Weaning

[polkadotx]

Hi

Me and my partner has started "weaning" our three month old. We were set to wait until 6 months however she's quite an advanced little one and watches us eat and her little mouth goes round and round. It's the best choice for us.

However. I've started giving her baby rice (she loves it) just wondering if anyone else weaned early and how they started?

Should I just keep her on baby rice for the first few months until she is 6 months then go onto other foods? Or should I wean onto other tastes now?

Just a note for future posting, @polkadotx, if you want to receive useful advice, you have to put all the relevant information in your OP.

You basically told us you were giving your baby meals because she moved her mouth when you eat. That's why people got irate, because that's dangerous and stupid.

Then you told us you'd weaned on medical advice, which people disputed because that would be bad medical advice.

Now you're telling us that you havent weaned at all, that you're using small amounts of baby rice as a thickener to help combat reflux.

To be honest, if that's the reason she's having solids, i still don't understand why you'd be considering giving her other foods. Do exactly what your doctor tells you.

You can get actual milk thickeners e.g. carobel.

@ivfbeenbusy

And since she is MY child I will do what I think is best.

Why bloody ask us then? Just carry on as you are?

Presumably you aren't breastfeeding if she has a milk allergy? Plenty of lactose free baby milk options available now?

Sorry to jump on this but you can breastfeed a CMPA baby most dieticians advise it as the amino acid formula is so thin and apparently foul tasting. If breastfeeding mum just cuts all dairy from her diet. Totally doable

A HV is not qualified to tell someone to wean early only a paediatrician or a paediatric dietitian is. Have you been referred yet? You say HV told you and then a doctor. You say bottles so I’m guessing your are formula feeding, if your baby still has lots of reflux then they may not be in the right milk for them but they are still very young and reflux can be normal at this age.

Is giving rice to thicken the milk in her tummy actually a thing? Surely that's what carobel is for.

Bizarre thread.

@Spam88

Is giving rice to thicken the milk in her tummy actually a thing? Surely that's what carobel is for.

Bizarre thread.

No, it's not a thing. I personally still think this is a someone in a very goady mood having a lovely refreshing early morning flounce.

@ivfbeenbusy lactose free milk will not be suitable for dairy allergy as it still contains cows milk protein. Lactose is the sugar in milk.

We had to wean at 16 weeks advice of the paediatrician and did purées and then switched when LO was 6 month oldish to BLW because I could not be bothered with purées. We gradually built up from 1 meal to 3. If that is any help???

This doesn’t add up. I struggle to believe that any professional (let alone two) has advised weaning at 3 months under the current guidance. I also struggle to believe they’ve recommended baby rice which is known for being devoid of nutrients and pretty much pointless. And yes, more suitable thickeners are available such as infant Gaviscon, carobel or Nestle Thicken Up (which my son is on).

Sorry OP, you might not like the advice but that doesn’t mean it’s wrong. Maybe you should stop being so defensive and listen to people? PND or not, people are only trying to help your baby.

@Fizzingwhizzbee I don't disagree with your point BUT when I was seeking advice from the HV for weaning as DS wasn't eating very much (at 8 months) she told me to feed him babyrice so some health professionals are giving out advice to give baby rice even though it has little nutritional value. I chose to continue with just giving him finger food and now at 2 he eats pretty much anything on his plate (except chicken for some reason.)

@ivfbeenbusy lactose is the sugar in milk and children CMPA are allergic to the protein in the milk. Lactose intolerance is incredible rare in babies but does occasionally happen. If a babies is lactose intolerant then mum would have to express and add an enzyme to her breast milk. To breast feed a baby with CMPA mum needs or removed cow milk from her diet. There is also a 90% risk that the baby can’t tolerate goat and buffalo milk and 50% risk of allergy to soya as the proteins are similar to cows milk. It’s all very complicated and not something most people who know unless they had too.

In all fairness OP, whatever you choose, I WOULD NOT trust a HV to give me advice.
I'm sure some of them are fantastic, but they are not qualified in a majority of things and only know basic, normally outdated, advice.

My days, and I thought I was lax about weaning.

Theres a debate out there between waiting until 6 months and weaning at 4 months, but ALL the current advice says not to introduce solids before 17 weeks.

Im bewildered that any professional would advise otherwise.

A poster above said they wouldn't trust a HV to give advice, and to be honest I wouldn't trust my GP to give me advice either. Some are great, but some are woefully out of touch.

Maybe clarify with a pediatrician OP if you've not already. Plenty of time for the messiness of weaning when your little one is 6 months.

@LikeTheOceansWeRise

A poster above said they wouldn't trust a HV to give advice, and to be honest I wouldn't trust my GP to give me advice either. Some are great, but some are woefully out of touch.

Maybe clarify with a pediatrician OP if you've not already. Plenty of time for the messiness of weaning when your little one is 6 months.

I have to say I agree.

Anything regarding my child I have always gone to a 'specialist'

Anything regarding my child I have always gone to a 'specialist'

@ScarMatty how, out of interest? By getting a referral from your GP?

@newmum234

Unfortunately not. I gave up with my local GP after multiple appointments got me nowhere for my sons severe eczema.

I pay for a private doctor now, although I massively understand this is not within everyone's reach

NICE guidelines state that a baby with suspect CMPA should be referred to a paediatric dietitian.