weaning at 3 months

[queenmools]

This thread is unashamedly judgey and I am aware that there is another weaning thread ongoing atm but I am so aghast at what I heard today that I feel the need to discuss it with you all.
I was at a childminding training course today, during break time a lady started showing pictures of her "clever" 12 week old son eating his beef stew last night! A lady on the other side of the room then piped up with "have you already started weaning?" I was expecting her to say how that was not a good idea but no she then said " I'm glad I'm not the only one" she went onto explain that her baby ( same sge) was just so hungry and therefore was ready for solids.
iabu to be so shocked that seemly intelligent women, who are training to be child minders, have so little regard for current guidelines?

YANBU.

So sad

Bunch of idiots , when those poor babies have health issue when older, they can thank there stupid mothers.

My ds's are 15-20 years old.

The guidelines at the time said 4 months was ok to commence weaning, we did it and they are all fine, no issues with development and no food related allergies.

Guidelines change all the time.

Do your thing and don't worry what others do.

12 weeks?! Jaysus.

YANBU.

No, you are dnu.

YANBU. And guidelines on weaning do not change all the time, the last change was well over a decade ago.

YANBU. Also, since when does eating/rolling over/sitting/walking make a child 'clever'. I find this moderately irritating

Also, there's a big difference between 3 and 4 months.

They won't necessarily have issues.

Drop the sad face, chances are they'll be fine with no food related problems.

YANBU

But stillstaying 4 months is 33% longer than the life of a 3mo! A huge difference in just those 30 days.
12 weeks/3mo is just ridiculously early.

Yes some of my friends weaned at 4 months ( not me ) as some baby food is labeled as 4 months plus so I can see why that happens still but 12 weeks is altogether different surely.

No they won't necessarily have any issues, but they might. Why take a risk with your child?

Guidelines certainly don't change all the time. Weaning guidelines change very infrequently (once 12 years ago and not for a very long time before that) and if they do change it's because we know more about what's best for babies.

I sincerely hope those babies do not suffer a single complication from early weaning. Sadly, the only case I know of early weaning in my family/friends (weaned at 11 weeks), had quite upsetting consequences.

I don't have a sad face. I'm very happy Thank you. Like I said I just wanted to see what you all thought.

StillStayingClassySanDiego My kids are the same age as yours.
There was lots of information about the benefits of later weaning- even then. I waited until 6 months.

The effects of early weaning don't often manifest until later in life.
Your kids are still young, I hope they remain healthy.

YADNBU, what is the rush?
I cannot understand the counter argument of "it did me no harm to be weaned at 6 weeks etc so that's what I'm doing". Advances in medical research and knowledge are what prompt these guidelines. We do the best we can with the latest knowledge we have.

The guidelines have changed, they don't remain the same and there'll be another guideline soon enough.

When mine were babies, peanut butter was a weaning favourite on bread then discouraged now it's back on the menu.

Do what is right for your baby at the time.

I had to unfollow a Facebook group after one of the contributors posted a video of her 15 week old eating porridge to prove he was ready to be weaned.

I'm pretty sure my 15 week old would eat porridge if I offered him a spoon. That doesn't mean he's ready for solids.

Same predictable responses:

You know best hun
Guidelines are just guidelines, you don't need to follow them
I weaned my babies at 12 weeks 20 years ago and they're fine

I'm sure my children will remain healthy., we have longevity on both sides.

Any health issues they may suffer from in later life might/ might not be as a result of being weaned on baby rice at 4.5 months.

I always dislike the " it never did me any harm" argument. Just because it worked out ok for you doesn't mean it is ok for everyone.

When dd was weaned the advice was 4months. She was closer to 14 weeks, infact just under. My gp backed me up when I decided in dds case, the hv was wrong that in a few weeks time she'd magically be ok, and meantime I should attempt to stuff her with hungry baby formula.
They wbu to think it's clever or an achievement to wean early, when weaning really is just yet another thing all babies do at some point. and away from mumsnet, nobody really gets that excited about when anybody else does it But it's equally unreasonable to think weaning is a tick box age, when no other aspect of development is. And while we're on the subject, 'food is fun till one' is also a really silly statement to try and apply as a fits all rule.

I don't think it's a tick box thing at all. The guidelines point out the signs a baby is ready and explain that these developmental thing happen 'around' or 'about' 6 months but they very clearly state that you should follow your baby and their signs, don't rush it and take cues from them. That's not only not prescriptive in the slightest, it's encouraging you to look at your baby and your baby alone.

I stepped out in front of a car today btw. I didn't die. You should all do it immediately.

queenmools yet you're criticising another mother's choice to do what she thinks is best.

Her choice may work out well for her and her baby.