Weaning at 4 months opinions

[alakhx]

Has anyone weaned there child at 4 months
Before anyone comes at me I just want opinions and if anyone says it's wrong the food I've been looking at is 4-6 months so if you couldn't give at 4 month it wouldn't say

You're gonna get loads of comments saying it's not recommended to start before 6 months and the ones that say you can give it at 4 months are just doing it for marketing purposes. Loads of people still don't give their baby water before 6 months which I find bizarre!

Anyway to answer your question, I started weaning DD at 4 months. Closer to 5 months tho because I kept on putting it off. I just started her on Aptamil porridge (she was already on Aptamil formula) and she loved it. It just got her used to textures and was something a bit different from milk. There's a wide range of loads of different porridges at that age and that's what I'd recommend. She only started eating other foods such as purées and blended food at 6 months.

Now she's 9 months and she literally eats anything😂 she's super greedy now lol

@bluesk75

You're gonna get loads of comments saying it's not recommended to start before 6 months and the ones that say you can give it at 4 months are just doing it for marketing purposes. Loads of people still don't give their baby water before 6 months which I find bizarre!

Anyway to answer your question, I started weaning DD at 4 months. Closer to 5 months tho because I kept on putting it off. I just started her on Aptamil porridge (she was already on Aptamil formula) and she loved it. It just got her used to textures and was something a bit different from milk. There's a wide range of loads of different porridges at that age and that's what I'd recommend. She only started eating other foods such as purées and blended food at 6 months.

Now she's 9 months and she literally eats anything😂 she's super greedy now lol

I have given my baby aptamil baby porridge, she enjoys it and once she's had enough or acts like she don't want no more I do not force her, she is a hungry baby and always wanting something but sometimes doesn't entertain a bottle for whatever reason! I may start to give her a bit more adventurous jar food now 4m+

Thanks so much for replying I'm waiting on the ladies who tell me I'm abusing my child lol xx

Also would like to add my baby doesn't even spit the food out it goes straight down her without hesitation

I honestly don't get why anyone would want to?

I weaned my son early due to medical advice as he had allergies and a milk intolerance and if I have any more children I sincerely hope I don't have to repeat the process. It's all such a faff in comparison to when they are just having milk. Why anyone wants to start earlier than necessary is beyond me.

Unless adviced by a medical professional then personally I'd wait.

@Beees

I honestly don't get why anyone would want to?

I weaned my son early due to medical advice as he had allergies and a milk intolerance and if I have any more children I sincerely hope I don't have to repeat the process. It's all such a faff in comparison to when they are just having milk. Why anyone wants to start earlier than necessary is beyond me.

Unless adviced by a medical professional then personally I'd wait.

Completely get that & that's your opinion which I do appreciate however I do feel like my child is ready for food as she does sometimes want for something other than milk and like I said I don't give her it if I think she doesn't want it. I just don't understand why some food states 4m+ and also years ago people would be encouraged to give food earlier than what is advised mow?xx

So you don't want opinions? What's the point if this thread?

The evidence is clear that in the vast majority of cases it is best to wait till the baby shows natural signs of readiness, which is around the middle of the first year. Not four months.

@zurala

So you don't want opinions? What's the point if this thread?

The evidence is clear that in the vast majority of cases it is best to wait till the baby shows natural signs of readiness, which is around the middle of the first year. Not four months.

I do want opinions as a first time mum I like to hear other people's experiences and thoughts.

Completely understandable if you do not agree but on the contrary there are so many children who are weaned from 4m with success stories

Is she actively hungry? Needing more feeds? Waking very frequently? Allergic or intolerant of anything?
If not then she doesn’t ‘need’ any solids.
Give her more milk. Interest in food is fine but she is not really developed enough to digest it properly yet.
Wait a few weeks, that’s all it is, a few weeks.

Completely get that & that's your opinion which I do appreciate however I do feel like my child is ready for food as she does sometimes want for something other than milk and like I said I don't give her it if I think she doesn't want it.

Honestly if she is hungry then pureered baby food isn't going to fill her up more than the milk she is having.

I just don't understand why some food states 4m+ and also years ago people would be encouraged to give food earlier than what is advised mow?

For the same reason all kinds of baby advice changes. With more research comes a better understanding and advice adapts and changes. It's also the reason why we now put babies to sleep on their backs and have them rear facing for longer. Just because it was done in the last doesn't mean it's a good idea now.

Oh yeah of course there's also jar food. I never used jar food but simply because there was too much choice and I couldn't choose which meals to get😂 but yeah defo try that. Especially if she shows an interest in the porridge and seems she wants more/something different. Also you can give her a rusk biscuits if you haven't done already. It's great for their gums and melts in their mouth. I was giving very small pieces of that to DD and she loved it.

Haha no you're defo not abusing your child but some people stick to the advice given to a T. Some pick and choose which ones they listen too and some take it all with a pinch of salt. Everyone's different🤷‍♀️

@Smartiepants79

Is she actively hungry? Needing more feeds? Waking very frequently? Allergic or intolerant of anything? If not then she doesn’t ‘need’ any solids. Give her more milk. Interest in food is fine but she is not really developed enough to digest it properly yet. Wait a few weeks, that’s all it is, a few weeks.

Yes she is a hungry baby, she's on 7ounce but won't want another ounce even if I make it but will proceed to cry, eat her hands and smack her lips hence the reason I started the baby rice or porridge. She won't have it everyday if I feel she doesn't need it.

