Weaning early

[dhisannoying]

HV said it might be worth starting baby rice next week at 16 weeks as baby is still feeding (EBF) every hour or so but I've heard that might not be good for their tummies in the long run? Any advice? Thanks!

AFAIK the current advice is still to wait til 6 months unless there are medical reasons (like reflux). I’ve never used baby rice but have read other’s comments that it doesn’t really have any nutritional value.
Have you ever seen a breastfeeding consultant?

Your HV is wrong and outdated. Look up the NHS guidance. Feeding every hour at this age is not uncommon (God knows mine did!) and your baby will be getting everything they need from your milk.

NHS guidance is never before 17 weeks, and preferably around 6 months. I'm really surprised that your HV would suggest it tbh. I think I'd be asking her why she is contradicting the usual advice.

If you are coping ok with the frequent feeds then there is no need to do this.

*Snuggy
*
I wouldn't go as far to say I'm coping but I'm coping enough to continue if I need to

We're possibly weaning early but waiting until 5 months. The reason for this is dd takes 9oz milk a pop on top of training my boobs all day! She is close to sitting unaided and watches us eat with great interest.

Our hv said the earliest we could try was 16/17 weeks but advisable to wait as long as possible to help prevent future allergies etc. Each baby is different and it's not like 6 months is a magical date it could be 5 or 7 depending on the child.

Is ask the hv why she's suggesting so early, there might be a sensible reason why she's mentioning it. If you're happy to wait, wait though

I'd suggest your HV needs to keep up with her CPD.

My understanding is that early weaning is no longer even recommended by NICE for reflux. I don't think frequent feeding is any reason at all, besides which if your baby actually wants to feed that often do you want to be filling them with nutritionally-devoid rice rather than milk that's full of everything they need? If you do need a break then formula would be a better option. I think some babies are just snackers, even at a year and very much eating solids my daughter still bf every hour and a half. When we switched to cows milk she didn't feed anything like that often, so quite possibly it was comfort she wanted as much as anything.

I've a 16 week old goes longer at night but feeds pretty much every hour in the day too. I've been told this is pretty normal by my HV.

I don't think it'll do any harm but I think you need to believe it's in in the best interests of baby, and I don't think you do. So on that alone I'd suggest you don't.

The signs of readiness for weaning include having lost the tongue thrust reflex, being able to sit up unaided, and reach, grasp and bring food to their mouth. Watching people eat is no more an indication of readiness than their sucking car keys is an indicator of them being ready to drive, their main source of nutrition is milk, slurping slip or gnawing food won’t provide enough calories to make them ‘not hungry’ from the first while, and weaning has nothing to do with them sleeping longer. Baby rice has no nutritional value at all.

*slurping slop

I think your HV needs some feedback given to her supervisor for giving you that advice.

If/when you do decide to start weaning, baby rice isn’t a good food to use. Milk has more nutrition in it, so babies find it more filling as it meets their needs in a way that rice (which ideally should be minimised due to arsenic content) does not.

Also if baby is nursing out of either comfort or boredom would it make much difference?