Friend feeding 12 week old porridge.

[easterbunnie]

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?

My crazy mother used to love reminding me that in the 70s I was weaned at 6 weeks onto potatoes and mince and she used a nail to make the hole in my bottles bigger to allow the mashed up risk through. Apparently I would then sleep through for 12-14 hours (no bloody wonder) also bear in mind that I was 8 weeks premature and nearly died at birth (which she also lived to remind me so technically she was weaning a newborn. All the while puffing like mad around me, it’s a wonder I actually survived. Oh and the guidance then was to place baby on each side alternately for “their bones”

When I had DD 19 years ago she refused to believe guidelines had changed, that breastfeeding was better or even equal to bottlefeeding that it was for people in poor countries that couldn’t afford bottles and you couldn’t see what they were getting so was rubbish. She tried to give DD a capful of lucozade at 8 weeks old and ice cream to “see her face.” and of course we got the leave her to cry in a pram at the bottom of the garden if she was changed and fed.

My mum always liked to tell me weaning was at 12 weeks or 12 lbs, whichever came first.

My DS was already 11lbs at birth 😱 so that would have been interesting...

It's not recommended but used to be perfectly normal years ago. I was born in the 70s and fed baby porridge and baby rice in my mild from 3 months. My mum said everyone did it. We seemed to have turned out fine!

It's not your place to say anything to her but the guidelines are 6 months. We live in a nation of IBS and IBDs, waiting until 6 months is thought to minimise the risk of this as an adult.

DS is now 22 and when he was a baby the advice was to start solids at around 16 weeks. I am now in my fifties. I remember my Mum telling me that when I was a baby the standard advice was to start babies on solids earlier than 16 weeks. So I suspect a very high proportion of British people now in their fifties had eaten solids by the age of 12 weeks. That's not to say that it's advisable, but it's important to get the risk in proportion.

Same, perhaps just slightly older! 'Hungry infant' formula didn't exist back in the 80s/90s.

I know someone who put baby porridge in their child’s bottle from birth. She’s extremely overweight now, don’t know if it’s related.

My friend was told to wean at 4 months by HV as he was a monster eater and was trying to drink milk all day. She did, but he went back to just milk for a few weeks when his growth spurt calmed down. He’s 6ft8 now.

You can google the latest advice. A couple of years ago with mone, you could start introducing a small amount of baby rice or porridge (literally a couple of teaspoons) if they are showing signs of wanting to eat. You don't need to properly introduce food until 6 months and I think until about 9 months mill should always be their main source of food and nutrition (this is important). So awkward for you, but I'd tell her nicely, personally I'd want to know if I was doing something 'wrong'.

Ach wise up!
You’re honestly saying they shouldn’t be allowed to have children because they are spoon feeding a 12 week old??????

HV advice changes over the years. I was fed baby rice from 6 weeks old. I survived. As did millions of other people.
Advice is just that … advice. It’s not just as black and white as you’re making out. Every baby is different. And there are definitely hungrier babies who may benefit from being spoonfed earlier. I’m a firm believer in mum knows her child best and will do what they think is best for the child.

I think some posters need to remember there’s no actual rule book that comes with a baby and that most of us do our very best.

And to say some people shouldn’t be allowed a child because they’ve spoonfed it a bit earlier is just so judgemental and holier than thou. Mums and women have enough shite to deal with without ridiculous comments like that from the likes of YOU.
Who are you anyway , mother superior ?

My 13yr old ate a Christmas dinner off a plate - not pureed at 20wks. She is fine. My 12yr old had baby porridge from 10wks old, he is fine. My 4yr old didn't wean from milk until he was 6months old. He is also fine. Each baby is different, I trust my own personal judgements for my own children to know and do what's right for them. Far too much mum shaming goes on when really it's nothing to do with anybody else!

In Ireland the guidelines were 4 months and in England 6 months when my dc were babies. I always thought that was odd but I would say every baby is different and every parent different so the guidelines do have some flex.

my dd1 was weaned at 16 weeks under the paediatric consultant’s advice due to reflux. Had to take it slow and very smooth purées. She transformed overnight from a constantly screaming baby to a content one who actually slept more than an hour at a time. Dtds were prem and guidance was to wean early if they’d take it due to lack of iron from the mum that full term babies get. But I missed that advice and waited until 6 months. Weaned before they were sitting though as they couldn’t do that until 9 months.

i don’t think it’ll do any harm giving the baby a bit of porridge. Cola in a bottle… that I judge (and have seen).

It’s up to her really.

I assumed it was ancient porridge! Stored in a freezer or something..Didn't assume it was a baby of twelve weeks being fed porridge.

It does seem very young to be feeding porridge.

Is it refined baby porridge, or lumpy oatmeal?

She knows what the guidelines are, every new mum knows, so she is willingly going against recommended advice, nothing you say will change her mind.
Leave her to it.

Its entirely possible she has been advised to do this. guidelines are only guidelines not rules

Not according to some posters on this thread!
The baby rule book must be followed to the letter!!!!

The baby's little digestive system is still developing and I wouldn't want to risk the baby weaning before the body can catch up.

Not much you can do though 🤷🏻‍♀️

Didn't a baby die from ReadyBrek a few years back. Kidney failure from the salt? Its not something I'd be comfortable with.

Porridge oats or baby porridge?

My first child was born in the 80’s. Baby porridge was a weaning food. My last child was born in 2000. The guidelines for weaning was different. Last DC didn’t settle at all, day or night, according to guidelines of the day. She settled when introduced to early weaning.

Not your circus OP

As long as she's not giving her baby honey. She isn't, right?
You can say something like, oh really, that's early, I'd heard it was later, but other than that I wouldn't say much. I can see why you're questioning it though!

I weaned my son early. He would cry and cry and try to nibble on anything near his little face. Milk alone just stopped satisfying him.
He even cut his teeth early. He absolutely loved his solid food from day one. I personally think every child is different.

Am guessing she knows the guidelines since health visitors tell you and give leaflets and she has decided old school is best for her as it was for many so leave her to it.

No its not . Its a guide it will probably change again in a couple years some have said they fed baby at 6 weeks because it was the guide lines other 2 months or 3 months 6 months

My Dr told me to when my boys were 12 weeks. They were very large babies but still very young.

Not harmful enough to do anything about. Baby will probably be fine.