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Original poster

Weaning my baby

31 replies

colourPink · 13/02/2024 15:31

FTM here. What age did everyone start weaning their babies? I've read tons (and tons!) of advice that essentially says 6 months is the guidance but as long as they are no younger than 17 weeks go off when your baby is ready.

Did anyone wean before 6 months? Did you all just start with baby rice? Just have a few questions.

And before anyone starts having a go (Mumsnet can truly be the most judgemental place) I am not saying I will start my baby before 6 months just asking around at what other parents have done. My instinct tells me he might be ready sooner but also don't want do anything wrong.

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Original poster
colourPink · 14/02/2024 08:46

But if anyone has any advice to help us get over the 4 month sleep regression I'm all ears 😂

OP posts:
MixingPlaydough · 14/02/2024 09:19

colourPink · 14/02/2024 08:46

But if anyone has any advice to help us get over the 4 month sleep regression I'm all ears 😂

We used to joke DS didn't have a sleep regression because he never fucking slept to start with so unfortunately no help on that matter 😂😂😂

LeMoax · 14/02/2024 13:16

sexnotgenders · 13/02/2024 20:18

I'm honestly struggling to think of a reason why you would wean early? As others have said, it's a right ballache and there's just no health reason to (the PP going on about allergens is only valid if there is a history of allergens in the family)

OP, from reading your posts, you appear to want to do it just because your baby can sit up and has good hand eye coordination. That's not a sign that your baby is therefore ready to wean - those are simply the skills any and all babies will develop over the 4-6 month old period which are needed before you introduce solids at 6 months. It isn't a case of: baby can sit up = instantly start weaning. It's more a case of: baby is 6 around months, can they sit up, are they showing interest in food = if so, start weaning.

Is there an actual reason you think you should give your baby food? I'm assuming this is your first born? Are you just in a rush to try the next phase? Because that's not really a good enough reason to get them eating as their bodies are still maturing and are still designed solely to digest milk. As a mum of two under 3, both of whom are on solids, I'd enjoy the peace of just milk feeds for as long as possible

This isn’t true - https://www.jacionline.org/article/S0091-6749(22)01656-6/pdf

introducing peanuts at 4motnhs leads to an 82% decrease in peanut allergies across the whole
population (with and without history of allergies or eczema)

if you have no eczema or history of allergens etc it is still worth having introduced peanuts BY 6 months of age. If you’re still playing with broccoli at 6 months you won’t have introduced other tastes like nuts until 7/8/9months and will have missed this window.

as said before this is v new evidence so not in guidelines yet

Completely up to you what you do but the evidence is there

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Sandpitnotmoshpit · 14/02/2024 13:22

The only person I know who has started early had a baby with horrific reflux and it was under medical advice. I have started both of mine at 6 months exactly. DS1 wouldn't tolerate a spoon at all so we quite quickly switched to BLW and he didn't eat anything of much really until about 8 months... (Kept offering). DS2 has just started and is very keen (I've been doing a bit of puree and a finger food, we're 4 weeks in and working up to small combos of foods, and next week i think I'm going to introduce some breakfast as he's really enjoying the lunch, that's at 7 months). I really wouldn't inflict the mess/food prep on yourself before it's absolutely necessary. I've never given either of mine baby rice.

mealideas2024 · 14/02/2024 13:33

KvotheTheBloodless · 13/02/2024 15:46

I weaned at 6 months, but it took ages till DS would take much in the way of solids, not till around 9 months when I went back to work and DH took over, and DS no longer had a readily available supply of milk on demand!

@BlackBoxes it was the other way round in my experience, the BF mums all waited till 6 months, the FF mums went with 4 (or even as early as 3, which was mad).

Yes as above. Weaned at 6 months, possibly a week or so before with a "taste" of broccoli to play with but not properly weaning and giving own plate of food etc.
Yes I agree, the FF mums I know started weaning sooner (4 months as a rule) but I'm not sure why.

bakewellbride · 14/02/2024 14:41

" A friend of mine said that because it's made using their milk it's just a thicker texture, slightly different taste for them so an easy way to start. "

But you can mix their milk into any food - so many better foods out there!

I did banana mashed up with a bit of breastmilk just after 5 months as they were ready then, kept reaching out for our food etc.

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