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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit shocked that people are still weaning their babies really early?

385 replies

bumbleymummy · 31/07/2013 13:17

I'm not talking about within a few weeks of 6 months and I know that some babies with reflux are weaned a bit earlier under the guidance of a paediatrician - I'm talking 3 week olds being given bottles of baby rice/rusks because they're big/hungry/whatever. I just can't believe that some people still think this is ok and will argue about how milk just wasn't enough for their baby at that age Confused

OP posts:
Justforlaughs · 31/07/2013 13:23

Ok, I was all up to tell you that YWBU but 3 weeks is too early imo. And putting baby rice/ rusks in a bottle is a bad idea however old the baby is. Who does this, btw?

HeySoulSister · 31/07/2013 13:25

Is that 'weaning' tho? Not the name I'd give it

ThePowerof3 · 31/07/2013 13:26

3 weeks, wow! I would've thought weaning that early would make a baby's digestion upset and make them wake more in the night through discomfort

treas · 31/07/2013 13:26

Not something I'd do / have done but it is still none of your business - you do not know why they do it / have been told to do it by medical professionals.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 31/07/2013 13:27

Some women I know through a local group. They just kind of laugh about it and say 'oh, he was a big, hungry boy' etc 'milk was never going to fill him up'. I was just really shocked. I think MN has kind of sheltered me a bit!

OP posts:
ThePowerof3 · 31/07/2013 13:28

My DS was ten pounds at birth and I managed with put supplementing

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 31/07/2013 13:30

Heysoul - what would you call it? It's introducing food other than milk.

treas - Would a medical professional seriously advise rice/rusk in a bottle at a few weeks old? Really? I'm pretty sure that wasn't the case anyway.

Power, I know, I would have thought so too. I'll wait to hear how many of them are talking about sleep issues next time...

OP posts:
Justforlaughs · 31/07/2013 13:32

In fairness my DB was put on solids at 2 weeks old (he is now 44) and he never had a problem with it. However, I do think it is very early and I wouldn't do it myself. I don't think that having a big baby is any reason to wean early. A very hungry baby might be. As far as I am concerned, if a baby starts waking in the night hungry (after sleeping through for a while) then it is probably a good idea to try something more substantial than just milk, almost regardless of age.

ThePowerof3 · 31/07/2013 13:34

I'm still waiting for mine to sleep through!

BonaDea · 31/07/2013 13:34

I'm going to get flamed for sure but I can't even believe people still do this at 4 months! The health advice is absolutely clear - there are no pros and a number of serious cons to introducing solids before 6 months.

I just don't understand how people can disregard that. Yes, the advice has changed and yes probably lots of us were weaned early but the advice now is clear and supported by research.

Looking at my 4 mo i can't imagine attempting to give him anything solid. He can't even sit up ffs! (Plus I'm keen to delay the mess!)

ThePowerof3 · 31/07/2013 13:35

My nearly 8 month old can't sit up unaided either, he is weaned though

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 31/07/2013 13:37

Justforlaughs, but it could just be sleep regression, thirst etc and wouldn't it make more sense to just try to add an extra feed in or something first?

OP posts:
SkinnybitchWannabe · 31/07/2013 13:38

My middle DS was on that hungry baby milk at 4weeks then baby rice at 3.5months old.
Do I care what others think? No I couldn't give a crap.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 31/07/2013 13:38

My 4 yo still sometimes wakes up and comes in for snuggles during the night Power. :) I don't mind too much though. He just cuddles in and goes back to sleep.

OP posts:
ThePowerof3 · 31/07/2013 13:39

Did it help Skinnybitch?

ThePowerof3 · 31/07/2013 13:40

Me too bumbled mummy in fact last night DS dropped a waking but my 4 year old woke with a nightmare instead

YouStayClassySanDiego · 31/07/2013 13:41

Three weeks and having rusk/ baby rice in their bottles.

Surely they'll choke being so tiny and how are they sucking it through the teat?

Am I being thick? Confused

BeenieBaby · 31/07/2013 13:41

I started weaning at 5m for both dc. They were interested in food and I only have them little tastes anyway. But what you're describing sounds like bad parenting (or poor advice from a hv!)

NotAQueef · 31/07/2013 13:46

YANBU - that is shocking.
I also don't get how people move their babies onto food/baby rice/rusks at 3-5 months (those following medical advice aside) citing that milk wasn't enough etc etc etc.
Erm - give them more milk, more often! Accept that just because they are bf'ing/going through bottles at a rate of knots this week it doesn't mean it will continue - ie it could be a growth spurt.

I do get a bit judgy pants when I see pictures of babies on FB sucking bars of white chocolate at 16 weeks old!

Tailtwister · 31/07/2013 13:48

I must admit I've never met anyone who has done this. Isn't it quite a dangerous thing to do so early?

ImNotBloody14 · 31/07/2013 13:48

Surely if a baby is hungry you give it more milk, more often? Seems like rice or rusks in bottlle is more about making things easier for the parent- less frequent feeds. Then again i have come across people who seem to boast about how early their baby was on spuds and gravy Hmm as if it's a personal achievement of theirs.

LeBFG · 31/07/2013 13:49

I think there's a problem with communication going on. There's a big difference between starting purees at 5 months and introducing rusky things in the bottle at 3 weeks (my neighbour started one of hers at 1 week old I kid you not - too much milk sloshing around his tummy, needed something to soak it all up Hmm).

This link is an old BBC news article and says the mothers don't know WHY they need to wait. I think there is a lack of info. We're told to wait but not always why it is so important. For instance, we all hear about allgeries and early weaning - but not obesity or diabetes.

phantomnamechanger · 31/07/2013 13:52

I know an ex school friend who I visited after she had a baby (aged about 17, I would have been about 15) and being totally shocked that her DS had 6 easter eggs lined up on the mantlepiece and was being force fed a bit to suck on continuously while I was there - white chocolate cos it's "only milk really" - he was 8 weeks old and kept sicking it up but they just carried on doing it.

Snowfedup · 31/07/2013 13:52

I think there should be more information given about not weaning before 17 weeks which has scientific backing to suggest it is harmful !

I think the 6 month thing is confusing because it is a 'guideline' same as not co-sleeping is a guideline which many also choose to ignore !

AnnabelleLee · 31/07/2013 13:52

notwithstanding anything else, its so illogical. Why do people imagine that a larger baby will be hungrier? Do taller adults eat a lot more than shorter ones? Size has bugger all to do with appetite.
Also, if you think a baby is hungry, why would you give something with less calories and nutrients than milk ?

The problem with trust your instincts and mum knows best is that rather a lot of the time mum hasn't got a clue and instincts without knowlege is just not enough.