To think my baby might need food sooner than 6 months?

[Flamingoflamangos]

First baby so I’m a bit clueless.

DD is 16 weeks on Monday. She’s a very happy little soul and I’ve been so lucky this far in that she sleeps all night, every night and naps well during the day.

Over the past 4 days she’s been really difficult to feed. I couldn’t breastfeed very well due to medication I take but she’s thrived on formula and has been exclusively formula fed since 6weeks of age.

She usually has 6 oz every 3-4 hours or so but over the past few days she’s been impossible to feed and will have an ounce or so and get bored, then take some more a bit later until she’s had about 3oz.

She’s definitely not unwell and I can’t see any signs of teeth coming through. She drank 10oz before bed last night so it’s very inconsistent.

She seems to be very interested in my food so I’m wondering if she might not be far off needing some solid food. We’re on holiday next week so I’m wondering if it’s worth taking stuff just incase? I’m aware that baby porridge etc is fewer calories than formula though but obviously not if made with formula.

She weighs 13lb 4oz sonshes not underweight and has been hitting so called 3 month milestones for quite a few weeks now.

I wouldn't. Their digestive systems aren't ready at that age and it's not necessary.

The whole in the teat being too small is a good thought. We defo needed faster flow ones for my two at that age. I knew a GP friend who also enlarged that with a fork.

Dd did get solids at about 16 weeks but that was a specific medical reason. Ds was probably a couple of weeks shy of 6 months because he kept taking picnic food and shoving it his mouth (badly obviously!). Summer hols and we lived on picnics.

NHS guidelines are only guidelines. They’re not rules, you don’t have to stick to them. If your DD is ready for food then do it! You’re her Mum, you know her best. Plenty of babies wean earlier than 6 months which personally I think is way too late! My DS will be starting before then as he is showing signs of being ready.

We gave our small amount of baby rice or porridge at that age as they were obviously hungry. I think back in the 70s the suggestion was 12 weeks. So I don't think it's ridiculous. But MN are sticklers for the rules! Some babies at that age are bigger and hungrier than others.

@Ohyesiam my son had 4 teeth by 11 weeks old

Mostly sources suggest not before baby is 17 weeks old, but you aren't far off that. Might be worth discussing with health visitor

My DH gave DS half a banana (not mushed) at 4.5 months. I was horrified but DS grabbed it and gnawed at it and went mad, grinning and pumping his legs! At 6 months he was eating toast and butter for breakfast.

I began food (baby rice, pureed veg) at 16 weeks because I couldn't hold off son any longer. He was a big baby though at that point (90th centile height and weight). He took to food like a duck to water and by 6 months was eating the same food as us, but mashed up. No-one told him that his gut wasn't ready. And I held off to 16 weeks, because at that time, that is what the advice was - 4 months. so definitely not set in stone!

And of course, as you wean, you aren't stopping feeding milk. He was EBF up to then, and continued to breastfeed until 10 months, when he just stopped of his own accord.

Oh and some people will make out you are a terrible parent if you consider weaning before 6 months. Ignore them, they mean well but actual research suggests there isn't that much difference in starting at 17 weeks to waiting til after 6 months. In fact pre 6 months may prevent some allergies...

No harm after 4 months.

Sorry, posted too soon. I personally would have waited but DH is a bit of a maverick type I never bothered with baby porridge but he used to love a little jar every now and then. He loved food until he was 3.
Now he's a fussy eater but I remember fondly the times when he would tuck in with gusto
Talk to your HV and if you go ahead just keep an eye on nappies and what's being digested. Milk (breast or otherwise) will have more calories and nutrients than most foods.

I would try going up a teat size rather than giving food and wait til 6 months.

If you want to understand the evidence I'd read why starting solids matters by Amy Brown. My DD is the same age and I won't be weaning her til 6 months unless I see evidence that doing otherwise is a good idea (just bought the book for this reason). 4 months is notorious for sleep regressions and fussiness which is linked to their development, not needing food. NHS guidelines are there because their interpretation of the evidence is that waiting til 6 months is in best interests of the average baby. I know there is some contestation of this evidence but for me it doesn't follow that parents should start to wean just because they feel like it. Why the rush?

@Ohyesiam
Wait until they have teeth? That’s a really stupid thing to say!
My son had two showing when he was born! Some don’t get them until they are 7/9 mths, what a ridiculous idea 🙄
Teeth have nothing to do with ability to eat/digest.

WhiteRedRose were you breast feeding?

far too young, their digestive system is simply not ready.

Get advice from a medically trained professional - even if we have to relay on HV instead of seeing a proper doctor here.
Do not follow the advice of some random on the internet. At worst, you wait a few days.

Starting too early is exactly why some allergies and food intolerance develop, and even 6 months have been proven to be too young for some foods.

Just because someone had fed completely the wrong food to a child doesn't mean you should.

16 weeks is prime fussing stage. Can be growth spurt and turn into a milk monster or the opposite and fuss around it.

Definitely don’t start the faff of weaning while you are away (even if she was old enough I’d delay a week for that, and she’s too young anyway)

Wait until you see teeth?! My dd didn't get a tooth until 11 months but was weaning at 17 weeks... ridiculous advice.

OP you could chat to your hv and mention you're considering weaning, I did it at 17 weeks as dd had awful reflux and never slept... as soon as she stated weaning it improved loads! Still didn't sleep well but she was much happier, not had a single choking incident in 4 years. Honestly people put too much on the 6 minute guideline- yes it's there for a reason but it's not one size fits all

She’s interested in your food because she’s starting to get interested in the world around her, not because it’s good.

*food

My son had food early suddenly up all night after being a great sleeper and it was clear milk didn’t satisfy so we gave purées and cereal for 4months old, I think this was 14 weeks. He is big for his age now, not chubby at all just looks older, at 15 months is the size of an average 2 year old, so just needed it earlier.

If you think she needs more calories, the best way to do that is more milk. Yes, lots of people give food sooner but it's not recommended anymore.

Think about it logically, if you did give for, it would be puree/mushy, how much would go in? How many calories would she get from a few bits that she swallowed and didn't push out with her tongue? A couple more months really isn't that long to wait.

There are new studies showing introducing foods at 4 months is reducing allergies. It's worth a read. www.newscientist.com/article/dn28366-should-babies-be-given-solids-earlier-to-prevent-food-allergies/

I’d wait till you see teeth coming through, then you know her gut is matured enough to start food

Mine got first teeth at 13 and 11 months. Pretty sure they were ready for solids before that.

I waited till 6 months with both. Definitely wouldn't think about it before 5 months.

They change constantly, fussy one day, not the next. They're interested in everything, my DS is really interested in the car, I'm not going to let him have a bash at driving though.

I certainly wouldn't do it while you're away - what if she has an allergic reaction? Or is really grumpy with constipation (which happens when weaning)? Tbh, weaning nappies are awful so I'd wait just to avoid them. < definitely not envy