early weaning

[sh13]

Probably been asked loads of times on here but I’m debating weaning at 5 months Ive been researching the risks on the gut and I’m also about to call HV for advice as my baby seems hungry. He’s started waking 3 times a night for breastfeeds and feeding every 60-90 minutes in the day for the past week and I’m just feeling quite drained by it he also keeps trying to grab food out my hands and licks his lips and cry’s whenever I’m preparing or eating food: he can’t sit up unaided yet but can sit in a bumbo fine. I’m also aware they have growth spurts and development milestones can start night wakings again but I just have a feeling he needs solids 🤷🏻‍♀️

This baby is ready for weaning. The 6 month guidelines were a mistake and are under review for change. They were based in the needs of underdeveloped countries. When a baby shows such strong signs of needing food you must use your common sense. There is a load of rubbish on the internet. I am sure your HV will agree

The signs for readiness for weaning are -has lost the tongue thrust reflex
-can grasp and lift items towards face
-Can sit up unaided

Breast milk/formula has more calories than whatever they’ll gum on at that age, and will obviously fill him more than experimenting with food in his mouth will.

But milk has more calories than first weaning foods? Just keep feeding on demand. You're doing a great job! They do have a growth spurt at this time. Mine was the same. I thought she might be ready to eat. But I read the research and waited until 6 months - when I finally did introduce solids she wasnt that bothered, just wanted to play with it as it was something new! She hasn't slept any better since introducing them either.

he also keeps trying to grab food out my hands and licks his lips and cry’s whenever I’m preparing or eating food
Don't babies that age just grab everything out of your hand to explore, and cry whenever you're doing something other than paying them attention – eating, having a shower, whatever? He doesn't actually know what food is to be hungry for it; just that you're doing something interesting and he wants in. He'd probably grab a crack pipe if you had one on the go.

@burritofan 😂😂 I like the crack pipe reference - funny. I get what your saying but he’s actually a really chilled baby, happy to play on his own for a while doesn’t need constant attention

I wasn’t aware breastmilk had more calories actually that’s interesting.
I know everyone has different opinions on weaning , it’s such a tricky one

@LuckyKitty13 thank you x breastfeeding feels tough lately have urges to give up but trying to stick with it 😩

@Confusedbeetle are they really reviewing them for change, That’s interesting I think most people wean earlier than 6 months to be honest. I do feel mean not letting him have anything when he wants it x

They have been supposedly reviewing it since my ds was a baby and he's 13 now!

Yes, breastmilk has WAY more calories than food! You're doing so amazing breastfeeding, keep on going, the hard part is over and it will get easier after this next few weeks. We are now at 7 and a half months and it's a whole different ball game already.

His diet is milk and that's where he will get everything he needs. That said I don't think there is any harm at five months. It took my DS till about Eight months to get the hang of food and it was very stressful thinking we were behind and I sort of wished I stated before six months. Also that said food is messy, stressful and time consuming so no need to rush into it.

Helpful post of the day award! 🥇

I wouldn't yet, mainly for the fact that you said baby can't sit up unaided yet. Sitting in a bumbo isn't really comparable as they are just being held up in an awkward position.

I started weaning at 5 months and one week without consulting any health visitors or doing any of the research you're doing. I listened to my mother's intuition and to my baby's cues. Everything was fine. Start when you feel your baby is ready and try not to stress about books etc.

I started DS on purées and baby rice at 18 weeks. He seemed ready and he absolutely loves it. We haven't gone near anything containing allergens (although is FF so on cows milk anyway).

He isn't having any less milk but gets excited when he gets to sit in his high chair. He would easily eat more than I give him but I don't want him to drop his milk intake.

It's great fun, even if it is a bit messy and I'm so pleased I started early. I can't wait for him to be 6 months so I can start BLW, I don't think he's ready for that yet.

There's research out there about feeding solids alongside milk after 17 weeks which I read up on to make myself feel more knowledgable. Have a look at Annabel Karmel's weaning book, she talks about early weaning (first tastes) as well as weaning after 6 months.

I tried weaning my son at 6 months but he didn't eat anything until he was past 12 months. If I had another I'd do it when they showed an interest in food because battling through weaning is not fun, he's 3 now and it's still a constant struggle. It probably wouldn't of made a difference if we'd done it a few weeks earlier but I do wonder if we'd introduced it sooner if he'd of been more accepting of it. If we'd of got in there with new textures and tastes before he decided to be extremely stubborn and fussy!

Australian guidelines have just changed. Suggesting starting solids at 4 month(only if your baby shows signs he's ready of course) and starting them on high allergen foods such as eggs and nuts may lower the risk of allergies in the future. My son has just gone four months and I've started him on purees after he's had a full breastfeed. He seems more content during the day and only wakes once during the night. From what you describe, I think it may be time to start. He may love it or hate it. You won't know til you try.

I don’t think anything you’ve said really indicates he’s ready for food but I can see why you want to try it. I thought my boy was ready at 6 months although he wasn’t sitting up unaided but I wanted to get cracking.

It was a solid two months til he ate anything beyond a nibble on a carrot or red pepper. He hates being fed purées... closes his mouth and turns his head. So I just gave myself two months of work preparing food and cleaning it up off the floor.

The night wakings for us were developmental and have eased off now.

Bumbo multi seat is safe for weaning but not the floor seat where the bum sits low and baby’s back is curved

When you start weaning they will take very little food in, thats why milk quantity stays the same at the start.

It takes a couple of months to start getting decent amounts of food into them to be able to drop milk.

We started at 4.5 months on the advice of paediatrician.. our daughter suffered badly with reflux & he was convinced it’d help. He was right. Solids really helped that milk stay down!

My DD wasn’t sat up unaided but fine in a sit me up chair & also the Ikea chair with cushion. They say most babies will push food back out their mouths in early weaning but our daughter never did. She ate the lot of whatever we offered! We started with root veg purées & baby porridge and kept her milk up as she demanded. We slowly increased quantities and at 6 months went in for finger foods & more lumps etc!

Good luck

@LuckyKitty13 thank you so that’s really kind of you to say I’m glad we persevered even though it is draining x

I know everyone has different opinions but I gave in after another awful nights with him waking every two hours. So far he has tried mushed up banana with breast kills some carrot and fruit pouches he absolutely loves it I give it to him after a full breastfeed and he wolves it down he hates avocados and broccoli though 😂 for the first part of the night he slept 9 hours woke for a bf then back down for another 2 so I think I made the right decision xx

Il also stick to fruit and veg only until six months and only offer after a breastfeed