Weaning at 3 months - thoughts?

[Peppery123]

Just wondering
Both sets of parents and in-laws have advised me to do this as she is waking up every 2 hours in the night.
Also, the country where my partner is from they wean around 3-4 months. So just wondering if anyone has done it and their experience.

Was also sent this link by dhs sister who has also weaned her dd early -->www.nhs.uk/news/pregnancy-and-child/babies-fed-solids-earlier-sleep-better/

To wean early thst should have read

So you just want support for a decision you’ve made to wean too early according to the current medical and scientific research findings?

The argument that previous generations did “x” therefore it is fine is absurd - previous generations also didn’t use seatbelts, smoked like chimneys and weren’t sun safe: because they didn’t have the knowledge we do now.

OP, I do see your point about food allergies. New research (notably the LEAP study) supports the early introduction of allergenic foods such as peanut to reduce the risk of allergies. This is the opposite of what was believed just a few years ago.
However, the earliest they recommend is 4 months, not 3.
Personally, my baby was nowhere near ready at that age. Even at 6 months he struggled a lot and was forever gagging and coughing while eating.

@SameO1d

No I did not say that at all. I reiterated my pet peeve when people use the "allergies/ibs etc" argument not to wean. I just dont believe in that whatsoever especially in my line of profession, we see more stomach related issues than in my generation. So does make you think.

I just dont think that should be used as an argument not to wean early. Its too neither here nor there.
My sister has had a terrible time with her three kids and their digestion issues/allergies and has even said to me if she had another she would definitely wean a bit early.

@Peppery123

Obviously there is no way to know if my own IBS/IBD was caused by early weaning. I was honest about that in my post. I do have a family history, which predisposes me in any case. I should also say that previous generations would also often not seek medical attention for digestive issues unless they became debilitating, so I think focusing on the demographic you see in today's clinics is potentially misleading.

I appreciate that anecdote is not the same as data... in which case surely you should discredit/give equal merit to both my experience (and that of my family members), and that of your sister, equally?

However, there is plenty of evidence linking digestive issues to early weaning, which has informed the current NHS guidelines. Whether you find it compelling or not is, obviously, a matter of personal opinion.

It sounds like you want to wean early, and would like posters to support you in your opinions. At the end of the day, you are the parent. You do not need anybody's approval. If your mind is made up then the opinions of strangers should be irrelevant, no?

You've clearly made your mind up and are looking for people to agree. It's your choice at the end of the day. There's research and guidelines expressing 6 months is best - you can't argue that.
Your sisters 3 children all have different issues and it's not likely to do with being weaned at 6 months! Digestive issues run in families 🙄
I don't know what you're looking for from this post op. People have given advice, you've said several times how your in laws weaned at 3 months and are clearly set. 3 months is far too Young, they're tiny at this age and I think it's a ridiculous idea. But your choice, you're the parent.

Don't do it. Weaning doesn't make your baby sleep any longer through the night because the amount that they take in at first is SO minimal. There's a reason the guidelines are 6months.

Only if your gp or health visitor approve first. I was given permission to wean DS at 16 weeks in 2003, but I managed to keep him going on breast mill only until 20 weeks.

Milk*

Far too young. Why are you determined to harm your baby? You are ignoring good advice. You know it's too early.

@imalmosthere well said. Ask a question, not getting the answers she wants, probably gone and fed the baby already.

If it's silent reflux that's the problem gave you thought about her milk. If your formula feeding are you pace feeding, have you switched formula etc
If your breastfeeding have you thought it could be something in your diet.

Babies wake up in the night. It's what they do. Vegetables won't make her sleep, and sometimes new foods cause them excess wind etc which can make them less likely to sleep.

I weaned my first at 15 weeks heavily influenced by the HV. This was as the guidance was changing from 4-6 months to 6 months. I've regretted it ever since. She clearly wasn't ready when I compare to her siblings who weaned at 6 months or later. She's 21 and has digestive issues and I find it hard not to wonder if the early weaning was the cause.
One of my other children has severe food allergies but as I did everything by the book I don't feel the same way.

I'm from a different generation, but all my DC had baby rice at three months. I mixed it with breast milk. It made a big difference to their sleeping at night. None of them, all adults now, have had digestive problems.

