Weaning?

[ashleexex]

My son is 4 months old and weighed 8lbs 2oz when born and now weighs 16lbs 10oz.
he's a hungry boy and has been on hungry baby formula about a month after he was born but had to change to Anti-Reflux formula from month 2 as he suffered terribly, I've seen some baby foods such as porridge etc that have you can start at month 4. I know he'd absolutely love food!😂 But I'm unsure I'm seeming my HV / GP soon but was just wondering if anyone had suggestions about weaning early? They say to wait 6months.

Food before 6 months isn't recommend for a reason, listen to your health professionals.

My HV said it's fine to start my daughter in the next couple of weeks on puréed fruit and vegetables. She will be 15 weeks. She has silent reflux and apparently it can help with it. I'd say try it and if you feel it was too soon stop then start again later. You know your baby better than anyone

But why would they make food that's available for 4 months old? I'll wait possibly another month but I don't think my little one will wait until 6 months !! 😂😂

I don't think I can wait until 6 months lol. I'm willing to try anything if it helps with her reflux!!

They sell it because people uneducated on baby weaning are willing to buy it and they make money off it. I personally believe you should/did wait till six months because before six months babies gut isn't developed enough for anything other than breast milk/formula. Giving solids before the gut is fully developed can bring on allergies. The enzymes needed to breakdown starches/carbs aren't even produced until 6-9 months which means baby will become gassy, constipated and uncomfortable.

I don't agree with that but everyone is entitled to their own opinion. Having spoken to my health visitor and other people with reflux babies I am willing to wean my baby early if it will help her be in less pain so after doing my research I would hardly say that is being uneducated

I wouldn't give him full on solid food. Just the likes of very milked down porridge to start him off.
I highly doubt they'd be allowed to sell in high super markets if it wasn't good for babies. But I see where you're coming from! Good to know peoples opinions. But my LO will struggle to wait till 6months I guarantee 😂

Well if you want to ignore scientific fact and cause more problems then go ahead 🤷🏼‍♀️
UNICEF, TAAOFP, NHMRC and the world health organisation ALL recommended waiting till six months.

No, really... that's literally why it's sold because they earn money off it.
"Baby porridge" is literally empty processed junk that'll only make your baby hungrier. If you look on the back of the leading brands of the stuff the salt content is ridiculous.

Baby porridge is full of empty calories- just starch.

Milk is a far more nutritious food at 4 months.

The 6 month advice is there for a reason- introducing solids too early can give health problems that can last a lifetime.
Don't risk your baby's long term health for the sake of another 8 weeks.

They can sell food labelled as 4 months plus because there's no absolute evidence it does active harm, and it's not currently illegal to do so. Baby food companies want to make money, they really aren't that interested in what's best for your baby.

The current general advice is don't wean before 17 weeks, and ideally wait till around 6 months. What makes you think your baby can't wait till 6 months?

I have been advised by my health visitor to try her with puréed vegetables such as carrot a bit earlier than 6 months to see if it helps with her severe reflux. She doesn't take a lot of milk as it's painful for her so if trying her with tiny amounts of puréed veg/fruit 8 weeks early means that she is not in pain then I am willing to try

@JJ1612 being advised by your HV or GP to start weaning before 17 weeks is obviously advice that's specific to your baby and their severe reflux. The OP hasn't yet spoken to a HV or GP, which would be the best place to start.

"Well if you want to ignore scientific fact and cause more problems then go ahead 🤷🏼‍♀️
UNICEF, TAAOFP, NHMRC and the world health organisation ALL recommended waiting till six months."

I have already replied to a stimilar statement on a different thread:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/parenting/2991049-My-daughters-5-month-old-weaning-feeding-routine?pg=2

There is strong research based evidence that weaning before 17 weeks might have negative impact on the babies digestive system.

Recommendation to start weaning at 6 months was introduced by WHO based on 2002 research which back then appeared to demonstrate that (1) in developing countries, with limited access to clear water, later weaning had clear benefits while (2) in the developed countries weaning at 4 vs 6 months made little to no difference. NHS and AAP followed WHO recommendation in an effort to encourage breastfeeding.

