Can I wean my baby?

[Rosebug258]

Hi all

My 15 week old ds so far today has had nearly 24 oz milk & 4 oz water and I was wondering if I could start with a bit of baby rice, he's been drinking about 30 oz + a day of milk and that's not including water.

He's been like this for nearly 2 weeks...also he's over 18 lbs now I'm wondering if he needs more than milk?

Have had conflicting advice from hv one said not till 6 months other was a bit more flexiable

Any advise or thoughts?

Forgot to say he can sit up unaided

There is a big growth spurt at 4 months its probably that.

Ok will hold off for a bit longer I'm just amazed how much he's eating

My DD was on 36 oz a day when I weaned her and that was at 21 weeks. My HV actually advised weaning nearer that age so that you didn't need to hit the ground running. But I realise it's a minefield!!
Anyway if I were you id hold out a bit longer.

Ds, who has just turned 3, was a similar size and taking similar amounts of milk as your baby and we started weaning him at around 17 weeks. We started with baby porridge for breakfast, introduced a puree for lunch and then a pudding etc etc and gradually built it up so that he was taking 4 meals a day by 7 months. He was fine with it.

I tried to do the same with dd but she wasn't bothered and was closer to 6 months before she was interested in food; then she really took to it and within 3 weeks was happily having 4 meals a day.

Most people will say wait as long as you can before weaning but I think it depends on your baby and how hungry they are. If you're not sure, ask a doctor or paediatrician.

I have just started at 17 weeks but DS was going through 42oz milk. He is loving purée but I will be making sure he has no possible allergy triggers (dairy, nuts, gluten) before 6 months and am making his purée myself from just fruit and veg, starting with easy digestibles

Baby rice is nutritionally not the best. Try fruits & vegetables puréed to begin with. But hold off for as long as you can

You shouldn't be giving a baby water as they don't need it. I would just give them milk.

If you do decide to wean don't bother with baby rice as it has zero nutritional value and can make baby hungrier. You are far safer giving normal food.

I agree with Thedemented the guidelines are not to wean before 6 months and if you do, baby rice has no nutrition in it at all. It's just soggy filler and milk is far better. Talk to your HV as although people can and do wean before 6 months, you should bear this in mind:

Why six months?
Until 2003, parents were advised to wean between four and six months. This was changed to six months after worldwide research (endorsed by numerous health bodies, including the World Health Organisation and the Department of Health) showed, if you wean before six months:
-There's a very real chance your baby's digestive system and kidneys won't be developed enough to cope safely with solid food
-Your baby may absorb fewer nutrients from breastmilk (if he's breastfed)
-There is no positive health benefit for your baby
-Your baby's risk of developing infections and allergies - and going on to have digestive problems and obesity in later life - can increase

But it's personal choice of course :)

Why start early? Chances are they'll be fine- but there is no benefit to early weaning- and there may be potential harm- why do it?

As I understand, milk is more calorie rich and definitely more nutrient dense than baby rice - and most other foods your DS could have so early.

24oz is not that much and your baby does not need water.

The general rule of thumb is 2.5oz per oz of body weight for a baby who has not started solids so for an 18lb baby that would give 45oz.

I would give just milk and feed to appetite so if he goes over 30oz that is perfectly fine

2.5oz per lb of weight

15weeks??! That's less than four months!

Yep I agree with above. I think up to 45/50oz a day is fine if needed

Mine BF but every hour for a few weeks at that stage. Brothers baby has 7oz every 2 -3hours atm at 18 weeks old. So roughly 7am, 9am, 12pm, 2pm,, 5pm, 8pm, 11pm (11pm-7am sleeps through). So that's around 50oz

If you can wait til nearer 6 months, that is safer for your baby.

Never before 17 weeks though, as you risk your baby's health.

Agree that 24oz of milk doesn't sound enough for an 18lb baby.

Far too early for me and doesn't sound that much we weaned early 19wks as he was on 50+oz back to 2.5hr feeds it was driving us all mad. How often feeding? How big the bottles?

Rose have you read the MN weaning info? Get yourself over to the weaning forum too.

Agree that a ff baby does not need water unless you are living in a hot country or we are having a big heatwave in the uk. The water will fill up her tummy but not provide the calories she needs for growth and development.

If you do want to wean, there is good evidence that weaning before 17 weeks can be harmful, so the longer you can wait the better.

Have a read of the NHS info on weaning, this is the same info that your HVs should be giving you

From a personal point of view, I've weaned on early on purees on medical advice and one at 23 weeks when she grabbed some food and scoffed it. Early weaning is only going to make things harder for you, I'd just offer more milk feeds and wait

Sorry , did that typical MN thing of not answering your question.

Yes you can introduce solids to your baby, of course you can. Early linked to increased risk of allergies and other life limiting conditions and is a lot more work than just offering a bottle, but if you want to, it's your baby.

Early weaning is linked. Sorry.