it out! No pressure to get going with weaning in the knowledge that taking a few months to establish it is perfectly alright. I just took a fork to the older children's food and let baby pick at some if they wanted. It was much more stress free ime .
I

WoodenFloorboards · 07/04/2023 23:10

When DD was weaned the advice was 4 months. I weaned her at 5 months because that worked better for us. When DS was weaned 2 years later the advice was 6 months. I weaned him at 5 months because that worked better for us. Now the advice is moving back to 4 months to minimise allergy risks. I'd say 12 weeks is a bit early, but "dangerous" is overstating it, especially for baby porridge.

I was weaned at 3 days with baby rice to thicken up my milk (apparently "I was hungry"). I definitely wouldn't recommend that.

Phoebo · 07/04/2023 23:13

Penny5534 · 07/04/2023 23:04

The guidelines haven't changed in something like 18 years. People always behave like they're changing every week and they're really not.

Surely we all want to do what is best for the next generation, and that is listening to the current peer reviewed science and acting on it.

I think some people who weaned their children early, when it was recommended, take it as a personal attack when it generally is not. I'm sure there will be things that our children will not do that we currently are but we can only act with the information we have at the time. That doesn't make us bad parents now and it doesn't make older parents bad parents for the decisions they made in the past.

Exactly, well said. Why wouldn't you want to do the best for your child and listen to the latest research. For a start look at all the allergies etc that kids have now, something has changed to cause this

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