To want to wean DD earlier than 6 months due to reflux/spit up?

[Tjsmumma]

I know this is a sensitive topic but, i want to know, if you weaned earlier due to spit up/reflux and what you gave first, when, why please.

My DD is nearly 4 months, recently she is spitting up a lot more, like nearly after every feed.

She's EBF and seems like she's so hungry she's taking more in that she needs due to this and then just spitting it up again so i really think she is ready for more than just my milk.

She shows all the signs for readiness, looks at food, put things in her mouth, sits really well with support, over double her birth weight, grabs out for anything we eat and doesn't have the tongue thrust.

I know other DM who have weaned way earlier and their babies are fine and really enjoy it and showed the same signs.

I know i should contact HV but, i cant gwt through at the moment, ive left multiple messages to no reply.

i have looked into every option, researched a lot and i know its advised from 6 months but, a lot of people i know have from 3/4 months and all the pouches etc say from 4

I'm just confused and know they advise weaning early if reflux is an issue, she goes very squirmy and irritable and then spits up but, isnt crying or upset.

Whatever you do, DON'T do what @firsttimemum30 or @Marpan suggest! Giving anything but milk before 17 weeks is genuinely bad for the baby's bowel, and can lead to allergies, intestinal problems and there's a strong link to obesity in later life in babies given solids before 17 weeks.

Dangerous nonsense, suggested only by eejits who believe that somehow their baby is different to all the other human babies and that u no best, hun, your baby your rulez is better advice than peer-reviewed clinical studies.

The Science of Mom website that I linked to was actually a very good guide. I gave a whole bunch of things but tried to include a) iron-rich foods as mentioned (fortified cereal from 4mo, and a little egg yolk and ground meat from 5mo) and b) little tastes of the big allergens--wheat, egg, shrimp, peanut butter, cow's milk yogurt and so on.

My babies had small amounts of the above in a ground up, mashed or pureed form until 5-6 months, then I also started to add in soft pieces of food that they could pick up themselves. I actually did not intend to start finger foods till 6mo but both of them literally starting grabbing things like bananas and helping themselves from 5mo so I just went with the flow ;)

Hi OP,
weaning BEFORE 6 months is actually recommended in other countries. I live in a country where parents are explicitly told to start weaning before 6 months because there is scientific evidence that it reduces the incidence of food allergies.
The majority of babies are definitely ready for food before 6 months, nearly all my friends weaned their DC onto purees or simple finger foods before 6 months. Most started at 18-20 weeks.
I had one DC who basically survived on milk for the first year and one who loved food from the first time I gave him a spoonful of puree.
People get very defensive about weaning without realising that the recommendations aren't set in stone, in fact, for many aspects the scientific research is conflicting.

Displaying those signs at 4 months is surely no different to 6 months? Because those are signs they are infact ready, surely!

Developmental milestones are not related to how well developed a baby’s gut it.

A baby of 4 months may have all the milestones that show “readiness” but their gut is not mature enough until they are 6 months.

Just because a baby hits all the required developmental milestones that doesn’t mean they should be weaned.

Regardless of developmental milestones, whether the infant reaches them at 4 months, 5 months or 6 months, the gut itself is not developed enough to be exposed to solids until the child is 6 months.

Unless it is medically advised then early weaning should not be done, regardless of how well the infant can sit up and hold their head.

A child being developmentally ready is not the same as the gut being ready.

@QueenofmyPrinces please, give me some real evidence.

@QueenofmyPrinces readysetfood.com/blogs/community/the-open-gut-theory-and-early-allergen-introduction

Real evidence about what? That it’s advised solids aren’t introduced before 6 months old?

@ElektraPlektra thank you so much for your response. Yes, everything ive read is very conflict and confusing. Like you say many countries do things differently and guidelines are ever changing! I agree, some people are very (for some strange reason) defensive about introducing foods, its not like im trying to give my baby a bread stick or something ridiculous. It would be afe appropriate! Im still going to wait a bit longer but some of these comments are absolutely ridiculous and shaming parents for their choices is not on

@QueenofmyPrinces yes, and that the gut isnt developed, you must of read it somewhere to be able to have such a strong opinion?? Everything ive ready states there isnt any factual evidence amd babies develop at their own rate and when they show readiness, they are infact ready

OP speak to your HV

Queens is giving the correct advice for the UK (assuming you are based in the Uk).

You challenge her to provide evidence yet you listen eagerly to others who give incorrect advice.

Its clear you have made your mind up and have no intention in following the guidelines

@QueenofmyPrinces everything im reading states before 17 weeks the guts imature, not before 6 months. www.safefood.eu/News/2018/New-research-highlights-challenges-for-parents-when-starting-their-babies-on-solid-foods.aspx

Any NHS based information will tell you what you need to know.

I’m a children’s nurse, have been for 13 years, the last 9 years of my career have focused on working with infants aged between 0-2, including working with a Heath Visiting Team for over two years.

I see many, many infants who present to us with issues surrounding weaning - and so yes, I do have strong opinions on it because I have first hand evidence of the trouble early weaning can cause, and I work with Consultants, Dieticians and SALT, none of whom would ever recommend early weaning unless the baby was suffering with severe reflux where no medications or thickeners had worked and that the infant was gaining weight.