Later (post 2010) research, however, shows that earlier exposure to certain types of food (e.g. eggs or peanut butter) reduces risk of allergies later in life. Some medical bodies (e.g. AAAI in the US) have changed their advice back to 4-6 month weaning. NHS and AAP are sticking to 6 months (at least, for now) although their latest guidelines are now more generic and say something like "wait for the signs that your baby is ready".

There is an urban myth around the so called "open gut" theory you may often see in internet forums but you will not be able to find a single piece of research supporting it for babies older than 17 weeks.

My DD also has reflux and is currently on anti-reflux formula and ranitidine. Although medications helped and we managed to get reflux under control when DD was 2 months old, I still decided to introduce solids "early" (at 4 months). I read all the actual relevant medical articles I could find and I was comfortable pros of early weaning (e.g. reduced risk of allergies later in life, reflux management, etc) for me personally outweighed potential cons (e.g. risk of light diarrhoea).

Here are two posts that provide a good overview of the latest research on weaning:

scienceofmom.com/2015/05/14/starting-solids-4-months-6-months-or-somewhere-in-between/
expectingscience.com/2014/11/07/when-is-it-best-to-introduce-solids/

I thought the earlier introduction of possible allergy foods only applied to babies who had a strong family history of allergy. I didn't think it was applicable to all babies?

Based on the underlying research (it is in the links I provided), the early introduction of allergy foods benefits al babies. Here is the statement from AAAAI (American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology):

"Highly allergenic foods can be introduced to your baby between 4 and 6 months of age, just as you would introduce any other solid foods. Highly allergenic foods that you can feed your baby include dairy products such as cheese, yogurt or cow’s milk protein formula (not whole cow’s milk to drink due to nutrition reasons not related to allergies); egg; soy; wheat; peanut and tree nuts in a form of butter or paste (not whole peanuts or tree nuts due to aspiration risk); and fish and shellfish."

They came up with this recommendation a few years ago (post 2010) - previously (in 2002) their view was aligned with WHO.

DS2 is just about to turn 5 months and I was advised by my health professionals to start weaning now due to the severe reflux problems he has had since birth.

DS2 is just about to turn 5 months and I was advised by my health professionals to start weaning now due to the severe reflux problems he has had since birth.

THat's unfortunate, but doesn't affect general advice.

Maybe I should ignore my health professionals advice then and have him carrying on being sick, uncomfortable and on medication.

Maybe I should ignore my health professionals advice then and have him carrying on being sick, uncomfortable and on medication.

No one has suggested that.

It's unfortunate that your baby has digestive problems and good you have been given medical advice.

I don'e see how that affects the general situation.

It doesn't affect the general situation but OP asked for advice on weaning early for a baby with severe reflux. Not a general situation.

Guideline may say 6 months... but they used to say 4 months. Unless you've had or have a child with reflux I don't think it's anyone's place to pass judgement. This is meant to be a site for advice, not for people to judge others. I have a baby with reflux and will be weaning next week at the age of 15 weeks.

It doesn't affect the general situation but OP asked for advice on weaning early for a baby with severe reflux. Not a general situation.

That's up to the OPs HCP to decide- not you.

I'm just sharing my experience like she asked, I'm not telling her what to do. Get back in your box.

Specifically on weaning - I would actually say it is up to each family to review the guidelines, consider results of the actual research and make an educated decision. I fully understand and appreciate the rationale for the WHO / NHS / AAP recommendation (maintenance of breastfeeding and global adherence to WHO standards is a noble goal) but - again - I feel for many families (including mine) potential benefits of early (17 weeks+) weaning outweigh the risk of minor gastrointestinal infections (i.e. light diarrhoea).

It is always useful to understand the rationale for the guidelines - people may often draw different conclusions from the same set of facts. It is interesting to see that some people seem to think weaning before 6 months can have long-term negative effect on babies' health while - in fact - there is absolutely no research supporting this opinion.