At what age did you wean your DC?

[alfie22]

I ask this question because my MIL is absolutely insistent that I begin weaning my DS at 12 weeks old (he's 9 weeks atm).

I feel this is far too early and I don't think I'd be comfortable starting to wean at that age. But then again I'm a FTM so haven't done this before.

What age did you begin weaning?

We started at 5 months like most of our NCT group. We were going to hold off but he was so interested in our food we thought we'd see if he wanted some and he loved it.

6 months give or take a couple of weeks for all 3. (Starting in 2010)

Tell her to bugger off and mind her own business!

These have been the guidelines for absolutely years, they don't fluctuate every couple of years.

The way I thought of it : wean earlier, slight risk of baby's system not being ready, possible future digestive issues.

Wean around 6 months, no/less risk.

Seems a no brainer.

My MIL used to passive aggressively make baby DS talk to me like he was really sad he wasn't getting some steak pie or cake. 🙄🙄

The myths about baby watching you eat or waking up more at night meaning they need food are just that. Also some people just get excited to start (looking at you mum and MIL).

DS is 13, and the guidelines had been 6 months for a few years before that.
He had his first non milk food at 6 months

It was 3-4 months with all mine as that was the guidelines and I followed advice. Have to say though that I don't think mine would have managed with milk alone till they were 6 months old.

Wean around 6 months, no/less risk.

Emerging evidence that there’s more risk of allergies if you wait.

6.5 months

Advice is absolutely not before 4 months. Their stomachs are too immature. Most people wean between 4-6 months, I started at about 5m1w, just teeny tiny mouthfuls of puree to get him used to tastes, and built it up.

Whatever you decide, it’s absolutely none of MILs business. You are baby’s mum, you make these decisions. Not her. Don’t leave your baby under her care unattended as I guarantee 100% she’ll give her food without your consent.

And the adding rusk to bottles is ancient advice! No one has done that for decades. It’s not necessary, formula or breast milk has every nutrient a baby needs.

My lo started blw at 5 months. She had awful reflux so we wanted to see if she could keep solids down better ( she has hardly been sick since).
She was independent with sitting up and able to bring food to her mouth etc so no concerns.

You do it when you and your lo are ready but 12 weeks is far to early. I remember having a similar conversation with my mil when lo was 3 months although she didn't push.

It used to be 12 weeks when I was a baby so I had the same nonsense from both my DM and DGM when my first was born. The current guidelines are 6 months so that is precisely what I stuck to.

I’ll be honest, none of mine really ate much until they turned one. Just loved breast milk and thrived on it so it was fine by me.

6 months. It’s a real PITA frankly so unless there is a medical reason you need to do it sooner, I would wait. Life is so much easier before you have to start packing half your kitchen with you to take on a day out and keeping it all the right temp, cleaning up the mess you’ve made all over a restaurant, etc.

When they showed interest in food, to be honest. My daughter was 5.5 months (was going to wait until 6 months, but she was really adamant!). My son wouldn't touch solids until almost 9 months. I agree that it's a PITA though - I remember having the thought after my son was born that I had to teach another human how to eat. Meal times take so looooong.

Current guidelines are around 6 months to wean. Not before 4 months. Maybe show her some of the research about their gut being too immature and the risk of GI problems in later life. Also please don't put rusks in a bottle - it's a choking risk.

My mum is a bit like this to be honest. I've just explained that whilst it was the done thing to do whatever it is she's pushing for in the 80s there been lots of new research and now guidelines and evidence have changed so we don't do it now. She's slowly stopping!

Ds is 19, and I was told 5/6 months then, not 12 weeks.

DS1 5 months, he could sit without support and pick up food.
DS2 5.5 months, when he could also sit without support and pick up food.

13 weeks with my 21 year old.
18 weeks with my 11 year old
26 weeks with my 8 year old
Which were all the recommended guidelines at the time

Ds1 is nearly 15. I weaned him at twelve weeks. He was huge for his age and was super hungry. But the guidelines started at that age.
Ds2 is 12. I weaned him at 13 weeks (I think).
Looking back it does seem young.

Mine are now 24 and 21. They were insatiable by about 11 weeks and the GP advised me to starg weaning at 12 weeks. Guidelines then were 16 weeks. They appear to have survived despite this terrible thing that happened to them. DS got bronchiolitis really badly at 4.5 months and not one hcp raised early weaning as an issue.

When I was about 10 I recall my mother being aghast that people were being advised by hcps who knew better than experienced mothers to put their babies to sleep on their tummies. That went well I seem to recall.

12 weeks as per guidelines in 1997. Much better guidelines now.

Actually it was 16 weeks as guidelines had just changed from 12 weeks.

Dd (age 15) 17 weeks
ds (age 12) 23 weeks

Guidance changed from 4-6 months to 6 months the year I had dd (2003). In hindsight i tried too early with dd so waited a bit longer for ds

Just over five months. DD was so interested in food by that point and loved the first purée I tried giving her so much that she licked the bib for more afterwards! The guidelines did actually say to start at six months at the time (end of 2015) but I felt DD was ready.

6 months as per current nhs guidelines. (Although DS did grab some grass in the park around 4 months old - I thought I’d got it all out of his grubby wee paws but some turned up in his nappy later !)

My MIl wanted me to start weaning at 4 months, had several comments about her be ready e.g. the reason she had disturbed sleep was because she needed food etc. Her sleep pattern improved before i started weaning. I started at 5 and half months, she was sitting upright and able to comfortable pick up and eat finger foods.

5.5 months for mine. I'd say dd was showing more signs of being ready than ds did but DS definitely took to it easier! Spoon feeding and finger foods for both (probably more finger foods for dd as was more confident having done it before)

It's strange - mine are 17 and 15 and the advice was 16 weeks. I wish I had known that the advice would soon change to 6 months as looking back my DD really wasn't ready, and food was a major issue for her first 5 years. I'm sure if I had waited things would have been much better, but HV was adamant that I should start or else she wouldn't talk 🤨