Unfortunately on MN, there are very rigid opinions on feeding babies.My DC are 16-27 and the recommended age was 4 mths, oddly enough the millions of babies weaned under the now recommended 6mths have miraculously survived 😉

How do you know your baby wants things other than milk?
I ask because my DD used to want our digestive biscuits and orange juice etc etc at 3m but that’s just a healthy part of development of them being interested in food, not that their body can handle a digestive biscuit at that age.
I’d really think hard about introducing solids this early, and I say that as someone who attempted to wean at 5m because I thought she was ready. Turns out she was ready more towards 7m…

@bluesk75

Oh yeah of course there's also jar food. I never used jar food but simply because there was too much choice and I couldn't choose which meals to get😂 but yeah defo try that. Especially if she shows an interest in the porridge and seems she wants more/something different. Also you can give her a rusk biscuits if you haven't done already. It's great for their gums and melts in their mouth. I was giving very small pieces of that to DD and she loved it.

Haha no you're defo not abusing your child but some people stick to the advice given to a T. Some pick and choose which ones they listen too and some take it all with a pinch of salt. Everyone's different🤷‍♀️

Hi thanks for your reply, she loves food she is given Snd I don't let her have exotic flavours or much of our stuff but for example she has tastes a banana purée and genuinely cries for more, with her baby rice I do give her the bottle then the rice and if she doesn't want it I won't force her it but if she does take a liking she cries if I'm not quick enough with the spoonful lol

Seems more hassle than it's worth.
With mine I started around 25 weeks when they had the coordination to pick things up an chew. Meant I could put feed them and get on with my own meal.

@Duckandsarah

How do you know your baby wants things other than milk? I ask because my DD used to want our digestive biscuits and orange juice etc etc at 3m but that’s just a healthy part of development of them being interested in food, not that their body can handle a digestive biscuit at that age. I’d really think hard about introducing solids this early, and I say that as someone who attempted to wean at 5m because I thought she was ready. Turns out she was ready more towards 7m…

She easily eats from a spoon, cries for more rice, she doesn't mess about or spit it out & she does seem to enjoy it. If offered more milk when showing signs of hunger she doesn't want the milk but will easily have the rice if given

I read up on a lot of research when my DS1 just turned 5 months because he was obsessively interested in watching people eat and seemed ready by all measures I could find. It was a five years ago now, so I can't remember the details and there may be more research now, but the jist that I picked up was that there was a lot of evidence that solids before 4 months could be harmful, solids at 6 months was good, and possible problems of you wait longer than 8 months. It seemed a bit grey between 4-6 months - possible negative health impacts bit low evidence. I waited until 5 1/2 months.

@loveisanopensore

Seems more hassle than it's worth. With mine I started around 25 weeks when they had the coordination to pick things up an chew. Meant I could put feed them and get on with my own meal.

I don't really see it as a hassle tbh, she's my child Snd I made the decision to take this on when I chose to become a parent. I just don't see the problem if I know she's ready I just wanted to see how other people see this sensitive topic & as for only giving food when they can hold themselves so you can enjoy I'd rather starve n know my child is fine x

All modern research points to it being best to wait for the signs of readiness which includes:

Sitting up unaided
Being around 6 months old
Losing the tongue thrust

Baby food says 4 months plus because of some poorly babies or those with severe allergies etc might need early weaning.

In the old days we were all weaned at 3/4 months because we didn’t know any better. Now, fortunately, science has moved on and we know what’s best for babies. Which is waiting for all the signs of readiness. We also have a population who were weaned at 4 months who now have ibs and health issues. It was also around this time mums were told that formula feeding was best for babies, when you know better you should do better.

Baby’s are naturally curious and will want to look at/ touch food - it doesn’t mean their little bodies are ready to digest it

I have no idea why anyone would wean their baby early - I don’t think it’s neglect but I do think it’s pure stupidity

On medical advice the 4 month boxes are suitable.
Not for all babies.
Your baby won't be fuller or sleep more on food op.
Your baby isn't chewing it's hands for food.
Your baby isn't grabbing your food because it wants some.
Your relative pushing for you to wean isn't right..
Accept the professional guidance op. It really is there for good reason.

Also I have done baby led with both of mine and would never dream of sticking a spoonful of mush in their mouths!

Why do you want to do this?

It's not advised to wean before 6 months because baby's gut and kidneys aren't developed enough to process food.

Baby needs high nutrition, high calorie milk not low calories purée taking up room in baby's tummy.

Just because shops ell something doesn't mean it's good for you.

It's it's a strange to make.

I'm living in Ireland and our health service says you can wean from 17 weeks onwards if they show signs of being ready. We've cmpa and reflux here too so I'm thinking of weaning before the 6 months.

Chewing their hands is probably because they are teething. Milk has lots more calories than food and its much easier when they are sitting well and able to have finger foods alongside any puree.

as for only giving food when they can hold themselves so you can enjoy I'd rather starve n know my child is fine

My goodness that's very melodramatic. Why wouldn't you wait until your child can hold the food? It's actually much more sensible that they are able to regulate how much they consume and master the process of getting food into their mouths than it is to just put a spoon into their mouths. They aren't actually learning anything if the parent is the one feeding them.

General medical consensus seems to be 6 months. I'm sure there's examples of it being fine before then (post 4 months) but I waited as I didn't see the point in going against the advise.