20 weeks old can I try with baby rice or porridge

[Anonnnnnnm]

Hello,

Firstly can I say my wife is wonderful in every way but naturally we have slightly different parenting styles. Our son is 20 weeks on Thursday, he can support his own head and sit up very well with tiny bits of support and no support at all if he's slightly reclined (say in a high chair) or against a cushion/surface.

He's been showing a massive interest in food for a few weeks but just this week he's massively interested. He stared at my crumpet the whole time I ate it 😂 and yesterday when he thought he was getting a spoonful but my sister ate it instead (who was holding him) he burst out crying.

My wife simply will not compromise and says 6 months no less. I disagree and want him to try a tiny spoon of baby rice / porridge/ purée etc.

It's become a really difficult topic to talk about or discuss. I just want to know am I suggesting something out of the ordinary or unsafe? If I am then please tell me because I would never want to hurt my son.

Thank you everyone 😊

Official advice is 6 months.

Wait until he's 6 month. Gut isn't ready yet.

Unless advised on medical advice you’re wife is correct.

Babies are interested in lots of things so of course they will be fascinated watching someone eat. Maybe don't eat in front of him?

We waited to 6mo as the reasoning to wait was greater than any reason not to wait.

Their guts need time to develop and it's widely regarded that the 6m mark is the time that happens. They don't need anything other than milk for those first 6m as nothing else is as nutritious or calorific. Even after 6m, milk is still their main source of nutrition and everything on top is exploring/fun/learning to chew etc.

Just wait.

No need to do it early. Babies are always interested in what we are doing.

Your wife is following NHS guidelines, so is there an actual reason you want to wean earlier? Is it on medical advice? Is there reason to believe he isn't gaining weight on milk or that he is unable to continue on a purely milk diet for another month or so? Baby rice is pretty nutritionally void anyway. There are far better first foods.

Current medical advice is to wait until 6 months. I have a 4 month old who is suddenly noticing food but we will wait till 6 months

Thanks everyone, got my answer loud and clear and will wait 😊

Being gentle here... Are you basically asking how to give your baby food knowing full well that your wife/ baby's mum doesn't want this to happen? You're likely to get some rather hostile responses I fear!

But... For what it's worth, your wife is saying 6 months because that is the advice given by the NHS (assuming you're in the UK?) Babies digestive systems are still maturing in early months, plus their swallow/gag reflex won't be as advanced. Would you be telling your wife that this is what you plan to do, or wait until she's gone and go for it anyway? (Aside from the health advice I can safely say I'd have been fuming if my husband had pushed ahead with something like this behind my back with either of our kids).

I'm with your wife.
My DH has gastro issues, his gastroenterologist has said he believes it stems from early weaning (which was the norm when he was a baby). You may think it won't hurt but in 20-30 years time you could be proved wrong.

He's been showing a massive interest in food for a few weeks but just this week he's massively interested. He stared at my crumpet the whole time I ate it 😂 and yesterday when he thought he was getting a spoonful but my sister ate it instead (who was holding him) he burst out crying.

Well my 14 month old cried the other day because I wouldn’t let him chew on a leaf… he also looked very interested in my glass of wine at a recent wedding… kids don’t always know what’s best for them and what they show an interest in is irrelevant. Welcome to parenting.

(and I say that as a mum who had one baby who showed zilcho interest in food until the age of 1.5 and then a second baby who would probably have chosen to wean herself at 16 weeks if we'd let her- I know what you mean by the look of anger/ mild outrage when food is placed near them and then not given to them!) 😂

My 9 month old loves to play with my car keys, he's not going to be driving us anywhere anytime soon

You might also want to look up baby rice and arsenic levels!

Why is my opinion less valid than hers (again not trying to be argumentative at all) just find that frustrating that's all xx

Thank you I will x

Why is my opinion less valid than hers (again not trying to be argumentative at all) just find that frustrating that's all xx

But it's not her opinion. It's the advice given by all areas of baby health. She is following scientific guidelines.

Thanks again everyone new parent here thanks for those who were gentle or humorous in there responses. The others well... that's just mumsnet isn't it 🤣🤣

P.s. nothing wrong with a baby driving they can't reach the pedals so save a fortune on fuel 🤣🤣

That's not the context in which I answered the question though is it 😊

Your opinion isn't less valid - it's just less informed.

You also wouldn't want to bother with baby rice or baby porridge. Also not the recommended way to start with weaning given the sheer lack of nutrition, and I imagine often thought of as a good solution by sleep deprived parents who want to fill up baby's tummy.

Your opinion and the very real medical fact that a baby's digestive system isn't ready until 6 months are two very different things.

OP your opinion isn't less valid but it's not as though she's trying to give the baby crack cocaine is it. She wants to follow the guidelines for weaning, what's wrong with that?
Every sign you've mentioned as to why your baby is apparently ready isn't a sign and is something all babies do.

Why is my opinion less valid than hers (again not trying to be argumentative at all) just find that frustrating that's all xx

Because her ‘opinion’ is based on scientific evidence and official health guidelines.
Your opinion seems to be based on ‘well this is what I fancy doing…’

Hahaha! I'm just learning like everyone else and that's why I came here as I wasn't going to just go and give him food. I wanted to explore why I may be wrong and definitely accept that I am! My kid would deffo be on the crumpets left to him 🤣🤣

What is the context then? She wants to wait til 6m. The advice from medics is 6m.

Have you asked her why she wants to wait to 6m? Presumably it's because the medical advice is 6m.

Because hers is right