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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

'She'll sleep better once she starts solids!'

75 replies

deathb4decaf · 07/12/2015 19:34

DD is 5 months old, ebf. Wakes for a feed 3 times a night which I understand to be totally normal. She's crap at napping though. Maybe I'm being a bit sensitive, but comments like 'weaning will help her sleep, maybe the breast isn't enough anymore!' and 'she'll sleep better once she is weaned!' are really grating on me. These people obviously mean well but AIBU to be annoyed by this?

OP posts:
ElfOnTheBoozeShelf · 07/12/2015 19:36

Nope, it's annoying as hell, and will probably make no difference to her sleep. Actually solids can make sleep worse as they camn struggle processing food at first... Just tell them you intend to breastfeed until she's married, they will soon shut up Wink

Notimefortossers · 07/12/2015 19:37

Well firstly. They're talking bollocks :)

But YAB a bit U to let it annoy you. Water off a ducks back

Awoof · 07/12/2015 19:38

It did really help with mine Blush

TesticleOfObjectivity · 07/12/2015 19:38

Maybe they can tell my 16 month old dd that as she's not slept through a single night of her life and she's been on solids for a year.

RatOnnaStick · 07/12/2015 19:39

Yanbu at all. It made fuck all difference to my two. They both reached good sleep in their own sweet time.

chumbler · 07/12/2015 19:39

Ignore them. Educate them on best practice. Breastfeeding exclusively is best for baby, weaning @ 6 months. Obviously you already know all this. How annoying for you!

MingZillas · 07/12/2015 19:40

Made fuck all difference to my dd! She's 17mo now. I noticed a big difference when a painful lot of teeth came through a few weeks ago but it's gone to shit again now. I know what you mean about the bf comments. I had the same but my dd is full to bursting at tea time and still sleeps badly.

chumbler · 07/12/2015 19:40

Btw have you read Sarah ockwell smith gentle sleep book? I love it

MigGril · 07/12/2015 19:41

Your not Your unreasonable, to be annoyed by it as it's generally boalks. But I'd try to get used to it as a parent you tend to get lots of unsolicited rubbish remarks.

Bedsheets4knickers · 07/12/2015 19:42

The napping is key . Sleep breeds sleep in my opinion .. I also think a little bit of porridge before bed can sometimes be a blessing . I don't agree with the current no solids until 6 months advice . I don't think one size fits all . People have opinions if you start a conversation . Should they say nothing ?? Or say what you would like them to say x

Chocolatecakefan · 07/12/2015 19:42

Mine has been the opposite! Slept through from 12 weeks but as soon as we started weaning at 6 months she constantly wakes up every single night! Gaah

mintoil · 07/12/2015 19:43

I bf until both mine were 14 months. However, when mine were babies ( teenagers now) the medical advice was to introduce solids at 16 weeks.

I have to admit this really did help mine sleep better.

This time you have with your baby will pass so quickly, try not to let old gimmers like me spoil it for you or tell you what to do. Just smile and say " I am sure I am doing what is best for me and DD."

Peppaismyhomegirl · 07/12/2015 19:44

The advice about weaning changes so much! It's 6 months now is it. I'm sure it was 12 weeks with my 4 year old!!

DefiniteMaybe · 07/12/2015 19:44

Solids made a huge difference to my dds personality (she's a greedy thing and is much happier when stuffing her face) but it was cutting down her breastfeeds that seemed to make her sleep through the night. She did it herself though when she decided to.

mrsmegavator · 07/12/2015 19:45

My eldest never napped in the day after he was about 4wks. I ebf until 6 months, then weaned him onto solids. Made no difference to his sleeping. He's now 11 and would sleep all day if he could get away with it... Angry

Senpai · 07/12/2015 19:46

Mine's 20 months old and goes through phases where she'll sleep through the night and when she won't. Food, tiring her out, and nap times have had no effect on it. We've just learned to roll with it.

scrivette · 07/12/2015 19:50

Yes because all babies start to sleep through the night when they start solids!

Used to drive me mad - I have a four month old so expect to start hearing that soon too.

Just nod, smile and ignore.

blobbityblob · 07/12/2015 19:51

A bit I think. With mine there was a bit of a crossover point where I didn't want to wean before 6 months but they were getting hungrier. And one of mine did sleep better once they started on solids. I guess it just sat in the stomach longer. They do get to a point where just milk isn't enough. So not really getting what your frustration is about myself. Sorry. Is it the being told when you knew?

LillyBugg · 07/12/2015 19:53

YANBU it's false hope. I hung on to lots of various false hope with sleep. Every baby is different. Tell the next person who says it to shove it. no I'm not bitter at all...

Notagainmun · 07/12/2015 19:55

Might have been coincidental but my DC all slept better when weaned.

JassyRadlett · 07/12/2015 19:55

These people obviously mean well but AIBU to be annoyed by this?

YANBU. They are annoying and also quite possibly wrong. DS's sleep went to shit when he started solids. They filled up his stomach but didn't give him enough calories. Unsurprisingly, he made up for the calories when his stomach was emptier. At 2am.

Notimefortossers · 07/12/2015 19:55

I'm sure it was 12 weeks with my 4 year old!!

Yeh, you're wrong about that!! I also have a 4 year old AND a 7 year old and they had only just changed it from 4 months (or 17 weeks) to 6 months just before I had my DD1. It's remained 6 months since then.

Although actually the advice is to wean BY 6 months and not before 17 weeks. All babies are different and there are signs that your baby is ready to wean

Ihatechoosingnames · 07/12/2015 19:55

Ignore them. The only difference solids made to my son was he was a bit happier and less windy. We cut out night feeds at 5 months (when we started weaning) but he still carried on being a shite sleeper til he turned 1. Then suddenly he started sleeping through the night. It was like a switch flipped.

Zombiemama · 07/12/2015 19:56

Solids really helped my DD she slept amazing for about 6 weeks... then teething started and since then no amount of Solids will get her through the night!! Every baby is different and obviously once there is a baby on the scene you give a green light to anyone and everyone to offer their helpful (usually crap) advice

MigGril · 07/12/2015 19:56

Peppard I'm slightly worried you think it was 12 weeks with your 4 year old. It's been 6 months for much longer then that, it was for my 8 year old and 5 year old although I think it was quit new with the oldest.