Weaning at 4 months

[Georgia0808]

Hi everyone, on the advice of my baby’s doctors, health visitor and pediatrician it has been decided it’s best to start weaning him at 4 months and I was wondering if anyone has any tips, advice or anything with weaning this young, in the nicest way possible I don’t want anyone telling me I shouldn’t or I should wait as that’s not what I need. TIA

When my DCs were small, the advice was to wean at 4 months. We started with veg and fruit purees as they weren't so good at dealing with lumps at that age. After a month or so, purees became lumpier and started including other ingredients like meat. Started things like scrambled egg. By 6 months included finger foods and more lumpy foods.

@Seeline thank you that’s really helpful

Just remember that while you have decided to wean at 4 months he might not be developmentally ready. In hindsight I started too early with dd (17 years ago when 4 month weaning was more common) and I found it stressful and dd wasn't very receptive.

If they have told you to go ahead have they not give you information or foods to choose/avoid? If not, why not?

We started weaning at 4 months on advise from the drs.
We started with purees- veg/fruit etc. Then at 6 months introduced meat and finger foods. Also had baby porridge.
Do one type of veg/fruit at a time to single out any allergies.
Start with one feed being replaced with food a day then build up to 3. It's slow progress.

No, I disagree. At the start you don't replace any milk feeds with food. Food is in addition to milk and first foods introduce new tastes and textures. Only once they are taking a decent amount of food should milk reduce.

It's really worrying the doctor, hv and paediatrician haven't provided guidance for you, particularly as they are advising you against current medical advice. Could you go back to them? In particular the paediatric ream should be able to help you liaise with a dietitian.

It was the advice 20 years ago when ds was a baby. I would recommend the Annabelle Karmel baby weaning book, it's so straight forward and tells you exactly what to do and when to introduce foods and recipes too. I have weaned lots of babies using it.

I’m sure your medical team and HV can give you specific guidance as it’s their idea. If they haven’t then I’d ask them.

If you have been recommended to start early then I would just start with really smooth purees. Try veg and fruit ones, baby rice is good also and you can mix with puree to make thicker. Also some cereals/porridge have 4+ on them. Try that. I weaned at 5 months for various reasons, just don't miss any milk feeds they are most important. I also agree that Annabell karmel books are very useful

It depends on why you’re weaning early as to how you go about it IME. With DD1 it was due to severe vomiting, so we were advised to go for non acidic foods, thick purées and food before milk rather than the other way round to help keep it down.

With DD2 it’s for milk refusal and no weight gain so we’re on high fat purées containing fortified formula.

Your dietitian/consultant should be able to help you. With DD2 help has been harder to come by because of covid, but you should get remote support. Make sure your baby is ready - both of my DDa could sit bolt upright in a highchair by 4 months and coordinate finger foods easily. I don’t think it would ah e worked otherwise.

Good luck - I know early weaning gets a bad rep on MN, but it saved DD1 from dehydration and DD2 from tube feeding!