To think that toast, yoghurt and banana is a perfectly adequate breakfast for an 8 month old?

[TAFKAAAAAARGHtheUrbanDryad]

And the HV is talking shite? (shocker, I know!)

Sorry to be nosey but what reasoning did she have for insisting on formula? HV do have a lot power so it is frustrating that some could really do with re-training.

Do you have to see a HV here then? I had the boy in Oz and nobody mentioned anything to me. Seems to be lots of complaints about them on Mumsnet, am I going to be put on an at risk register or something?

Though we are buggering off when baby is 3 months in any case.

rofl at 'weak legs'

Funny how we rarely hear of HVs NOT talking shite.

I had expressed concern at his constant feeding (he was 7 weeks) and she said that - even though he was putting on weight fine - I needed to give him ff because my supply wouldn't keep up. I later found out that 7 weeks is a normal time for a growth spurt, and babies feed more to build up their supply, but I didn't know that at the time.

Luckily, SS took one look at him and dismissed us, but it was v scary. My GP was on our side too, the same GP who told me to put him on solids at 17 weeks, for no other reason than she did with her kids, but that's another story!

I assume your child is not allergic to milk, wheat or banana?

HV is talking out of her arse. Seems perfectly fine to me!

Bloody hell, that is horrifying. It is good that you stuck to your guns but how many women gave up BF because of this HV? She should have been sacked.

Mine told me off for doing BLW, and sent me a load of anabel karmel recipes through the post She said to re-start weaning again from teh beginiing and to di it "properly" !! DS was 8 months old and weel established into BLW!

I would pleased if my 5.10yr would eat more then toast (3/4 of a slice) for breakfast.

Mind i won't see Hv after they threaten to report me ss because when dd1 had her 8mths check her head hadn't grown enough .

BTW bookatart go upto 3rs.

You get a canvas bag for the first one (upto 12mths). For the second one a 'bookbag' upto 2yrs and a 'treasure chest' at 3yrs.

CrackFox - my friend put her dd onto solids at 13 weeks on the advice of her HV. She has since done breastfeeding and doula training and is haunted by the thought that her dd may have gut damage because of it.

Trying to think of some positive stories about HV's but really struggling tbh.

mine also told me the reason my 19 month old DS isnt talking is because we dont have enough books for him, and did we knwo we coudl get them for 10p at the charity shop? Cheeky condescending cow! She has never been to my house, so has no idea how many blardy books he has got!

My HV ever asked me if I read any books, which I thought was a bit odd as she was sitting right next to a massive book case at the time.

Luckily my Mum and pre-warned me that HVs tend to talk out of their arses and do the nod and smile thing.

I know of a couple of friends who gave up BF due to HV advise. It was before I had DCs so it all seemed perfectly sensible at the time. One of my friends had a very cryey baby so the HV told her to express a feed to see how much milk she was making. The HC then decided she was starving her baby and advised her to give up. It is such a shame and has probably happened tens of thousands of times in the UK.

I have found the biggest practical support, for me, has been Mumsnet.

I have to say, in defence of some HVs, that mine were mostly pretty good really.

Not much practical help or advice to give with regards to bfing but very quick to recommend LLL and local NHS bfing support. The one I saw at 8 months was very supportive of our blw approach to weaning, although it probably helped that DS was a complete piggy and took to it very fast. I also thought she held her composure very well with the following accidentally overheard conversation:

HV: so how old is your little boy
Mum: 12 months
HV: is he eating well
Mum: oh yes, very well. he has 3 full main meal jars per day, plus 2 dessert jars and one bottle before bed.
HV: what about normal foods?
Mum: - blank -
HV: has he tried any of the foods you eat?
Mum: (surprised) no, can he eat normal food?
HV: (staying very calm and composed) oh yes, if fact now would be a really good time to start sharing your food with him. Perhaps you could try offering him a little of your evening meal tonight?
Mum: (excited) oh, yes, I'll could try that!

You really do have to admire that sort of composure!

I'm sooooo lucky with my hv - I won't go to any of the others as they talk out of their backsides. Of course ds hasn't seen an hv since his 12 week vaccinations and won't until they summon us for out 7.5 month check up. Which should come at about 9 months and won't be with my hv

I'm quite looking forward to the hv visit as I'm lead to believe it'll exercise my restraint skills and lip biting techniques.

NotGoingToBotherEngagingTheHV'sJustGoingToGetOnWithBeingAMomTiggaxx

Tis a brekkie of champions, silly woman. YANBU.

You very occasionally meet an HV who is a font of knowledge (after two children and many, many HV's, that would be two that I've met so far, both changed our lives for the better) but in general they have a singular message/answer for every problem and a narrow field of knowledge IMO, or at least no tendency to tailor their advice to particular children.

My first hv for dd told me that she should able to last at least 4 hrs between bf at 2 weeks old. She left, I had a further 3 (all b4 dd was 6 months). Was told each time she was weighed that I should consider ff. At 9 month check hv new nothing of blw but just ignored every thing I said & said I should give dd milky/sugary puddings. At 2yr check new hv said, u don't want her weighed do u as she looks fine & healthy!?! Phew finally someone with some sense! Alas she has also left so with ds told hv not to bother calling again after newborn hearing test & to stick put her talents where they are most needed on someone else. Eg the boy at dd preschool who's mum gives him a chocolate bar, tictacs & a lolly for
lunch (everyday)!

Perhaps she thinks that an 8 month old should still just be having two boobs worth of breastmilk!

The accepted wisdom on the optimum age at which babies should be weaned seems to change almost annually so if it was 6 months a couple of years ago it's got to be at least 2 by now!

If you're a rational, moderately intelligent human being I'm sure you're more than capable of deciding what constitutes a balanced, nutritious meal for a baby so feed your baby in the way that you think is appropriate and best meets his/her needs and stuff what the health visitor says.

My dh takes great delight in taking the piss out of our hvs - and I just sit back and enjoy the show.

one hv told me dd2 was having too much breast milk! so next time she came I filled a bottle with coke and left it sitting in a very visible place

Problem with Weetabix at 8 months is the nappies it generates, actually I think Weetabix is the food of the devil and should never be consumed at any age. IMO it's totally gross!

Morloth - you don't have to see one. I haven't after the first few weeks because only 1 was any use, and she wasn't in my area anymore.

I was also told that fibre bulks out a miniscule gut, and babies need every of space for high fat/protein food - and to avoid too much fibre in the first year, unless it's naturally occurring in veggies or fruit. So that's pants advice, suggesting weetabix, right there.