Cow and Gate- no wonder...

[againandagain]

....people are still weaning early and seem to think that its a choice to wait untill 6 months as opposed to actual guidelines. I just copied and pasted this from the COW AND GATE website!

Telltale weaning signs

After a full milk feed your baby cries or demands more

Your baby finds it harder to wait until the next feed, and becomes irritable or chews their hands

Where they've previously slept through the night, they now wake up for a feed.

Daytime sleep becomes more erratic too - not
settling down or waking up early from naps

Your baby looks fascinated when you eat, and perhaps tries to reach for food you're holding

DD has just started reaching for food as I eat - about a week ago and she is now 17 weeks. Can completely see why people think it's a sign. Of course it's just that her 'reach out and grip' skills are improving.
The way her little eyes lit up when I was eating a chocolate bar though

I got told this by my hv so am not suprised it's on the Cor and Gate website tbh.

that should be Cow and not cor!

Er, can't stick around for a long conversation, but guidelines are just that - not written in stone and handed down by God. You can choose to ignore guidelines if they don't seem to apply to your child.

I don't really want to comment on Cow&Gate specifically as companies like Cow&Gate are only interested in you buying their products.

With regards to weaning age, I have read a research article recently (sorry I can't remember its source) which said that latest findings showed that for some babies it may be preferable to start weaning earlier than 6 months. It was basically saying that babies should be weaned between 4-6 months depending on their development and whether they are showing signs of being ready, I think this was the official advice until about 6 years ago.

whats the problem with starting to wean at 4/5 months anyway? dont understand...I did as was returning to work

Could you check with your doctor first and see what he/she suggests? Then at least you have a medical opinion to help you in your decision.

To be honest I posted it as I was more shocked at the tell tale signs. All this are signs of a growth spurt and not signs that a baby needs weaning. I do not think that anybody thinks that the day they turn 6 months means there digestive tract suddenly can cope with solids. Babies develop at different rates, therefore some may possibly be ready for food at 5 months.
However Cow and Gate are being irresponsible by convincing parents that thyere 4 month old needs food, when in fact the vast majority will just be having a growth spurt.
There marketing ploy is mis leading and potentially dangerous

omg look at the (sp) in that! Sorry am rushing!

I dont think its a marketing ploy though, if people wean this means more food and less cow and gate, anyway, I am not a massive cow and gate fan, but I dont think its bad advice that all!!!!!

Guidelines are just that, guidelines, what are people going to do continue until 6 months and then start feeding their baby solids when they are not ready just because guidelines say it is OK now.

A baby will feed when its ready, and if that before 6 months then so be it.

But cow and gate are not activating it. YOU can feed your baby at 17 weeks as it is safe to do so, but the health officials would prefer you to wait until 6 months.

Also it as only 4 years ago that you ere recommended you weaned you baby at this age.

Think we X posted also.

I'm sure most people have the sense to go by their instincts rather than just some tell tale signs from a huge company trying to get money out of them. Nobody knows a child better than the parents and if they feel their child is ready at 4/5/6/7 months so be it. Children are not built to develop on a specific time frame and people can always ask family and friends or a dr/paediatrician if they're unsure.

porcamiseria- Cow and Gate also sell follow on milk and baby food so the4y will posibly earn more money. They may also gain some breastfeeding clients.

I just think advice and guidelines are therefore a reason. Babies do differ, but Cow and Gate are not giving correct advice on signs of needing to wean.

DS was under dietician care and i was told weaning him at 16 weeks was fine - starting with baby rice etc.

what would you say the correct signs were?

Growth spurt is also a stage for the children wanting to have more calories, so their advice does go hand in hand.

The bigger and older we get the more calorie intake we need.

Well I thought the signs were;

Sitting up unaided,
Loss of tounge reflex
And can put food in there mouth with no help.

www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/baby/weaning

www.nhs.uk/Start4Life

Also this is what WHO recomends.

Also no food that you would give a baby is more calorific than milk. So surely what should be done is up milk intake untill the above three steps can be acheived.

Please correct me if im wrong.

The point is that the more recognised signs are not there - being able to sit up unaided, loss of tongue thrust reflex and being able to pick things up in a 'pincer grip' I thought were the things?

I don't understand the rush to wean, tbh, more hassle and worse poo I believe.

cross postage!

Thankyou jaggy.
They have all of the rest of there lives to eat.

Againandagain, No your not wrong, but I do have "issues" with the ones the health officials have made.

I meant alongside with the milk, something that was more bulkier and not fluid like consistency and also be heavier on the stomach.

Also a baby is not going to lose the tongue reflex until about the age of 2, the need the tongue reflex to suck from. x

Babies get hand eye coordination from the age of about 3-4 months, so I dont see how relevant that is tbh.

and also sitting up, that comes in all different ages, my youngest was sitting up at 4 months, but my friends little girl is 7 months and is not sitting up unaided herself yet, she is healthy just a little back development wise x

Why do they need something heavier on the stomach?

I don't get it?

It's not just hand eye coordination that is required.

The tongue thrust reflex is where they push food (or medicine when you try to give them it!) out with their tongue when they are young, not sure what you're thinking of about sucking.

Heavier is not the same as calories. I, to be honest, dont know how much I agree with the idea of them needing something heavier from a nutritional point of veiw, but I know some people find that it aids sleeping.

A newborn will push anything you put into their mouth out with their tounges. A 6 month old generally wont. The reflex is needed for newborns to suck. Older children dont need it but still know how to suck. Im sure you cant drink through a bottle if you wanted, do you still have a tounge thrust reflex?

My DD would not of been able to pick something up off a tray and put it into her mouth at 3 months. I have not seen a baby thay could do that without also jabbing themselfs in the nose eye etc.

Yes they have co-ordination at 3 months, but not adequate co-ordination to eat.

I'm like a wee echo againandagain, sorry!

Feel a bit strongly about this, as I seem to be considered strange for waiting till 6 months or whenever S is ready by some people my MIL.

Yeah I know Jaggy. We keep saying the same thing! What I dont understand is why people dont listen to the advice.

Thats like saying-

Here is this car you have driven for 10 years. It has been fine for 10 years. Or we can offer you this new one. Same price, same size same same same, but it is much safer! Which one would you like. The first has not done you any harm, but would you still choose it?

I have been told my 5.5 month old will starve if I dont wean her now!!