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Original poster

what age to wean

13 replies

squirmyworm · 15/01/2004 14:52

Hi there - I'm new here and I know there are loads of threads about weaning and baby's age both here and in the breastfeeding section but I can't seem to put my finger on exactly what I need advice on... My baby is now 12 weeks - fine in every way except he hasn't put on more than a couple of ounces in the last four weeks. HV says we may need to add formula to his breastfeeds but I'm really puzzled as to why this is happening as he is generally fine (apart from a bit of a cough following a cold), seems happy, and up until four weeks ago was gaining loads. He was big (9.5 pounds) at birth and the only things that have changed are that he's now sleeping from 10 ish until 7 ish (so has dropped his 4am feed) and the fact that I am expressing a bit every day so my husband can do the late feed and so that I can store some milk for when I go back to work. Could I have reduced my milk supply through these two factors so much that I'm no longer providing enough? Any advice appreciated

OP posts:

Original poster

squirmyworm · 15/01/2004 14:58

oops what I meant to go on to say was.....should I be thinking about introducing some solids? Since he was 2 weeks late, he's pretty close to the recommended start age and I wondered if it might help make up for him not getting enough milk....(if indeed that's what it is)

OP posts:

motherinferior · 15/01/2004 15:02

SW, I am no expert - and I am totally hopeless on baby weights - BUT I'm not clear why your HV suggests adding formula to his breastfeeds. And I would be fairly certain your milk supply isn't dropping; you're only doing one extra express per day, in any case, because he gets the feed you express for him in the morning (good for you!). And your body will be replacing the milk you produce (or at least it's supposed to, and mine certainly does).

My baby dropped across two centile consecutively, and my HV got me very worried. In the end I just went on getting as much breastmilk as I could into her and she's blooming now. I would guess it was just a blip with your ds as he settles (over 9lbs! Cor!) - but please remember I'm no expert.

And congratulations on your lovely sleeping son.

lydialemon · 15/01/2004 15:06

expressing won't diminish your supply,in fact it will stimulate you to produce more (to cope with the increased demand). Maybe he's just had this dip because of the cough/cold? Or maybe he's just slowed down a bit and will have a huge gain in the weeks to come? Is it just his weight thats slowed down, what about his length? Sorry if a bit incoherant DD being very restless on my lap

lydialemon · 15/01/2004 15:07

great minds think alike!

Bozza · 15/01/2004 15:45

Would be reluctant to wean or add formula. Sounds like you are doing just the right thing. IME cough/cold can affect weight gain - harder to suckle with blocked nose. DS was 9.10 at birth and also slowed down at around this time. I think the HV is worrying you unnecessarily personally. sounds like you are doing a great job.

bobthebaby · 15/01/2004 19:19

You will probably find that whatever you do he suddenly has a growth spurt and puts on heaps. My ds only put on a tiny amount in 4 weeks and I had been quite ill, but the HV was supportive and when weighed two weeks later he had caught up. If I hadn't had him weighed when I did (the first time) his chart would have looked completely normal.

A big baby does not need to stay big would be my first point, and he is probably just finding his level. Also those charts become increasingly rubbish the older the babies get precisely because HV recommend formula/solids.

If he seems happy he doesn't need either formula or solids. If you are concerned about the expressing (and I don't think you need to be personally) then do a few late feeds yourself until you feel more confident. You are doing brilliantly.

pie · 15/01/2004 20:07

Agree with everyone else, he sounds like he and you are doing fine! He is on a general trend for gaining, and as you say is happy. And the expressing would be maintaining/stimulating your supply. I'm very envious of your sleeping baby too

(Also I wouldn't factor the 2 weeks of lateness into his overall age - as your second post would seem to suggest. Its just an EDD not the date they were 'done' iykwim. 12 weeks is 12 weeks ).

Original poster

squirmyworm · 15/01/2004 20:23

thanks everyone! really good to hear from you. feel much happier.

OP posts:

JulieF · 16/01/2004 23:27

Sqirmy, my bottlefed dd dropped a few centiles around 10-14 weeks of age, she soon caught up later on.

And the new recommendations for weaning breastfed babies are 6 months now so the longer you can hold off the better.

Cha · 17/01/2004 09:59

Yes - just keep doing what you're doing and take NO NOTICE of the HV. I am on my second child and feel so much more relaxed about the whole weight gain thing. With my first, I tried not to get upset when she began to slip centiles but as a new mum, I did get anxious. I started her on solids at 16 weeks on the dot as HV suggested and the pair of us struggled away for months with her not really being interested in food. She is now two and although skinny and tall (like I was), very, very bright and advanced for her age.
With ds, who is now 20 weeks, I have not really bothered with the solids thing. He too was big at birth and is now slipping steadily from the top centile to a more average one but he is breastfed and bf babies don't get as big as formula fed ones. I have given him tastes of pears and apples that I have been eating and tried him with some baby rice but 'tastes' are all they are. He is not particularly interested and that's fine with me! All that peeling, pureeing and freezing to only have it spat out at you - not in a great hurry to go back there yet!
Having said that, purely anecdotally, babies that I know that haven't tried different tastes / textures until quite late are often quite fussy eaters. Though this might just be my experience alone. Dd, although never a big eater, does eat a wide variety of food - maybe because she was introduced quite early. But if it's weight gain you're worried about, trust all the mums that have said so before me - your baby will be fine just on your breastmilk, right up until 6 months if that's what you choose to do.

mears · 17/01/2004 11:58

I think you will have fussy children whatever age they start solids. It is their personality. My dd was my only baby to have had nothing other than breastmilk till 6 months and she is the best eater out the 4 of them

suzywong · 17/01/2004 12:56

Cha - I am in the identical situation as you. I'n not going to break by neck over the baby rice thing this time. I looked at my puree sieve and it brought back memories of the endless cycle, mushing, freezing, spitting out!

Your post was very reassuring. My big baby can keep going on Bm for another couple of weeks at least

hercules · 17/01/2004 22:20

Don't forget that those charts are based mainly on bottlefed babies as it is based on the average weight for most babies and most are'nt bf. Bottle fed babies are going to weigh more than bf.

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