Can I "unwean" my 5 month old DS?

[MumsKnitter]

I fear I have made a mistake. I have a 5 month old baby. He's a happy breastfeeder, but always refused to consider a once a day bottle (so I could have a break).

At 3 months, he had a few slight rough patches on his skin from around a couple of weeks after I started offering him a daily bottle of formula. He never took more than 5 - 10mls, but the HV recommended I persevere.

At 4 months he started waking again at 3, having previously slept till 6am, and staring avidly at food. I had planned on waiting till he was older to wean him, but my (much older) other children were weaned at 4 months when those were the guidelines so as they had suffered no apparent harm, I cracked and gave him baby rice mixed with formula as I couldn't express any milk. He didn't like it, and never ate more than a teaspoonful.

I suspected it wasn't food he didn't want, just blah baby rice, so after 2 weeks at 4.5 months, I started giving him carrot and potato and apple and pear. He wolfed it down and slept better. I haven't given him any gluten, and have avoided very common allergens such as strawberries, tomatoes etc. His patches have become worse. They look red and seem worse after eating food. Last night he had patches all over his back after having had banana and peach.

I wish I hadn't weaned him so young now. Is it too late to stop giving him food, and go back to just breast milk for another month? Has anyone else tried this?

I don't see any reason why you can't go back to just milk.

Don't beat yourself up about it - around weaning my DS had loads of flaring eczema patches and often seemed worse with fruit - he just grew out of it and has no known allergies, but looking back all the photos show him chomping on bananas and strawberries with big red shiny creamed up patches everywhere.

And we waited til around 6mo too, also BF baby.

Maybe have a word with the HV and see what they suggest? He may be the same if you wait til 6m to restart.

I probably don't have the right answers for you as I too have much older Dcs, eldest 14 and youngest 7 mo it's so hard when they change the rules over the years. All mine have been bf for a year. Eldest refused formula completely, 2nd 2 had a formula feed a day as didn't want to get so trapped again, 4th had reflux and was permanently bf and baby ds has had 2 formula feeds a day along side bf since week 4 as I returned to work immediately. All were weaned at 4 months with baby rice and vegetables fruit. Veg and fruit all home made. None have ever had skin problems. No5 has had to fit in with a v hectic life and has been the best sleeper. I expect someone will say you're doing it all wrong but please don't blame yourself it might just be one of those things. I'm amazingly confused the the huge variations in formula these days and try my best to avoid reading about what I should be doing. Look at your others...r they aright? Then you probably done a bloody good job!

Thank you ladies! You have both made me feel better! I've left a message for my HV to call me back about it. :)

Just a point some people are allergic to bananas bring you out in a rash (I get it all over my body) so that could be a problem you mite want to look out for.