baby not putting on enough weight - told by HV to start solids

[MK75]

DS is exclusively breastfed but has had an erratic few weeks with feeding, firstly losing his appetite for a few days and then lately been very refluxy/sicky due to a cold and I think some teething action.

Despite staying on his 50th centile weight gain line for the first 4 months, I went to get him weighed this week and he has dropped a line, only putting on 12 oz in 6 weeks.

The HV suggested trying him with some solids, not to help put on weight but because she thinks would help settle his stomach in between feeds. Does anyone think this sounds like a good idea? I had hoped to wait until 6 months to start solids (as per BLW method) as there's quite a strong history of allergies in our family and little one already had a bit of atopic ezcema

Any advice appreciated...

I wouldn't start solids if he's not showing other signs - the reasons for him not eating are quite clear aren't they?

I'm sure as he feels better he will pick up again - and also if you hadn't been to get him weighed would you think anything was wrong? If not then carry on as you are.

(I personally don't think babies should be weighed regularly anyway and that the charts should be thrown away but that's just me! )

how old is your dc? I have a 3 year old ds and a 16wk old ds. Ds 2 is also going through erratic feeding at mo, hes never been a long feeder but is being very fussy at the mo even by his standards! He's still happy to go bout 3 hours between feeds though. He may well have not gained that much recently but at my last appointment with HV they 'signed' us off to the drop in clinic that we can go to if any probs or want to weigh. I don't expect i'll go that much. Couple of things to think about.
Do you need to still see HV?
You don't always have to do what they advise.
( my mil is a HV so im not against HV's or anything)
My personal opinion would be to hold off as long as poss especially as there is a history of allergies. But just do what you think is right for your ds as you know him best.

I would wait, especially given the allergy history.

Solids certainly didn't settle my ds's stomach, had quite the opposite effect! I waited till six months but had no idea if he had dropped a line as I stopped having him weighed ages before.

Hi, my son went frm 7 lb 5oz to 6 lb 13 in three months from birth. It was discovered he had a cleft soft palate and at nearly four mnths old we introduced solid to build up his weight, we fed him baby rice pudding (from the heinz tins) and similar things - nothing spicy, tended to stick to fruity things like banana custard - not a large amount but just bits here and there - sometime we added his milk to them.

no, i think it sounds like a very bad idea. the guidelines are there for a reason, and especially if you have a history of allergies I think you would be prudent to wait.,
if he has been sicky due to a cold then he's bound to not have put on so much.

argh. I HATE stupid health visitors who spout this crpa.
in fact, I wish people would complain about them and get them trained properly.

thanks for all your messages, he is showing some of the signs of being interested in food and made a grab for some of my toast the other day, but he's not sitting unsupported yet although happy to sit in his bumbo.

I only went to get him weighed at the request of the doctor who wanted to determine if he had proper reflux or just an upset tum. Even if he has it, I'm not sure what they prescribe other than gaviscon which I gather is a nightmare unless you're bottle-feeding?

I think I should just see how he goes, I'm more than happy to ignore the HV advice and stick to my guns and he's 21 weeks, so only a few more to go. However the last couple of days he does seem to be feeding an awful lot more...(almost every 90 mins day and night - back to newborn schedule!) Could this be a sign that he's ready for something else?

He could be feeding a lot to catch up after being poorly; I would ride it out for a few more days and then if he is still feeding that much have a rethink.

MK75 - I am a HV too and although I haven't seen your DS I think your HV sounds a bit OTT to be honest. Your DS has been teething, he's had a cold and has been a bit refluxy - not surprising then that he's dropped down a centile. Believe me it has nothing to do with needing solids. I agree with the poster who said that these charts need to be thrown away as there are just TOO many HVs out there who have no idea how to interpret them (my big bug bear this topic). There are a coup,e of remedies for reflux but your GP will advise you about that. I actually think if he's maintained his weight well prior to being unwell then his reflux has not affected his weight - being unwell has.

Given your family history of allergies I'd advise you to continue what you are doing - 120z in 6 weeks is fine given that your DS has been a bit unwell. I would be inclined to wait and see with your DS - he is not going to starve if you wait a few more weeks before weaning.

I weaned my DS using baby led weaning which was great - he started at about 5+ months by taking a roast potato off my plate and cramming it into hos mouth (most of it went on the floor).
If your DS is starting to grab for food that's great and he is obviously preparing - it'll probably be several weeks before much goes in so don't panic if he gets food to his mouth - all good practice.

MK - the increase feeding could also be him trying to boost your supply. It is natures way of increasing out put of milk so you don't need to start solids. This is normally the point at which alot of BF mothers give up as they feel their little one is feeding more often and must therefore not be getting enough. Give him a few days and your supply would have increased and he will settle down feeds too.

fantastic, thanks everyone. Will see how he fares over the next few days, he's definitely less sicky so must be on the mend and we can start some finger foods in the New Year

Why would the solids settle his stomach in between feeds? Never heard that.

If you want to wait until 6 months do. He is YOUR baby, not your HVs.

well my DS4 did this weight wise, and we were told the same and have a similar history of allergies (and ds4 is dairy intolerant also)

We refused until we had seen a PAediatrician. The Paed did tell us to go ahead and wean and actually we did and it helped but he was 5 months by then and showing signs of readiness.

geta referral before you consider anything like weaning imo.

My hv advised me to do this at 4mths with dd. She was born on 50th and dropped to 20th. She was putting on about 4oz per week and the HV said she should be putting on more.

However, I did not feel she was in the slightest bit ready. Everything I had read on MN and in my GF weaning book (yes, she gives good advice) said not to wean her yet.

She was happy, healthy and putting on weight. I wanted her to drink more milk, not eat solids before she was ready.

In the run up to 6mths, she started feeding for longer and taking more formula (mix feeding).

We started weaning at almost 25wks. I am so glad we waited. She loves her food. She is eating loads. I am so glad I did not take the HV's advice as I am sure that she would have gone off her milk and would not have been so happy with food.