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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

Introduced baby rice to a BF baby ( 20 weeks) - do I need to offer water?

118 replies

undomesticatedgoddess · 01/08/2009 17:13

OK - I know I shouldn't be weaning him yet but he's been showing an interest in food for a while and to be honest I haven't got the guts to go down the BLW route (yet).

He is only having a small amount mixed with about 60-70ml of EBM once a day.

Do I need to give him water or will BF suffice? He is fed on cue and has unrestricted access to breast feeding.

OP posts:

MrsBadger · 01/08/2009 23:04

yes, jimbobs, would be very interested

not just 'my HV says' but a publication or a link would be fab

jimbobsmummy · 01/08/2009 23:06

The health visitor told me at baby clinic this week. They had been on an update course and were told about it there.

Someone else has said the same thing elsewhere in here recently too.

I haven't got any links to official confirmation, I'm not sure exactly when it is happening or exactly what will be advised. So don't take it as gospel yet!

FrameyMcFrame · 01/08/2009 23:07

Interesting to hear that the guidelines are changing again jimbobsmummy, do you know why?

greensnail, DS was 2 and a half weeks late so I have always felt he seems a bit older than he is iyswim.
DD was 2 weeks early but I started weaning her at 16 weeks as were the guidelines then (she is 8 now) But she couldn't sit up and it was a bit pointless as mushy food just came straight back out again.
I really want to try BLW and have got the book but I must say I am a bit nervous about it. I just worry about the choking thing.
What is the best food to start on for BLW?

pigletmania · 01/08/2009 23:08

Well I think that it depends on the baby. My SIL had to wean her son at 4 months as he was an exceptionally large baby and needed more than just milk, I think that at about 4 months he weighed around 20lb and his tummy was rumbelling most of the time, despite her giving him milk practically all the time, dont think he could wait until six months really.

Greensleeves · 01/08/2009 23:09

Does your health visitor have any mental health issues? Are you SURE she's a health visitor and not someone who's wandered in and nicked a badge?

17weeks it's GOT to be hogwash

BennyAndJoon · 01/08/2009 23:12

jimbobsmummy you may have heard that the guidelines are about to change, but I have heard that jimbobsmummy is going to be challenged in this wanky bullshit madeup peice of wankstain speculation regularly

BennyAndJoon · 01/08/2009 23:18

FFS- snottycuffs put it so much better than i did

Greensleeves · 01/08/2009 23:19

ooh, d'you think so?

I nearly went for "pull the other one" [udder emoticon]

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/08/2009 23:20

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jimbobsmummy · 01/08/2009 23:20

By the way, she mainly told me about it because we work together professionally as well as seeing her with my baby - it isn't official advice yet. There is always the possibility she got it wrong, but she is usually pretty reliable.

It was a pretty quick conversation, so I haven't got much detail about it but I'll try and find out more. I'm seeing them again on tuesday when DS has his injections.

I suspect it is changing because there isn't really any evidence to not wean in a country where there is safe access to food. Plus most people ignored the old advice anyway (I always thought it wasn't really practical for most babies in the UK) and so its better to advise how to do it properly. I expect they'll advise avoiding certain things if less than 26 weeks, but we'll see!

bedlambeast · 01/08/2009 23:23

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StarlightMcKenzie · 01/08/2009 23:26

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jimbobsmummy · 01/08/2009 23:29

I'm also surprised that some of you saying it is so unrealistic to begin giving some solids to some babis at 17 weeks - this is always the way it was done anyway until quite recently. I'm 37 now, but when I was a baby my mum says you started weaning at 4 months, regardless!

It doesn't mean giving all foods at that age, nor that all babies will be ready then. Its a range. But having a bit of flexibility to take account of individual babies and start some on a bit of rice or fruit before 6 months if they are ready makes sense, especially as the vast majority of people do that anyway!

idontbelieveit · 01/08/2009 23:30

jimbobsmummy - interesting to see you yet again on a weaning/breastfeeding thread spouting unsubstantiated crap

BennyAndJoon · 01/08/2009 23:30

jimbobsmummy - if you have a whisper of something that may change but she may have got it wrong or maybe you misunderstood or it may be the truth or it may all be a crusty pile of steaming old wank

Then please could you stop saying as if it is a fact...

"The guidelines are changing soon/have recently changed anyway and will say you can start weaning anytime between 17-26 weeks.

I always thought that the wait till 26 weeks thing was rather optimistic for most babies! "

idontbelieveit · 01/08/2009 23:31

x post - just cos a vast majority of people do something doesn't mean it's the right thing to do.

idontbelieveit · 01/08/2009 23:34

OP - you don't need to give water. I wouldn't bother faffing with baby rice either, just sit him in a high chair (if he can sit up, if not he's not ready) and see what he does.

pigletmania · 01/08/2009 23:36

ladies please lol

FrameyMcFrame · 01/08/2009 23:37

should have got me popcorn out

pigletmania · 01/08/2009 23:38

he he yes indeedy, i like sugar ones

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/08/2009 23:39

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jimbobsmummy · 01/08/2009 23:40

Starlight, my interpretation of why may well be nonsense, I'm only speculating. I was never convinced that there was that much evidence behind witholding certain foods because of allergies and from looking at the studies I really don't think they are terribly convincing either way. However, in my experience not many people actually make it to 6 months anyway (even if you exclude those who say 'my milk dried up at 4 months' when it was actualy the 16 week growth spurt, of which there are a lot). Again I'm speculating, but these are worldwide guidelines, but in a wealthy country with good maternal nutrition and high rates of formula use by a few months, perhaps babies are bigger (including being born bigger) than in many countries. And therefore need food earlier?

Just thinking aloud really! Don't shoot me for it!

StarlightMcKenzie · 01/08/2009 23:42

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BelleWatling · 01/08/2009 23:42

Why why why do people consider it so unlikely and difficult to wait to wean a baby until they are 26 weeks+? This is a serious question - I'm not being mean or sarcastic - I genuinely don't understand. I go on the weaning threads a lot and so many people repeat this mantra 'oh hardly anyone waits until 6 months / I don't see how you can hold out till then ' it's not very realistic'. May I ask why? Is the baby demanding food, asking to be taken out to Wagamama? Am I missing some signals? Is it because of external pressures? Why?

I weaned from 26 weeks and if I could have gone on exclusively breastfeeding I would have done. Weaning is a pain in the arse quite frankly and I did BLW which mainly involves laundry and clearing up challenges rather than the additional tedium of shopping for baby food and spending quality time with your moulinex and ice cube trays. Why are people so keen to banish those lovely, cleaner easier days of FF/BF?

idontbelieveit · 01/08/2009 23:43

the SIZE of the baby has NOTHING to do with when they're ready to wean. Instead of thinking out loud why don't you go and do some research?

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