To consider introducing solids at 4months?

[Azaeli]

He's showing all the signs of being ready (grabs things with both hands and puts them in mouth, watches us eat, is more than double his birth-weight, sits well with support etc).

I know current advice is wait until 6months but don't babies develop at different rates?

Also he suffers with reflux and I've heard introducing solids early can help that. He guzzles milk but rarely seems satisfied (EBF) and has lots of green slimy nappies (8-10 a day).

Anyone else ignored the guidelines and started weaning early?

Green, slimy pops (particularly if they are ever frothy) are a sign that DS isn't getting enough hind milk when feeding. That could also be contributing to him not being satisfied. The hind milk has a higher fat content, which helps them to feel full. Do you have an oversupply? I did (eg. I could express 1L in one pumping session), and I really noticed that the first 250ml from each side was thin and watery (almost blue-tinged) and the next bottles were creamier. It was especially obvious after they'd been in the fridge and the milk had separated.

I agree with other posters who say seek advice if you want to start weaning early. There are some OK foods to try, but most babies' guts are not ready.

Boosiehs - there is no such thing as "a mix of purées and BLW". It's either traditional weaning (ie purées first, then lumps, finger food etc" which is what you did) or it is BLW which is putting regular food in front of the baby and letting them help themselves, not spoon feeding them at all.

I did it. 4 months is still the guideline in other European countries

Greeny foamy nappies, indicating cmp intolerance

Or about 10 other, more likely, things?

If as many babies were intolerant to cows milk protein (in the tiny amounts that come through in breast milk, no less) as were diagnosed by the people on Mumsnet, there would be an epidemic. There isn't. Please don't diagnose other peoples babies based on one comment, its incredibly irresponsible.

KP thank you for that I gave up bf because DS wouldn't latch and was never full after expressed bottles. I had loads of milk but it was the thin milk. Now I know why bf didn't work

Sorry youbastardsockballs but my sons dermatologist told me that about the world health organisation. He is one of the top dermatologists in the country. I didn't get it if the Internet. And my sons allergist paediatrician told me to wean earlier.

I wonder what these long term digestive problems are? How would we know if we had one? Absolutely no idea when I was weaned but doubt very much if there were any guidelines in force at the time. Guidelines for both my children (early 20s) was 4 months onwards. I do wonder what on earth they should be looking out for in terms of digestive health in the future. Or me too for that matter.

The current guidelines say 6 months. I doubt very much these guidelines are set in stone for ever and ever. It depends on how much store you set by "official" advice.

Why the hurry? I "forgot" to feed my second child anything other than bits of toast and milk and she turned into a healthy eater who loves everything. (age 18 size 12 in college).

YABU. The NHS says 6 months for a reason. The "it never did me any harm" brigade are ignoring the increase in various food intolerances and IBS in this generation. Sometimes digestional problems don't emerge till adulthood. Some babies' guts may be properly developed before 6 months but unless you have x-ray vision you have no way of knowing if your baby is ready. If he watched you smoking a cigarette would you consider him ready to smoke?! Also, pureed food has far fewer calories than milk so if he is unsatisfied, weaning will only make it worse. He just needs more milk! I don't understand the rush - you have the rest of his life to prepare him food, just enjoy the next couple of months of sustaining him with milk only.

Also, pureed food has far fewer calories than milk so if he is unsatisfied, weaning will only make it worse.

That's bollocks. It's not about calories it's about volume and how quickly it's digested. You can eat a really calorie heavy cake but won't feel as full as if you'd had a low calorie meal.

It fills them up more

Exactly catsmeow. The gut can't digest food as easily as milk BECAUSE IT'S NOT READY TO DO SO. Can you guarantee that the OP's child digestive system has fully closed at 4 months and he won't suffer any long-term disgestional issues? If not, do you really think you should be advising her to go against current medical research and advice?

Hope this helps OP - info from La Leche League
www.llli.org/nb/nbsepoct08p36.html

It fills them up more in the way that eating cardboard would fill you up more.

hot solids are harder to digest than liquid in general.

I haven't advised anything. Just said that you saying food won't help with hunger isn't correct

Purées are cardboard. Right.

Wow the tone and aggression from the comments on here make people not want to post looking for advice.

OP maybe best thing would be to contact your public health nurse?

What on earth is the hurry? It's a while ago now but we did fruit and veg from six months, a bit of chicken and fish from nine months and no red meat, cereals sugar and dairy until they were a year. Two fit healthy dds.

I believe they've changed the guidelines in Sweden back to 4-6 months (having previously said 6 months) because of emerging evidence that earlier introduction may help prevent allergies.

Official guidelines around good/health/nutrition are notoriously open to change and revision. So I wouldn't worry too much about waiting until 6 months. I began at 22 weeks with DS - just with fruit & veg and only a little to begin with. I followed his lead and he took to food like a duck yo water.

Purées are cardboard. Right

Um, no. Try again.

"There's no such thing as a mix of BLW and purée"

Pmsl. What are some of these posters on?!

Viola that's pretty much what you said. Go and be judgemental somewhere else.

Catsmeow, breastmilk does look thin compared to formula. It's lighter and more easily digested than formula. Thin is what it should look like. Mine is thin and has fed all mine. I'm sorry things didn't work out, but I doubt 'thin milk' was the cause of it.

We weaned DD (now 7, with no intolerances or allergies) at 16 weeks on medical advice due to reflux. DS (now 5, with no intolerances or allergies) at around 18 weeks. This topic turns some posters hysterical. You know your baby. But do speak to health professionals if you are unsure.

Lady I'll ask my HV next time whether it could have been lack of hind milk, like you say it may have been something else and it just looks thin next to formula

ontheroad I was thinking he same thing.

It's lucky that poster was in my kitchen when I was giving DS his first food. Which was some fruit. Yes, lumps of banana. Not a purée.

christ people can be sanctimonious twits.