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Weaning, where to start?

15 replies

MummyM33 · 25/05/2018 21:31

Just like the title really. My baby is now 4.5 months old so I'm starting to think about weaning him. Ideally I'd like to start this at 5 months (although the advice is now 6 months I feel this is fine as know many mums that weaned earlier than 6 months).
I've no idea where to start! I'm currently breastfeeding all feeds except his 7pm bedtime feed which is formular so my partner can share bedtimes.
Whilst I've enjoyed bf'ing I'm looking forward to getting my body back and being able to feed whilst out and about (I'm not confident bf'ing in public).
When do you start to drop feeds and long long does it take before I won't need to bf?
Thanks any advice would be welcomed, this is my first baby so I'm feeling quite over whelmed by it all.

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MilkAndCookies1 · 25/05/2018 21:40

Milk (breast or formula) should be continued until 1 year when they can start cows milk. So if to want to continue most feeds by breast you are looking at the 1 year mark (or longer if you prefer!)

As you know weaning is not advised until 6 months.

To begin weaning I would just do all Milk feeds as normal and then once a day offer baby a new food- I did purées so can’t comment on baby led. Maybe an hour before milk feed is due so they are peckish but not starving. For purees you could start with blitzed carrot, parsnip etc. There are also pouches you can buy. They advise doing a few days in a row of each new food so that if baby has adverse reaction you know what it is too.

Don’t expect baby to actually eat much at first, usually you have a few weeks of everything being spat out. That’s normal.

When they do start actually eating you might notice the milk before or after is less wanted, you might not.

Then just gradually start giving another meal a day- porridge with fruit purée for breakfast for example.

Then you can add the third meal if you want.

You’ll find that once they are taking a decent amount the feeds will just drop by them self, it’s not something you actually have to do, you’ll just notice baby isn’t hungry.

HTH. Just gone through this was DD (7.5 months) who has taken to food like mad and dropped from 7 milks to 3 in 5 weeks!!

MilkAndCookies1 · 25/05/2018 21:42

Also, knowing other mums that weaned before 5 months is irrelevant.

Babies can technically be weaned earlier, it’s not an imminent risk and they are capable of learning to swallow. The reason it’s not advised, however, is that it’s thought that increases risks of allergies etc later in life.

So the fact that your friends did it and their babies are currently ok is neither here nor there.

Mummyh2016 · 25/05/2018 21:45

It’s ultimately your choice but weaning is such a faff I don’t know why anyone would want to do it early unless it’s for health reasons.

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MummyM33 · 25/05/2018 21:53

Thank you that's really good advice. I like the idea of continuing with milk feeds and allowing him to choose when he wants to drop them. It's so difficult to know where to start! Did you find your baby slept better once weaned? My DS has recently started waking every 2 hours through the night so I'm hoping this might help?

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MilkAndCookies1 · 25/05/2018 21:59

Sleeping got worse around the time of weaning, but what with sleep regressions/teething and all everything else it’s hard to attribute it to any one thing. It’s not uncommon to hear of sleeping worsening when weaning is started though.

You’re almost definitely going through the 4 month regression. I don’t think solids will help that unfortunately! You need Cake instead Grin.

If I’m honest, I started giving tiny bits of food at around 5 months and I regret it. At the time I was so eager to start weaning (i find every new baby milestone very cuteand thought she met all the milestones, but once she got to 6 months she was so obviously ‘ready’ and I wish I had of waited. It was a lot of faf for a month or so with no benefit, and might have even if increased her risk of allergies. So I would advise waiting, but hey hindsight is a wonderful thing Grin

myotherbagisgucci · 25/05/2018 22:09

My DD is 5 months old and I've been advised by my HV to start weaning as she's got reflux and rejecting feeds.

I've started on veggie purée's such as pees, carrots, parsnips etc. She's also tried a nuby nibbler with some strawberries, bananas and melon.

Cow & gate are offering a free weaning guide book that you can order online. I found this incredibly helpful.

https://www.cowandgate.co.uk/five-step-weaning-plan

Best of luck OP with whatever you decide to do!

wintertravel1980 · 25/05/2018 22:16

Babies can technically be weaned earlier, it’s not an imminent risk and they are capable of learning to swallow. The reason it’s not advised, however, is that it’s thought that increases risks of allergies etc later in life.

