To start weaning my twins at 4 months?

[mummybearah]

Everyone I speak to and everything I read says that I should wait until 6 months.

However I feel that they are so ready! Of course I'll still be giving them their milk, but to be honest they aren't that interested in milk anymore.

Found that they would eat more solids than milk (baby porridge, rusks etc.)

I feel so bad- AIBU?

Not ideal but shrug

Speak to your HV first

Presume you are aware of the signs of readiness for weaning ofc

Speak to your HV.

Tbh I weaned my twins at 16 weeks but that was nearly 20 years ago. They are both fit and well with no allergies though.

You've already read all about it, so you know all the research and all the reasons why it is considered that it is not the best thing for a baby so I'm not really sure what to say, tbh. I suppose there is no point linking to all the articles that describe why it is the current advice since you have already read it all and you already know the reasons and you are still considering it. If you have researched and reached what you feel is an informed decision then what is it you think that you could get here? Is it that you feel guilty and you want someone to tell you that it is ok? You don't need permission or approval, it is your decision. It may not be a decision that a lot would make these days, but you still have the right to make it. Have you spoken to your health visitor? Or looked at reasons why they might be appearing hungry? Are they hungry or just looking to be active or interested in things? or for comfort or attention?

As an aside, I weaned mine far earlier than 6 months because there wasn't that advice or all the information back then. In fact, the hv recommended it! But would I have weaned them early had I had the benefit of all the information I now read? I don't know.

Do they sit up unaided? Have they lost the tongue thrust reflex?

I think a lot of people who say their 4 month olds are "ready" just mean they are going through the 4 month sleep regression/spurt and waking up and feeding more - all perfectly normal...

Do talk to your doctor first or health visitor - and please do not give baby rice... starting with vegetables is much healthier

When dd was a baby, she is now 12, the advice was to wean at 4 months so I think if they are ready then go for it. You are their mother, you know them best x

Are they 'pretend chewing' when they see you eat? Because if you think that's a sign of them being 'ready' all they're doing is copying what you are doing.

Just be warned that a lot of people believe that early weaning creates future food problems such as intolerances, and digestive issues.

Why do you feel bad?

Do you think that they're developmentally ready? There is a big difference between that and showing an interest in food.

We're they born at full term?

If you're not very sure ask your hv for advice and have a look here

What signs if readiness are they displaying?

Agree with TinyTear - baby rice can be very bad for babies. It swells as it goes through the digestive system and can leave them in agony.

DS2 had 'colic' (according to the GP and HV) but it was actually baby rice. Cut it out of his diet and within a week he had stopped screaming in agony at night.

I am a nanny and have nearly always started weaning from 4 months. You know your children better than anyone else, do what you feel is right.

honestly, weaning is hard work
all the mess is annoying

i would leave for as long as possible

I started weaning both mine at 4 months (a few years back so before the 6 month advice), but didn't bother with baby rice - try it yourself, it definitely doesn't taste the best.

Yabu. Maybe they are teady, but you cannot know whether their gut is. Try and hold firm till 5 months at least

DS in 9mo and has always been really hungry.

My HV visited us around 4mos and he could sit unaided and was bringing things to his mouth himself she said he looks ready and if I felt he was then to try him on a few solids a few weeks later, we tried and he has thrived ever since.

He now eats anything you put in front of him.

Saying that, all the evidence says to wait till 6 months, we debated and debated and what to do, he made the ultimate decision though as we were told to start off small with baby rice and not replace any normal feeds with food but he just wasn't interested once we started with food. Even now he only has 2 bottles a day, but is happy, he's slept through the night every night since (apart from the odd really badly teathing night).

Too early.

It's fine. Start a bit of food now if you want to, wait a bit longer if you want to.

I would leave it as l

There isn't any harm in waiting till 6 months.*

Latest advice is that there could be harm in weaning before 6 months

Seems like a no brainer to me. Why start early when there is risk attached?

Milk is so much more nutritious than the early weaning foods anyway. Rusks are bad news IMO - full of sugar.

*unless they have a medical need for early weaning, such as reflux or weight issues, which isn't the case here

As long as possible I was trying to say! :)

If they are over 17 weeks then you're unlikely to be doing any harm, but they shouldn't be dropping any milk feeds yet.

Twins are often early, are yours 4 months from EDD or 4 months from their actual birthday? Because that may well make a difference if they're actually 5/6 months old as it were

All 3 of mine were weaned between 3 and 4 months on the advice of the HV

But that was a long while ago now

Still, they're all fine and healthy

As others have said, speak to your HV

Thanks everyone- will speak to my HV this week.

I feel bad because I may be doing the wrong thing and I don't want them having intolerances or digestive probs as a result! But as ppl have mentioned many have weaned at 4 months with no problems. All of the food I have bought is 4 months plus.

They've lost their thrust reflex, they are eating much much less milk, staring and grabbing at food and they can sit up unaided! Though I have given them some solids, think I'll hold off giving any more until I've spoken to HV.

I also feel bad because I feel I've allowed myself to be pressured into weaning by an extremely pushy MIL who I find hard to tell no.