To wean the way I did with my eldest (old recommendations)

[babyweaning]

With dc1 I was told to wean by giving some solid food instead of a milk feed once a day at 4 months.
I agree with current advice to wait till 6m but I’ve found with my youngest if I follow current advice to give milk first then solids she’s just too full up !
So what I’ve been doing is replacing her second breastfeed of the day with some porridge and she’s eating it. The HV says this isn’t what’s recommended and I need to follow advice.

The porridge is made up with breastmilk and a bit of fruit too so in a way it’s a partial milk feed ?
I don’t think HV realises I need to get things going well with weaning as I do have to go back to work and she refuses a bottle !
AIBU to do things the ‘old fashioned way’

@babyweaning

The HV said they prefer it as well if babies are predominantly having just milk and doing blw till 1 but I don’t think they realise sometimes that although held up is the ideal won’t work for v busy parents. I’d love to be able to have a bit more time but I think it’ll end up being up, dressed have porridge and out to nursery and if I do blw that’s more clothes changing and mess. She said it needs to be more about taste and sensory experience at this stage not ‘filling up’

Just do what you as the parent believe to be best. Don’t volunteer information. Just say it’s all going well thanks and move on!

Whilst research is helpful, it often takes a long time to filter down to HV (meaning sometimes they are one step behind in their advice - e.g giving or not giving nuts and risk of allergies).

The other thing is HV is giving general advice. They aren’t the expert on your specific baby.

I've always just continued breastfeeding as normal (feeding to sleep at naps at this age) and offered solids if they're awake when we're eating. They're good at regulating themselves and unless your baby has a history of weight gain problems I wouldn't be worried.

I think the food before one is for fun bit can be taken a bit literally. I thought it was to reassure parents whose babies take a while to get to solids. Ultimately, at a year they need more than just breast milk, especially for iron, and you want them on a good, healthy, balanced diet. Stands to reason that some babies will move a little quicker than others along that path between 6 and 12 months.

My first had a nursing strike at 10 months that we never resolved, never took a bottle and didn't start drinking milk from a cup until after her first birthday so for two or three months only had whatever milk we could get in her food. No one seemed that bothered. Not ideal but she'll be fine, just do your best to get some in seemed to be the view.