Anyone started weaning before 4 months?

[snowmoon]

Hi. My DS is 3 months and 2 weeks old. In the last 5 days or so, he has shown little interest on the breast and the bottle. With the bottle he will drink 3 - 4 oz and then start chewing on the teat. On the breast he fusses and loses interest after about 5 minutes. And because he's taking less at each feed, he's feeding more often.

I am wondering if he is getting bored with fluid feed and whether I should consider giving him some baby rice. So I would like to hear from other mums who have found their babies ready for solids earlier than 4 months, and whether you encounter any problems. Did your baby develop any allergy for instance?

In my opinion, the 4 months at the earliest guideline surely cannot be universal for all babies, since every baby is different?

Thanks.

They may be different in size and personality but there is little difference in the way their stomach lining develops, which is why there is the advice not to wean before six months (not four months). Before this the gut isn't ready for solid food and that's why there is a link between early weaning and allergies. Of course, lots of babies will be weaned early and not develop allergies, but that doesn't mean yours won't. Apart from the health issues around early weaning, it really is a lot more faff when babies start eating solids, especially young ones who aren't really ready, and I personally would want to avoid that. I started giving baby rice to ds at four months but this time I won't be doing that - no point!

FYI, snowmoom, the guidelines are now 6 months. See this thread.