Actually, it is not accurate (even though it may be a popular belief). "Early" weaning (i.e. introduction to solids between 17 and 26 weeks) may slightly increase risks of minor diarrhoea. At the same time there is emerging (but not entirely conclusive) evidence that early weaning decreases risk of allergies later in life.

Here is a useful post summarising conclusions from the current research:

scienceofmom.com/2015/05/14/starting-solids-4-months-6-months-or-somewhere-in-between/

MummyM33 · 25/05/2018 22:21

@MilkAndCookies1 thanks for the 🍰 suggestion I'll definitely be doing that! I know exactly what you mean, with him being my first baby I am eager to introduce him to new things and hit new milestones. I'll make sure I don't start anything before he's ready :)

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MummyM33 · 25/05/2018 22:21

@myotherbagisgucci that's great, I've just signed up and ordered a copy! Thank you!

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wintertravel1980 · 25/05/2018 22:23

On the actual question - I started weaning at 4 months. I began with vegetable purees (carrot, sweet potato, butternut squash, etc). I initially gave solids once a day at around 11.30 - noon (one hour after the late morning bottle).

In 2 weeks I introduced baby porridge and/or scrambled eggs for breakfast (1 hour after the morning milk). By 6 months, DD was on 3 meals and was having proteins (e.g. chicken, fish) for dinner.

I loosely followed Annabel Karmel's meal plans. DD has always loved her recipes.

MummyM33 · 25/05/2018 22:30

@wintertravel1980 thank you, do you mind if I ask why you decided to start weaning at 4 months? That's brilliant they took to it so well, how many milk feeds/bottles were they having by the time they got to 3 meals at 6 months?

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BananaBlaps · 26/05/2018 12:02

If you google the signs of being ready to wean you’ll find the NHS page on it. Basically wait for your baby to be ready. Please don’t feel pressured to wean early - it’s actually quite a lot of extra work so just enjoy the simplicity of milk feeds for now!

I did BLW and would highly recommend. My DD is such a good eater it was definitely worth the time and mess. I’d recommend reading the Baby Led Weaning book by Gill Rapley. I’m sure it can be got from library or cheaply on amazon. Worth a read to see if it sounds right for you and so you know what you’re doing.

I’d also recommend doing a first aid course so you’re confident re. Choking (regardless of what weaning method you use). I did one run by nct with St. John’s ambulance and you could take babies up to 6 months with you.

Good luck!

wintertravel1980 · 26/05/2018 13:06

do you mind if I ask why you decided to start weaning at 4 months?

The main reason was a possibility that early weaning might reduce risks of allergies later in life. I felt this potential inconclusive but meaningful positive factor outweighs inconveniences of making purees and a risk of minor diarrhoea. I read pretty much all the actual research I could find and was comfortable it was the right decision for my DD.

DD was already very interested in food at 4 months so she loved her weaning experience. Initially, she did not drop any milk and continued having around 35oz of formula per day (across 5 feeds, including one dream feed) until 6.5-7 months. I then started gradually reducing the dream feed and dropped it completely at 8 months.

DD went down to 21-22oz of formula by 9-10 months. Right now she is 16 months and seems to be a very good eater (at least for now - I am aware that most toddlers become fussy sooner or later).

Rach000 · 26/05/2018 16:02

I don't think weaning early will make your baby sleep for longer during the night. They will be having very little food and it won't be filling foods.
I weaned my first a couple of weeks early as certain family members kept going on and on about feeding her food and saying they think she's ready etc and as I wasn't sure started but wish I didn't and just waited till 6 months and gone with what I thought. As she wasn't ready. It was hard work for the first few months as she wasn't great with food or that interested. But every baby is different. I have a second baby now at 5 months old and will probably wait till 6 months although I think she will be a better eater but still not ready for food yet.
My HV said to not give any gluten if weaning early and only purees. And they have to be able to sit up straight, even if slightly proped up has to not be slumped at all as could increase the risk of choking.

Lemondrop99 · 27/05/2018 21:26

Weaning universally did not help any of my NCT group babies sleep better. Sorry Sad I wouldn’t wean early in hope of that.

We did BLW and I’m a totally convert. It’s probably one of the most fun things I’ve done with my baby so far and I’m very proud to watch him eat. I’m positive it’s helped his fine motor skills, he developed a pincer grip by 7 months. Read Gill Rapley’s book and see what you think.

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