At the end of the day, it’s your baby and your choice. You don’t like what people are saying because it doesn’t fit with what you want to do, and that’s fine.

If you want to wean your baby before it’s advised then do so. It makes no difference to any of us on here.

@Random18 no, im choosing to wait, i just dislike it when other parents choose to give evidential knowledge without actually giving evidence towards it :) the guidlines are not before 17 weeks and no later than 26 which is what i shall follow, after speaking to people and getting information from sources. What im trying to explain is that every child is different and develops differently. Someone saying a child displaying signs of readiness at 4 months isnt ready but showing the same signs at 6 months is ready is very conflicting? It states their stomachs arent developed properly for food until at least 17 weeks. NHS guidelines are based on finger foods and solids. I will be infact getting hold of my HV but, if yoh have read my previous comments. I have tried 4 times to no avail.

@QueenofmyPrinces and i totally understand that and your reasoning behind it, hence, why im asking for factual knowledge in the way of information you are reading which im sure you can get online for me to read? Others have stated evidence anf online publications from dieticians and other medical professionals.

Is weaning the same as introducing foods i.e not giving whole finger foods but starting on mushed up foods as everything ive read on nhs states about 'solids and finger foods' i dont want to stop giving milk etc. I want evidence and proper things to site from trusted places to then base my opinion and when i will start on seeing as i cannot get through to any medical professionals myself.

There isn’t any evidence of harm from weaning between 4-6 months which is why other posters can’t offer you any links.

Yes, weaning is the same as giving any solids.

Have you looked at any NHS information? You can’t get anyone more trusted than them.

@QueenofmyPrinces Yes, i have looked, hence why ive mentioned it previously. I know full well that the NHS isnt always up to date with their guidance also. I was given a antibiotic for my 3 week old (after being lied to about test results and forced into the first lot) which weren't supposed to be given before 6 weeks (i never gave them) when i queried it, i was told it was guidance over 4 years ago, and they'd infact stopped it 6 months prior to us being their but, only adter they had researched into it themselves as it wasnt given out/told via NHS knowledge. We also had coronavirus symptoms, 3 days after they'd announced that if any family member had symptoms to all self isolate. I called 111 regarding this to be told 'we dont have up tl date knowledge, follow the news' 'if you arent coronavirus positive go about normal day to day life and continue work as normal'!

So no, i dont always trust what the NHS states. Surely, if its a very bad thing to do, there would be mroe factual evidence which im trying to get.

I am not trying to be argumentative, i am trying to get a whole picture. If yoj read previous replies from me, you will see i have been grateful for evidence on either side of the argument.

NHS online only states about proper solids and finger foods which i wont be giving yet.

I had two with bad reflux, both under a paediatric gastroenterologist. He told me with both of them that starting solids at 17 weeks was a good idea. I did find it helpful as I could give them some of their milk in the form of runny rice/custard/porridge which seemed to help it stay down. In my personal experience, both were much happier once they were on some solid food and not just milk.

We all make a variety of decisions about how we raise our children and all we can do is research it, weigh up the risks and then make our choice.

If you want to wean your baby earlier than the recommended 6 months then it’s your choice to do it. Thousands of other parents across the country will be doing the same thing so if that’s what you want to do, then do it.

@CaryStoppins this is what im trying to find as well, all i find is before 17 weeks just like @HavelockVetinari states.

Frustrating me now as i want factual evidence rather than an personal opinon, its ever changing it seems. I only want personal opinion on what you gave baby first abd when not why you shouldnt before a certain age i was under the initial impression that before 6 months was 'bad parenting and super dangerous' but now seeing evidence based upon it not being id like the evidence upon why it is indeed dangerous if it is!

Everyone i know has given before 6 months, and it even states to give before 26 weeks which is indeed nearly 6 months even the nhs states around not after

@QueenofmyPrinces I have done my research :) im assuming you don't have any evidence pointing to why its dangerous or their tummies arent developed til then? Again, i just want to see both sides to make an informed choice as literally every single parent i know has done so before 6 months :)

@dippyavocado did he state why 17 weeks? I would assume it would be because that's indeed when their bellies are developed enough for food? Thank you, my DD seems to always be unfulfilled at the moment. Nice to see others have been advised, still think ill try get an appointment with a healthcare professional before attempting it myself

OP, with respect, you sound a bit competitive. You say your baby is "very advanced" and that you know 8 people already weaning at 4 months. The best thing for your baby right now is milk. It's not a race to meet "milestones", it's about giving your baby the best possible start in life. Slow down, enjoy your baby. These early months are so precious and you'll long for them when you have a toddler tearing around the place. Weaning is messy, time consuming and a bit of a pain in the arse!

This book is really good. It's got lots of research compiled into an easily readable and accessible format. I really recommend it.

I am actually surprised that this debate hasn't moved on in the ten years since I weaned my eldest when you could have read an identical thread!

TJ he said it was because heavier food stays better in the stomach.