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

Lol, I remember lot's of puke with DS2 before weaning. He had to have the partialy digested milk in the end, not so acidic coming up. My poor childless friend was his fave target, every time she saw him, he covered her! No wonder she still doesn't have any DC's 8 yrs later.
All resolved with weaning though. He's been a fussy eater since 18m of recurring bacterial tonsilitis, even after they were removed. Still that's what comes of licking the Eiffel Tower (where's the irresponsible not looking parent emoticon), you get Scarlet fever with a bacteria that will not budge!

I had so little puke either before or after weaning with my three that I was able to dispense with muslins and bibs altogether.

My dc's were also very easy to potty train, hardly ever wet them bed, and have never been constipated either.

I put it down to them having immaculate sphincters.

Wish I could say the same for myself.

I am in no way trying to be superior, I just don't dismiss research by saying I know better.

Also if he has no need for anything other than milk till 6 months, I don't see the rush tbh.

Yes, I am planning to bf for at least 6 months (4 so far), but not because it's a guideline ffs. He's a little human and I am happier feeding him human milk, I don't need a guideline to tell me what to do. No idea yet when I'll stop.

I just don't see what benefit he would get from earlier weaning so I have no interest.

My H actually has colitis so that's another reason, however tiny the increased risk might be.

I agree though, sticking to milk feeding seems a lot easier!

The problem is research and advice is constantly changing. When you've had 4 children(soon to be 5) over 18 years, you get used to things changing and do what you feel is best for your child.
It's a bit like the don't eat liver or pate when pregnant guideline. The French don't have that one & still eat pate etc, who's to say what's right or wrong. It's for the individual to decide.
For decades people have been weaning at 4m or younger, (4 being the recommended untill a few years ago.) Surely the whole population would have allergies, digestive problems if it was so bad for everyone.
Just don't judge or knock those who feel the need to wean earlier than 6m. I feel like a parrot here, but every baby is different!

five - there has been an dramatic increase in allergies and digestive problems - and no-one is saying its bad for everyone, but it is bad for some, and you have no way of knowing who its bad for and who it won't affect. I still don't see how you can claim to know that your child's gut is sealed.

BTW, French doctors do give advice about eating pate and cured meats when pregnant....

Why does the fact that guidelines change over the years mean that we should dismiss them though?

I guess once you make a decision about your child, its natural to defend that decision no matter what....

TheBossofMe I've never claimed to know when my child's gut is sealed, but i know when my child is struggling or no longer thriving on milk alone.
Surely if weaning at 4m was the cause of all these allergies etc, it would have been seen decades ago, and I mean decades, mums have been weaning at 4m for soo long. Some of it has to be down to todays modern unhealthy diets & lifestyle, and yes some babies may be intolerant to food early.
I'm not asking you personally to wean your child before 6m, just not to judge those who feel a need to. Not all of my 4 have been weaned before 6m, even 15 years ago when weaning at 6m was unheard of I did what I felt best for each individual baby.

BTW have you tried DD with a Thai green curry? DD2 (18m & off her food after a particularly nasty bout of chicken pox, in every orifice and crevice mentionable, and unmentionable!) has just scarfed down a whole bowl of Thai Green with jasmine rice & some garlic & coriander naan bread. Stir crazy but now relieved mum emoticon please!

five - not tried Thai yet, but we might all be about to move to Bangkok, so there might be ample opportunity!

Glad your DD is feeling better - and wow for managing to stay so upbeat after so many years of child-rearing! You must have the energy of a duracell bunny

I have to say that I have now exhausted my limited knowledge of weaning guidelines! I have no idea how long they were 4 months for, so can't really comment on that. People used to wean much later in our grandparents day, though, I think (hard for me to say because my whole family was raised in different places around the world, and later weaning has been fairly consistent there for a long time). Anyway, maybe someone more educated on this subject that me will come along and enlighten us!

To be honest, I don't care when people wean their babies. However, it strikes me as quite interesting that many mumsnetters are so insistent about the importance of adhering to public health guidelines on weaning threads, but most of those on school lunch threads (for example) are so dismissive of (and cynical about) governmental guidance.

It's just an observation, not a judgement though.

monkeyfeathers - not at the school lunch stage yet but suspect will fall foul of every guideline there!

We try to do healthy lunches here, but do have to conceed to a penguin bar or similar. Can't face 3 revolting children for the sake of a penguin!
Duracell bunny I may be, but believe me I need a re-charge, as a little accident means I will be child rearing for a while longer than planned. DC5 is due in May. We planned to stick at 4!

Congratulations, five! You're right, it is an awfully big number! I'm jealous - always wanted a big brood but hasn't worked out that way - DD is a total joy though.