Weaning

[Tjsmumma]

Keep seeing threads and completely confusing information.

DD EBF, 16 weeks, 18lbs up from 6lb 12oz fron birth after a v traumatic pregnancy and labour

I keep being told to wait until at least 6 months, ive brought pouches and tubs as she is already, very ready for food, sort of grabbing out for it, very interested, looks at every bite we take etc so thought on e she hits the right age we can grab one from cupboard and try.

Ive looked up into it a lot and all the jars/pouches state four months plus, but, is starting at 4 months too early?

When did you start giving pouches/jars/cereals? And what did you initially give first to try?

What were the signs that tempted you into trying it initially? She has been lifting head since birth and has really good control, can sit up while aided but not totally unsupported yet.

When doing some research I've found some information that it can damage gut/cause allergies or intolerances to other foods especially dairy, nuts, fish etc and can be a choking hazard if to early but also find very contradicting evidence so im really confused by it.

But surely they wouldn't be able to label from 4 months if that was infact too early and dangerous? I understand some babies are told to wean before the 4 month mark under doctors guidance.

Im just quite anxious about starting it too early or leaving too late and her potentially becoming fussy!

Don't do it unless you've checked with your HV and GP.

It's advised at around 6 months. I started at 17 weeks with dd (now 16) as that's what was advised at the time but waited until 23 weeks with ds (now 13) as advice changed. In hindsight 17 weeks was too early for dd and waiting until closer to 6 months worked much better.

Don't assume that you have to give commercially produced baby foods. There is a lot of advertising that aims to convince parents that baby food jars and pouches etc are the very best thing you can give your baby, there isn't anything wrong with those foods but they can be expensive and very bland tasting, they can be useful for day trips and travelling though.
Babies are able to eat normal family food from the start of weaning, with adjustments made for salt. You can mash up food or give as finger food or do a mixture of both.

I weaned one at 28 weeks and one at 25 weeks. Weight, watching you eat etc is irrelevant. They watch you drive, use knives, drink wine etc. They like watching you.

I weaned when mine were sitting up, no tongue thrust reflex and able to pick up food, put it in their mouths, chew and swallow. These things happen around 6 months.

I didn't bother with baby food either. They just ate with us from the beginning. DD's first dinner was a roast for example.

And baby food says from 4 months because legally, they can. It isn't a recommendation.

@SomeoneElseEntirelyNow What's the evidence based on this? I've read information stating 4 months is completely normal, from docs and dieticians. Ill ask my HV though and see what she suggests.

@dementedpixie Thank you for your response! Did DD take to it ok at that age? I was thinking of meeting in the middle and trying around the 5 month mark. I know a few mums who have already starting weaning from 3/4 months so wondered what other mums had done. I know jts best to wait til 6 months but read others stating thats only because they can skip the puree stage and go straight to chunky foods.

@nannyr i definitely agree! I only brought a few to trail what she likes/dislikes etc. Me and DP arent the healthiest eaters also a bit anxious to try something i have mushed up initially incase i havent done it enough. All the things ive brought are natural and organic x

I found weaning dd at 17 weeks quite stressful tbh and she didn't take that well to it. The HV had told me to try and being a first time mum I went along with it. Ds was a bit older and it was much easier and he took to it better.

Weaning is a faff and its messy and you worry about how much and what they are eating so I'd advise waiting longer before you start.

@ShowOfHands Ive seen plenty of threads on here stating the opposite and we should be introducing it before 6 months! I also read that some babies dont learn to sit up completely unaided sometimes until around nearer 8/9 months or later and thats totally normal and tbey dont necessarily need to be sitting right uo themselves you can sit them supported in your arms etc. Ive seen mums do it from 4 months even earlier with absolutely no issue but tbf that seemed like a very biased thread one way stating that i did it earlier, theres no issue with my child so why wait until 6 months, nhs guidance is full of crap so i wanted to get an unbiased opinion! Think ill wait at least another month to 6 weeks before i start introducing

@dementedpixie i think i shall! Thank you, she's EBF and eats from me like a champ and sometimes feel like i dont fufill her needs quite so much due to the exessive feeding! But, think part of it is just a bf issue more! Definitely wont be starting at exactly 4 months/17 weeks think ill give it at least until 23/24 weeks :) thank you!

