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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:
AllOutFor2 · 31/07/2013 16:10

Actually thebody, your point proves what I am saying, all of those things are no longer used because of the dreadful consequences. Research in action.

fluffyraggies · 31/07/2013 16:11

Here's a thing ... look at smoking. My mum was offered a fag by the ambulance man when she was taken off to hospital in labor with me. And she accepted it! She smoked right through pregnancy, as did all her mates. There was no concrete evidence that it was doing harm. I was full term - but only 6lb. Late 1960's.

My mums attitude now? ''Well, no one wanted a big baby!'' HmmShock

Who now would stand up and say - hmmm, y'know i'm sure smoking isn't all that bad for baby really. i'm going to wait until there's lots more evidence the doc's have got it right.

The advised age for weaning is getting younger. Surely it makes sense to heed it?

I'm preg. and will be seeking info on why the advice is to leave weaning late. It's true - this info doesn't seem common knowledge yet.

MrsBungle · 31/07/2013 16:13

Dh's cousins baby has been on solid food since 6 weeks old. My mouth gaped open in shock when she told me. She told me her health visitor fully approved of it as he is such a hungry baby Shock

Both this baby's parents have physics degrees - they're scientists. She told me "no, seriously, he cries all the time" I said, yes, that's what newborns do, just give him more milk if you think he's hungry.

mrsjay · 31/07/2013 16:13

TBF my babies survived the early weaning with no problems like many many older children and adults we survived and are fit and healthy , still wouldnt put rusks in a bottle though to make a baby sleep

Funghoul · 31/07/2013 16:14

In my area there are weaning classes at the children's centre which grandparents are encouraged to attend. Hv's have found it helps to educate them about changes in guidelines and show how things have changed since they were weaning their babies.

mrsjay · 31/07/2013 16:15

there is no way SIDS and tumy sleeping was proven at all it was a theroy (sp)

thebody · 31/07/2013 16:15

yes but there will be others in the future as that's life.

research is not infallible and neither are scientists, of course.

geeandfeesmum · 31/07/2013 16:15

"I'm educated enough and independent enough to read the research, absorb the advice and make my own decisions"

Now, I want that on a t-shirt!!

mrsjay · 31/07/2013 16:16

thats a really great idea funghoul because the advise is always changing

thebody · 31/07/2013 16:16

there was a huge' back to sleep' campaign to stop the routine tummy sleeping practise.

maja00 · 31/07/2013 16:16

Yes, but you do the best you can with the available information at the time - at the most the best available information says wean at around 6 months, never before 4 months. Why would you ignore that just because our knowledge might improve in the future?

thebody · 31/07/2013 16:17

geeandfreedmum. ^... yes exactly that.

mrsjay · 31/07/2013 16:18

yes I remember thebody dd slept on her tummy other dd didn't I am not sure they know what causes SIDS do they so the back to sleep was a cautionary thing,

Lottapianos · 31/07/2013 16:18

'Both this baby's parents have physics degrees - they're scientists'

I don't mean this disrespectfully at all but people who are used to following a formula, or thinking in a very logical way, or expecting clear answers often struggle with little babies and the 'go with the flow' kind of care that they need e.g. feed on demand, read baby's cues etc. This is a prime example of how parenting does not come naturally to everyone and advice and support is really important. Every parent needs support with something at some point.

Shock at the Health Visitor going along with it!

mrsjay · 31/07/2013 16:19

the weaning at 6ish months actually makes more sense than the 16 weeks or whatever it was when I was doing it

thebody · 31/07/2013 16:20

maj, yes you keep saying and yes I agree but have to tell you that it was most defiantly routine to wean at 3 months in the 80s. that was advised.

I am not saying its correct or not I am simply trying to say that research and medical advice changes all of the time and you listen, assimilate and make up your own mind.

surely that's what all parents do isn't it?

Feminine · 31/07/2013 16:22

My niece 'weaned' her baby with cool -whip!

For those unfamiliar...its an American product. It can be used on desserts.

It is made entirely from chemicals!

thebody · 31/07/2013 16:22

yes agree MrsJ.. I remember my dm turning my pfb onto his back to sleep while I was distraught at her not listening to me and putting him on his tummy.

happy days.

idiot55 · 31/07/2013 16:23

I weaned mine when they were ready.

My business, no one else's.

thebody · 31/07/2013 16:26

idiot55 exactly my point.

HoratiaNelson · 31/07/2013 16:29

Over the period of having my kids they changed the guidance from 4 months to 6 months. I decided to read the research before making my mind up about whether it was still ok for me to wean the next DC before 6 months given he was showing all the sides of being ready to wean (not the waking up in night after sleeping through - my kids never bloody slept through at that age...). It seems to me that the research said, DON'T wean before 17 weeks, but after that there was no problem with introducing solids and the greates risks with regards to allergies etc then came if you didn't begin weaning before 7 months. You also shouldn't leave it longer than 6 months to wean because milk doesn't have enough iron and their reserves have run low by then. On that basis I happily weaned remaining children after 4 months but before six...

WestieMamma · 31/07/2013 16:31

I'm in Sweden. You get the weaning talk at the 4 month checkup and everyone I know has started the weaning process straight after. UNICEF ranks Sweden #1 for child health, so they must be doing something right.

mrsjay · 31/07/2013 16:32

we did exactly what mums are doing now thebody following the rules and regs . although i didnt wean dd2 till she was near 6 months as she was slightly prem and didnt feel she was ready my mother thought i was starving the poor child sigh

AnnabelleLee · 31/07/2013 16:37

My very rude and defensive petal....what? (also, what is a petal in this context?)

ExcuseTypos · 31/07/2013 16:37

I was advised to wean dd at 12 weeks by my health visitor. She's 22 now, dd2 is 19 and the advice had changed by the time she was born.

With dd1 (22) advice was to sleep on your stomach or on their side, with a rolled up towel behind them, so they didn't roll on their backs.

I remember being so worried when my friend told me her son would only sleep on his back. I was convinced that he would die from choking on his own vomit- this was drilled into new mothers. So like TheBody says- advice does change and it is madness to get het up by what others choose to do.

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