To say something to this mum re. early weaning?

[Greywalls12]

Was at a baby class today, when one mum mentioned that she'd started giving her 15 week old baby rice.
No one said anything, but their were quite a few disapproving looks.

AIBU to say it has no nutritional value and she could actually be doing her child harm by weaning before 17 weeks?

Or is that incredibly rude and should stop being miss judgy pants?

I don't actually think she would care as she ignores most guidelines e.g. has baby in own room and puts on front to sleep etc.

I don't actually think she would care as she ignores most guidelines e.g. has baby in own room and puts on front to sleep etc

That’s quite a judgemental thing to say.

I wouldn't bother saying anything. Some people seem to want to feed babies early. My sister has a mum friend who said she melted some Easter egg for her baby to eat as he was too young to eat solid chocolate at Easter. She had already started weaning and baby was about 5 months old.

What's with all the judgemental posts on here this week?

AIBU to make another new mother feel like shit because they have made a judgement call and have done things differently to me.

Yes you bloody are.

Forty years ago we were told to put our babies to sleep on their tummies. It was, in any event, the only way mine would sleep.

And that was before the back to sleep campaign and deaths of babies dropped from 2500 a year to less than 350. Pretty sound evidence

Eurgh, I’d rather deal without sleep than ever risk my baby dying from SIDS.

Really? So you and your baby would remain awake for what, several months? Don’t be silly.

I agree that if she doesn’t listen the the HV she probably won’t listen to you.

Baby rice at 15 weeks isn’t too terrible though. The sleeping on the front is much worse, but perhaps the baby won’t settle any other way.

I wouldn't bother, she's not going to care or change anything.

Eurgh, I’d rather deal without sleep than ever risk my baby dying from SIDS

I assume the concern here is that the baby is not getting any sleep, not the parent. Babies cannot thrive without adequate sleep.

She doesn't want to listen to HVs.

The baby rice packet most likely has 'from 4-6 months' on the front of it and she's ignored that.

Id be tempted to say something too op but I honestly wouldn't bother as she won't listen.

God know - who cares - her baby will be absolutely fine. You have just decided to do it differently.

the baby is not getting any sleep, not the parent

It’s not possible for the parent to function on zero sleep either.

If you don't think she'll want to listen I wouldn't bother

I put my baby to sleep on her front. She had severe reflux and it was the only way she was comfortable bar lying upright on her front on my chest, however after I fell asleep like that out of sheer exhaustion having not slept more than a few minutes at a time in over 5 weeks and she slipped down the side of me I decided on her front in a Moses basket was the safer option. Paediatrician agreed. I got a breathing monitor so it would alert me within seconds should she stop breathing. Thankfully she never did, I'm not a shit parent but babies and parents cannot stay awake all the time.

Giving the baby some baby rice is hardly going to hurt, surely? Mothers usually have good instincts about such things. Years ago a little bit of food was often introduced earlier than it is now and children grew up as well as any.

Baby rice contains Vitamin B.

I'd be more concerned that the baby was sleeping on it's front.

DH has loads of bowel issues and GP believes it's because of early weaning when he was a baby

The problem with safe sleep guidance is when you have a baby that won't sleep flat on their back in a separate surface. You can't stay awake indefinitely.

Definitely say exactly how you feel about her parenting, don't mince your words either. She can then tell you exactly how she feels about yours.

put my baby to sleep on her front. She had severe reflux and it was the only way she was comfortable bar lying upright on her front on my chest

I was about to post a similar thing. DN had severe reflux and SIL was told by the paediatrician to buy a sensor pad baby monitor and put him to sleep on his tummy as it would be more comfortable for him than lying on his back.

Early weaning can be medically recommended too, DS had food well before four months.

2 weeks / Stilton & Whisky YANBU

15 weeks and baby rice YABU

It’s baby rice. Not crack.

Generations of babies have been weaned early without growing up with bowel issues. I reckon your GP’s clutching at straws to avoid investigation, OP.

In all honesty she is probably getting her "advice" from someone close to her who patented in the 70s and 80s.

The tripe that was suggested to me when I was pregnant/new mum included holding baby in arms in the car, adding rice to bottles, giving water to space out feeds, early weaning (12 weeks plus), front sleeping, crying it out from pretty much birth, and my favourite "keep the newborn awake all day and they will sleep all night".

It was an onslaught! And if I was the type to just blindly follow what I was told as gospel, I'd be the same as this woman. Thankfully I like to do my own research.

I weaned both my DC early. I got judged to death. But it didn't change my mind at all.

You're going to come across much worse parenting than this in your life OP. Choose your battles.

There is no point trying to advise someone who has declined HV visits, all you will do is cause friction, nothing good will come of it.

None of your business - the recommended weaning age for my now 24 and 23 yrs olds was 12 weeks - no ill effects. It is a guideline, a recommendation, not the law. Just looked at the Heinz baby food site - and it does 4-6 month jars, so that is 16 weeks.

And my 24 you was face down, the 23 yo was side, and the 17 yo was on his back. Advice changes every 5 minutes.

Remember the old saying - do what you feel comfortable with. So wind your neck in, stop being so judgy.