Health visitor says no baby porridge at 16 old any opinions pls

[isobel79]

Hi

My HV has said no baby porridge for my lo who is 16 weeks tomorrow. He is on 7oz of milk. He weighed 15lb on 16\6.

Any opinions would be gratefully received. I feel like he needs something more. He's on pepti 1 and it doesn't seem to fill him up.

Thanks all

Baby rice has no nutritional value apparently. I'm not feeding my baby anything I wouldn't eat myself, and we waited until 6 months.

I don't think it was ever officially 3 months. The 1994 guidance suggested changing the recommendation from 4 months to 4-6 months, because too many people were interpreting 4 months as 16 weeks and then weaning early anyway.

It probably matters very little when a baby is weaned so long as it is after 17 weeks, but the 6 months guidance has meant many fewer people are risking weaning before 4 months - that's probably been it's biggest success.

What cues has he given you? Does he sit unsupported, has he lost the tongue thrust reflex, does he reach for your food and try to eat it, etc?

Ds started having puree at 17 weeks on the advice of hv and dietician, dd was nearly 7 months before we started baby led weaning, I know which one I preferred. Apart from the risks of early weaning op if you wait then it's sooo much easier. No blending, no spoon feeding, no jars, you just put the food in front of them and let them eat.

I did blw and found that even though my boys were hungry, and 'big' and could sit unaided, it was about 7.5 months until they actually really began to eat (you can tell by their poo). He's 9 months today and has only this week dropped any milk feeds. Listen to your baby. I would increase milk feeds, either quantity or frequency, or both to see him through this growing phase- you might find he's building up fat because he's about to start moving ( I have noticed this with all of mine, it's like they stick up on calories before they need to use them?)

I weaned my daughter at 6 months, she was drinking 45+oz milk a day at that point but I still waited. 16 weeks is very early, and besides porridge is a poor choice of weaning food anyway. My advice would be to wait until 6 months then start with green vegetables (as there is a line of thought that if you start with fruit it trains the taste buds to prefer sweet food).

every kid is different. our eldest was on solids at 4 months, but our second child was closer to seven months before she was on the same level. Let your kids dictate what they need or are ready for. There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to this, six months is a guideline, but every child is different.

every kid is different

Babies' digestive systems are pretty uniform. The guidelines are there for a reason. They weren't pulled out of a hat.

Do your own research. Google 'the closed gut' in humans and once you know more you will certainly come to the conclusion that it's 6 months FOR A REASON.

If your baby is hungry, give more milk. Fruit or porridge has no calorific value and will not do anything for a baby other than fill it up with stodge and prevent them taking enough milk.

Just check and my DS was 19.7lbs at 18 weeks! There is a lot going on in these weeks, growth spurt, developmental leaps and sleep regression. Food would just be another change in an unsettling time so just stick with the milk and it will pass.

I know it can be tough but this will pass

Baby rice is pointless he'd get more calories from more milk.

I hate these threads.
"It's up to you as parents to decide. They are probably giving blanket advice not to wean til 6 months. maybe you decide what's best."
That above. No, no, no. Science, and health professionals, say NO. Parents do NOT know best. Do not give your 16 week old baby porridge or any other kind of food!

I would delay weaning until 6 months with an allergy baby as it can be a total nightmare. I kissed goodbye to sleep for months after introducing solid foods to CMPA DS.

Like others said its 24 weeks for a reason & milk will be more beneficial than something which probably has added sugar to it.

Try more milk as growth spurts do lead to more hunger & all babies do weigh different at different sizes.

I've done both, my first i formula fed and weaned at 4 months (ish), second had nothing but breast milk up until the day she turned 6 months, when we 'celebrated' with some mashed sweet potato

My first...colic, reflux, bottle refusal, picky as hell (still barely eats), eczema, needs a preventative inhaler and allergies.

Second...no problems. None. Up to now of course, don't want to jinx things!! She's almost 2 and her and her brother are like chalk and cheese.

Their differences may have absolutely NOTHING to do with how I fed them and I must say, I don't see it making that much difference for a formula fed baby as formula isn't a 'natural' bodily fluid anyway.

If someone asked, I would say nothing but breast milk until 6 months, from personal experience, but there are millions of babies out there fed formula and weaned at 4 months who are healthy and fit as a fiddle.
Do what you feel is right, you know your baby better than anyone else. I was formula fed and weaned at 12 (!!!!!) weeks and I'm still here ;)

DS just turned 1. We waited til 6 months. It's a huge faff and mess, so I'm glad we did. He eats like a horse now. I just gave him more milk up to that point.

The guidance changed from 4-6months to 6 months when my dd was a baby and she is 12. I did try weaning her at 17 weeks and in hindsight it was too young. Ds was weaned around 23 weeks and it was much easier

I always find it odd when people say 'but he's huge, he needs more food.'

If he's huge, then it's a pretty good sign that he doesn't need more food.

Thanks all for your helpful tips. Think I'll wait another two months

Just as a slight tangent (I do agree with the advice to wait until 6 months and offer more milk in the meantime), I wanted to point out that if your baby is on Pepti formula, presumably for a dairy allergy/intolerance then you obviously need to avoid milk products when weaning. Many (most?) baby porridges do contain dairy so make sure you check the labels when you do start weaning. As an aside, once baby is older and ready for weaning, regular oats are fine, dairy free and easily cooked in the microwave, no need for baby porridge at all...

Nightfall1983 very good point thank you

Mine Fed every 90 minutes (both when bf and formula) since they were born to 5.5 months which is when I introduced purees. They probably weren't taking 7 oz at a time (obv harder to judge with bf) but like even now with weaning well established doesn't go longer than 2-2.5 hours without eating... Some of them are just hungrier than others lol. I honestly don't know where she's puts it as has followed the centile Line (50) from the beginning.

Current advice is 6 months. However, when mine were little it was 4 months and it was actually 3 months when I had my first. I got told 12 weeks or 12 pounds which ever came first. They are all happy and healthy. It is up to you, do what you want op.

Wellerr, can I ask where you got this evidence based research about the "Closed Gut" It has been empirically proven to be a load of crap.

It's been 4-6 months for 22 years and 4 months before then...

Bertramd
20 years ago the advice was not 6 months, you keep posting that and ut is nonsense.it was around 12 weeks.
The gut does not take until 6 months, it is 17 weeks at the latest. The latest allergy research ie the Eat study has been introducing food at 3 months.