Reasons not to wean early (I.e. before 6 months):

1. Developmentally their stomach etc is not ready
2. Because of no.1 you might find sleep actually gets worse because baby has stomach ache and wind
3. Food has less calories than milk so you risk not giving baby the calories they need and causing poor weight gain
4. Food is less nutrient dense than milk
5. They are less capable of moving food around their mouth and are more likely to choke
6. They probably don't have the strength/sitting ability to safely wean
7. They probably don't have the hand eye coordination they need
8. It can mean they are more likely to have iron deficiency anaemia

Reasons to wean early:

1. You have been advised to by a HCP

@strawberrycherryblossom

Reasons not to wean early (I.e. before 6 months):

1. Developmentally their stomach etc is not ready
2. Because of no.1 you might find sleep actually gets worse because baby has stomach ache and wind
3. Food has less calories than milk so you risk not giving baby the calories they need and causing poor weight gain
4. Food is less nutrient dense than milk
5. They are less capable of moving food around their mouth and are more likely to choke
6. They probably don't have the strength/sitting ability to safely wean
7. They probably don't have the hand eye coordination they need
8. It can mean they are more likely to have iron deficiency anaemia

Reasons to wean early:

1. You have been advised to by a HCP

This

Sounds like you've already made your decision, so why are you asking?

Your child is too young for solid food, waking during the night is normal, your baby needs more breast milk or formula. End of🤷🏼‍♀️

I was advised to wean my first at 19 weeks under medical advice for reflux. It did help him massively but I do wonder if it would have just got better on its own at this point due to the strengthening of muscles etc. Weaning is messy and a faff don’t get into any sooner than needed!

I remember having this conversation with a colleague whose gs was being weened early and how 'it never did me any harm'. She shut up when I pointed out that the evidence now suggests early weening causes irritable bowel and other digestive problems- which she suffers from.

There is evidence that its unsafe to ween early - there is no evidence that suggests it is unsafe to wait. So why do something you know might cause problems when doing nothing doesn't?

Tell your in laws to wind their necks in. You live in the UK so follow UK laws and guidance.

Its perfectly normal for babies to wake through the night- often long after they start weening too!

Weaning at 6 months isnt the law 😂

@Ismellphantoms

I'm from a different generation, but all my DC had baby rice at three months. I mixed it with breast milk. It made a big difference to their sleeping at night. None of them, all adults now, have had digestive problems.

@ismellphantoms Why do you think this is helpful? Anecdotally you haven't inflicted medical conditions on your children. It should be clear from this post that advice had changed greatly, even if you weren't aware before reading this. You are the problem, I hope you don't (haven't?) force your outdated advice and anecdotes on you own children if they have babies. Remember when they said Thalidomide was safe? Things change! If you don't know current advice then it's best not to advise.

@CeeceeBloomingdale Well aren't you a joy? The advice was solids were acceptable from six weeks when mine were babies. I followed all advice and made sure my babies slept on their stomachs which was cast in stone. I've no idea when my grandchildren started solids as I didn't interfere with the way my children brought them up. I'm sure they followed the advice, as I did at the time. My only observation was that they slept better after a couple of teaspoons of baby rice mixed with my milk. Anyone would think I was giving them roast dinners from your rather aggressive and unnecessary remarks.

Instead of weaning your baby early, why don’t you go back to the GP and ask for something other than the gaviscon, or perhaps give it another try, or try some of the comfort versions of her milk (if she’s on formula). There are numerous things you can do without going down the weaning route.

@Ismellphantoms

I'm from a different generation, but all my DC had baby rice at three months. I mixed it with breast milk. It made a big difference to their sleeping at night. None of them, all adults now, have had digestive problems.

Did you also put them down to sleep on their fronts, as was advised when i was a baby? Would you still do so now?

[quote Ismellphantoms]@CeeceeBloomingdale Well aren't you a joy? The advice was solids were acceptable from six weeks when mine were babies. I followed all advice and made sure my babies slept on their stomachs which was cast in stone. I've no idea when my grandchildren started solids as I didn't interfere with the way my children brought them up. I'm sure they followed the advice, as I did at the time. My only observation was that they slept better after a couple of teaspoons of baby rice mixed with my milk. Anyone would think I was giving them roast dinners from your rather aggressive and unnecessary remarks. [/quote]
@ismellphantoms I'd rather be a "joy" than potentially cause harm to an infant. The only unnecessary thing is you posting here to encourage a young mother to do something that is advised against. If you didn't feel the need to influence your own children then why on earth are you encouraging a confused young mother to do something that can cause harm here? Please think before posting something outdated and advised against like that rather than getting all uppity for being called out for it. As for the front sleeping (which I am fully aware was the advice circa 40 odd years ago) that is also outdated so raising it just creates confusion to young parents. Things changed between my eldest and youngest and I changed my parenting to reflect the advice of the time. Nostalgic advice can kill.

@CeeceeBloomingdale You are accusing me of trying to kill babies. That's a bit rich, in fact, unbelievable Yes, it was a different world, no scans, no pregnancy tests, no epidurals etc. You may be surprised at the large numbers of mums I see in my job who don't follow any guidelines, despite the campaigns. The guidelines change with rapidity and in a few years will be different again.