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.

It’s the 4 month regression. Mine is 20 weeks (she was 5 weeks prem) and is a nightmare to feed at the mo!

I second the recommendation of the book by Prof Amy Brown. Nice easy read and summarises the research.

Why Starting Solids Matters (Pinter & Martin Why it Matters: 8) www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1780665008/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_NE.aDbPTZERMD?tag=mumsnetforu03-21

I waited until 23 weeks with mine, he was picking up food and sitting up in a high chair. To be honest unless your child is sitting up well, feeding is not really advisable.
Food doesn't always solve baby issues like lack of sleep, sometimes it can make it worse.

As PP has said, emerging evidence has suggested that between 4 and 6 months is the best age in order to reduce risk of allergies etc.

Our paed registrar (baby weaned early due to reflux) stated firmly that NHS guidance is based on WHO recommendations, which take into account that BF exclusively until 6 months is best in countries where hygiene and food safety standards are low. Following this new research, he said NHS guidance is likely to be amended.

Having said that, I’d definitely check out teat size and start with fruit/veg purées if you do start, as baby rice is very unappetising. We only used it to add texture to purées when she found them too smooth.

I would speak to your GP rather than mumsnet

Please don't,what a waste of an appt!

I read a number of peer-reviewed research studies when I started weaning DC1 in 2011. There were negative outcomes associated with introducing food before 17 weeks and after 26 weeks. Between those times, just try when the baby appears ready - grabbing your food, interested in chewing etc.
DC1 tasted his first solids at about 22 weeks because he nicked my porridge and ate most of it 😁

Please don't,what a waste of an appt!

What a ridiculous comment!

It's a shame we don't have regular visit with a paediatrician in this country, but asking for real advice instead of following random from the internet is not a waste!

Reminds me of the OP who perforated the eardrum of her DH following "advice" from her previous thread. Advice is fine, a line of research too, but people just make things up as they go along!

Why would the OP need to see a GP about weaning a baby? That's something to discuss with a HV if you're undecided. The baby isn't showing any signs of a perferated ear drum so no idea why you've brought that up.

Both my children had CMPA and growth issues on formula. I was advised by the paediatrician and dietician to wean both mine early. They are fine.

It is a developmental leap and is the reason people mistakenly start weaning so early. It’s normal. Baby is unlikely to be unsatisfied all of a sudden. My son was a big boy and bf. he started solids at 5.5 months so I am not against starting a bit early but you need to do some research before going against medical advice.

If u do decide speak to your health visitor first
All you'll get is the current advice trend, go with your own instinct.

I would speak to your GP rather than mumsnet

GPs deal with illness not nervous mothers.

Definitely don't start until after your holiday at least. You don't want to have to cart all the food and other stuff with you unnecessarily.

If you want to wean at 17 weeks it’s fine. Many other countries advise to do so. The most recent research shows that it also reduces risk of allergy if you introduce allergens sooner rather than later. With allergy present in the family I weaned dc2 at 17 weeks after extensive reading and advice from several doctors

Also, remember that babies have no concept of solid food stopping hunger. They're interested in it like they are everything but they're not indicating that they're hungry for it.

When you say your babies sleep through, say, 7-6, do you mean this is without waking fe a botttle during that time?

My 20 month old still has a feed at around 10.30pm and sleeps through from then. There are no hard and fast rules what you are doing sounds fine.

I would wait later than 16 weeks for feeding though. That is very early. Once they are six months they can eat so much more variety and they can sit up and it's just so much easier. I waited until 24 /26 weeks with all of my 3. They did have a regression/growth spurt around 4 months but I took the advice to wait. It worked fine for us.

If you feed earlier than that make sure you research what they can and can't have for example I believe weetabix has too much salt for a small baby. There will be plenty of other examples.

DD was a very fussy baby so we started giving her purees to try at 5 months and even did some basic finger foods at 5 and a half months (not recommending but in our case she was ready). We got a good head start on weaning and she is a great eater now at 11 months. Although tbh it didn’t do much to settle her so we could have just waited till 6 months- I was just impatient!

That is all very normal behaviour for a 4 month old and it's worth bearing in mind that starting solids can make them more fussy because their bellies have to adjust to something other than their milk. But the 6 month guideline that the NHS tells you is not based on the latest evidence, solids should be started by 6 months at the latest to lower the chances of developing allergies. Do not start before 17 weeks (and don't start until you come back from your holiday - you don't want the extra hassle while travelling or the worry about reactions).

I agree it’s a ridiculous thing to see a GP about. Talk to the HV if you’re really unsure.

I have 4 children aged 18,17,14 and 3 months. When I had the first 3 the NHS advice was wean at 16 weeks ( sometimes earlier). All 3 are healthy eaters and have no allergies so I will be weaning my new son at this age as well if I think he's ready. I think if a child is showing interest in the food you are eating then that is the natural time to wean. All babies are different so please trust your instincts and that you know what's right for your child x

i am in ireland and my PHN said under no circumstances do not feed before 6 months. And under no circumstances to give baby rice/rusk or anything advertised for babies.

they have no nutritional value and are full of sugar.

My two aged 14 & 11 were weaned around 14-16 wks.

Both eat well and in a varied fashion ie not faddy at all

The advice changed between their births and they weaned differently. One like to eat bits of veg and pasta and the other more purées with me feeding

I had a big boy who grew up tall. He didn't need it at all. So I think it's a myth that larger children need solids early.

When my DC were born (about 25 years ago) NHS advice was 3 months. When BF had her DC (closer to 35 years ago), she had them in Europe and they were advised to give tiny tastes of baby rice and stewed fruit from birth, alongside BF or formula.

I am not saying this is the right thing to do but it didn’t do any of them any harm. Sometimes advice changes because new research supports it, sometimes it is just fashions changing. They are all healthy adults now. Most of them are girls and mostly on the petite side but one of the children born in Europe is a fitness instructor in the Royal Marines and he is one of the biggest, fittest men I have ever seen.

No, I'd wait until 6 months.

NHS advice was 4-6 months from 1994.