Oh by sitting up, I def mean with support. No slumping, no feeding them whilst reclined. Some take much longer to sit fully unaided.

Sounds like you're doing a great job with EBF and that's what your child needs right now. Look how much she's gained and thrived on milk alone. That milk will remain the main source of nutrition for now and food will be about exploration, texture, fun at first. I actually let my dc play with food for a few weeks before weaning really started. They sat with us at mealtimes and we put veg and similar in front of them. When they were ready, it started to be sucked, bitten, chewed and swallowed. Both were around 6 months.

@ShowOfHands ah i wasnt sure is all!

Definitely, that's what i was thinking for tge minute, definitely didnt want to introduce like next week when she turns four months on the dot and was rather apprehensive about doing it before 6 months as everything i read seems ro be eithwr one or the other!

That's a fab idea about letting her play with it, ill try that first and see how she responds with that in a month or two. I wanted to do baby led weaning as much as possible, just unsure on how to go about it as such as everyone ive seen wean baby recently seems to be more of an adult led approach to it. Thank you so much for your reply! X

The advice I was given by my health visitor is to start from around 6 months onwards.

Breast milk or formula is all a baby needs before that . That is the same advice given by The World Health organisation and the NHS.

It’s natural for a 4 month old to be trying to grab at food or acting interested . It does not necessarily mean their stomachs are ready to handle food .

I will say , I know lots of people who started their babies on solids before 6 months for various reasons and had no issues .

Personally I don’t see the hurry if it’s not necessary.

P.S
I highly recommend the baby led weaning method of introducing solids !!!!

Hi @michelleor84! I understand that completely and was a bit weary of doing it earlier! Just seen so many people say that 4 months was completely fine to start with purees etc and all the mums i know personally have been doing it from 3 or 4 months so i wanted to see if the knowledge i knew was worth going by or if others tried earlier and felt it benefited baby more!

Have you got any good links regarding BLW? No, i completely agree! She loves milk and its definitely doing her well enough at the moment! Just wondering when others felt their babies were ready for it ad obviously every baby js different! X

@Tjsmumma

I recommend the baby led weaning book by

Gill Rapley!! It’s a bit repetitive however informative and put me at complete ease offering solids !

@MichelleOR84 thank you so much! Did you go straight onto solids then? I.e not purees but finger foods?

@Tjsmumma yup , my son’s first meal was chicken, broccoli and carrots !

Waited till 6 months with both of mine and they went straight onto solid vegetables first then everything else within a few days. Bits of fish were good and risottos.

But I wouldn't be in any hurry not only for the fact that it's really tedious having to suddenly plan the extra meals and what you will need out and about. Plus the endless sweeping up stuff!

Especially as you're EBF so like me never had to plan bottles to take out. Both times I missed the days of not needing to plan anything around feeding the baby.

If you look at all up to date research it's definitely 6 months. Any younger can really hurt their tummies! They are interested as want to copy you. They don't understand that when you put it in your mouth it's because you're hungry.

I recently watched a lecture by a nutritionist who is fuming at the fact baby food is still allowed to say from 4 months. It's really not great and will be one of those things that we'll look back on with horror.

And yeah, look up baby led weaning! There's a Facebook group which is really helpful.

@dappledthings thanks for the reply! Yes so much easier to EBF id be awful if i bottle fed! Super anxious about givimg proper food first but think ill definitely wait a bjt longer beforr introducing stuff and then once shes got tje hang introduce solids! Thank you 😊

@HelloItsmeAgain1 oh yes im definitely aware of the guidance! I've seen 2/3 and 4 month olds given purees, yoghurts and pouches. But, some babies cope well and really enjoy it, also read up abiht introducing earlier reduces allergies. Babies are weaned early for otjer reason before 4/6 months with no isses but yeah not my intention! Thank you for the tip!

Wait till 6 months.
We did combined spoon feeding with finger foods. He still gets a mix really at age 1. I usually shovel something in while he’s munching on stuff himself off his high chair. He’s a hungry boy so he’d generally be in his high chair all day if I left him to feed himself.