Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Weaning early?

50 replies

shauna79 · 12/01/2022 16:35

My son is 3.5 months and I started him on purées this morning. I've read up that 6 months is recommended, is that true?
My son loved what he had this morning so I feel bad taking it away from him now😣

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Original poster

shauna79 · 12/01/2022 17:36

Thanks for the advice.
Some have been helpful and some have been quite rude.
No I don't know a lot about weaning, sorry about that. I am disabled so thought a group of mums would be able to help me.
I will wait until he is 6 months

OP posts:

Original poster

shauna79 · 12/01/2022 17:37

@Motherdare
Why so rude?
I'm asking for help, not for people to slam me

OP posts:

dryfaithlessnes · 12/01/2022 17:41

Op i think you need to speak to your health visitor not strangers on the net!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

0-3 months old 3-6 months old Babies & sleep Families

Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 12/01/2022 17:45

Your hv won't judge you for not knowing things op. That is what they are there for.
Milk for at least 6 months. Then you can start weaning.. Unless a medical professional advises sooner...

BlueSky8 · 12/01/2022 17:54

www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/ready-or-not/

Start4life is a great website for info

Nillynally · 12/01/2022 18:11

You've been seriously failed by your health visitor if you didn't know that 3.5 is too young for a baby. The advice was 4 months in the 80s when I was born. Use nhs websites for support on this.

stmw123 · 12/01/2022 18:24

Your child is far too young for food.

There's no reason (other than a specific medical one) to give food before 6 months. They get all of the calories and nutrition they need from breast milk or formula for the first 6 months.

What do you think had more calories and nutrition? Mashed veg, or creamy, fatty breast milk/formula?

I'm quite surprised you'd give such a small baby solid food before checking whether or not it's safe? It's a choking hazard at best!

Contact your health visitor for a discussion about weaning.

SummerHouse · 12/01/2022 18:32

No harm done. Is there a sure start center you can get to? They are really great for support and advice. Also mother and baby groups were a godsend for me.

It's advised to wait till six months. I would do that unless you have talked it through with a health visitor and they tell you otherwise.

FTEngineerM · 12/01/2022 18:37

Just blend up a bourbon hun

Patapouf · 12/01/2022 18:46

[quote shauna79]@Nix32
I'm not a fan of Google [/quote]
You what?

3.5 months is not safe to wean. Wait until your child is 26 weeks old and try again!

Alitlebitsleepy · 12/01/2022 18:50

Good advice from @summerhouse

If you prefer to get advice from people then these kinds of groups will be really useful for you. That and speaking to your HV.

I'm sure by now after reading all the other comments, you know that it's best to wait until 6 months. We all make mistakes as first time mums. It's good that you've asked for advice. Definitely look into NHS advice online along with advice from your HV going forward.

Weredone · 12/01/2022 18:59

My dh was weaned extremely early over 30 years ago and now has lifelong digestive problems. You can’t prove the two are linked but I can’t help but feel annoyed on his behalf.

nellly · 12/01/2022 19:05

@Weredone

My dh was weaned extremely early over 30 years ago and now has lifelong digestive problems. You can’t prove the two are linked but I can’t help but feel annoyed on his behalf.

Same for my brother in law, they thought cause he was a 'big Baby' he needed food and he's had digestive problems his whole life. Research suggests the two are linked although obviously can't really tell on an individual level.

Not to worry op you know now to wait till 6 months, can your baby even sit up on their own? That's a good way of telling if they're ready as it reduces choking risk

CiaoForDiNiaoSaur · 12/01/2022 19:07

Do they not give out that book any more. Bump to 1 year or something like that. It had all kinds of helpful things in like when to wean etc. (I got one from my MW when I was expecting DS1 18 years ago)

Mind you, with the whole world wide Web at our fingertips you'd think it wasn't needed these days.

MGee123 · 12/01/2022 19:08

Holding his head up and opening his mouth are not signs he is ready for weaning. There are lots of books if you don't like the internet - weaning made simple by Annabelle Karmel is good, although NHS websites and the start for life ones are obviously reputable and contain trustworthy info. I would stop what you're doing now and revisit in 2 months or so.

Chely · 12/01/2022 19:13

You should wait until a minimum of 4 months and ideally 6 months plus.

Our girls all weaned after 6 months, our boy started at 4 months though. I wouldn't do weaning earlier than 6 months now and give more milk instead, just gives their digestive system more time to mature.

Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 12/01/2022 19:27

Professional guidance is 6 months unless a professional tells you otherwise.
Not a mner who tells you a minimum of 4 months is OK.

rooarsome · 12/01/2022 19:29

@Nillynally

You've been seriously failed by your health visitor if you didn't know that 3.5 is too young for a baby. The advice was 4 months in the 80s when I was born. Use nhs websites for support on this.

We only conduct weaning visits at 4 months old in my locality.

OP, Start4Life is an excellent resource. Don't feel bad about this, everyone makes mistakes. 6 months is a really good age to start weaning.

Best of luck

gogohm · 12/01/2022 19:37

It was 4 months when mine were born, I gave dd1 first tastes at about 15 weeks. Dd2 I waited to the 6 months by then recommended refused to engage with food at all until until 8 months. They are all different

Santaisstilleatingmincepies · 12/01/2022 19:41

I am no medic but the 1 dc of mine that was weaned at 3 months as per guidelines back then has Chrone's...
Rest were milk until 6 months and no similar issues..

lynntheyresexswappers · 13/01/2022 16:55

I was weaned early and have severe IBD.
The guidelines are 6 months for a reason. It's worrying no one told you this or you hadn't read up on it in some way. 3.5 months is absolutely tiny and in no way ready to digest anything other than milk.
Don't feel bad taking it - his tummy will thank you.

CLeighannHxo · 13/01/2022 19:05

@FTEngineerM

Just blend up a bourbon hun

😂😂

tashx · 18/01/2022 15:54

My 4 children were all weaned at 4 months
But
I have a 15 year age gap and can see weaning is now recommended at 6 months
Does anyone know why it has changed

Figgygal · 18/01/2022 16:00

Please speak to your hv and get some proper advice and if your very small baby is content on milk please stick with it and not continue with purees. You dont even need to do purees if you leave it to an appropriate age you can do baby led weaning

mogkat · 18/01/2022 19:24

@tashx

My 4 children were all weaned at 4 months But I have a 15 year age gap and can see weaning is now recommended at 6 months Does anyone know why it has changed

I believe it changed as lots of research was done over a long period of time and it determined that weaning early could potentially cause digestive issues such as IBS in the future.

That's what my HV told me when my son was a baby anyway.

Flip

1 2