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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

Why the rush?

19 replies

SuiGeneris · 03/08/2010 23:43

So, when did you start introducing solids? Why did you start when you did? Were you aware of the WHO guidelines recommending waiting until 6 months?

DS had his first solids on the day he turned 6 months and we are pretty relaxed as to what he has- in fact my concern is that he might like solids too much and drop milk too soon. Am surprised that among people we know everybody has started weaning before 6 months- why?

OP posts:

babybouncer · 04/08/2010 10:28

Certainly with people I knew we didn't really understand the guidelines and were looking for the wrong signals - ie stopping sleeping through the night. Also, I think you rely on advice from friends and relatives with older kids (which is often brilliant with other things) who tell you to start earlier.

DS started with baby rice at about 5 months, and adored it for a few days, but then refused any purees so I stopped and restarted about 6 months with BLW, but he still didn't really start eating until a long time later.

Bubbles1066 · 05/08/2010 11:46

No idea. I don't want to give myself the extra work of making food as well as milk feeds before I have to! My baby is 5 months old now and I don't think he's ready yet. I'm the only person in my group of friends with baby's of similar ages who hasn't started weaning yet. Most of them say that they weaned because baby was drinking huge amounts of milk/waking in the night etc. They all attended the same weaning talk as me though where it was explained about the new guidelines so it's not as if they don't know them. Also, as previous poster said many older people do believe you should wean at 4 months. I've had older people say to me, 'oh, he should really have food by now- he looks hungry!' Doesn't bother me though as I know that was the guideline when they had their babies so they mean well.

sapphireblue · 05/08/2010 14:27

I weaned both my DDs at 4 months when they began showing an interest in food. They both took to it straight away and we've had no problems. I am aware that the WHO guideline is 6 months, however they don't seem to give a valid reaosn why! Latest research has shown that there is no increased risk of allergies if you wean at 17 weeks.........so I guess my response is, why not?

ReneRusso · 05/08/2010 14:59

I think it's understandable that people listen to the advice of older friends and relatives who tend to believe in weaning earlier. I guess it takes more than a few edicts from the WHO to change cultural habits going back several years.
My baby is about 18 weeks and whilst I haven't introducted solids yet, I probably won't wait until 26 weeks. Why? Because my other children were weaned at around 4 or 5 months according to the guidelines at the time (they are older). So it's hard for me to believe that it's dangerous to wean at this age. I will wait until my baby seems ready.

catwhiskers10 · 05/08/2010 15:44

HV suggested weaning DD last week (she was 21 weeks old) as she was waking up to 5 times a night, she has 2 teeth and she had stopped gaining weight. I had planned to wait until she was 6 months (24 weeks I was told the guideline says) but didnt see what difference 3 weeks would make really. Every baby is different and while most will wait until 6 months or beyond, some wont.
No doubt the current guidelines will change again at some point in the future and while I am not advocating weaning "early", its common sense to allow some flexibility on the age, after all they dont all start to sit up/walk/talk at the same age do they?

PDog · 05/08/2010 15:45

We are BLW so were led my DD, which happened to be the week DD she turned 6mo. Had been getting pressure from my dad for months though and advice from friends etc. All my antenatal group started early though, around 5mo and ime most people do because they believe it will result in better sleep (if only).

TBH in the early days, I found it a complete headache - all the preparation, fitting things in around meals etc. It was much easier when she was just BF and I didn't need to worry about preparing some food to take out. For this reason, I have no idea why people are in such a rush. I would wait as long as possible.

KnitterNotTwitter · 05/08/2010 15:48

We started weaning at 5.5 months because my DH was off to Afghanistan for 6 months and he wanted to be around for that milestone... we did BLW so in reality it was just us giving him a french bean to play with

herbie30 · 05/08/2010 23:39

I am reading the weaning threads as my baby is 5 months old tomorrow, and I'm looking for weaning advice. Like Bubbles1066, I am in the minority in my group of friends in not weaning yet. I plan to wait until the 6 month mark - she seems happy with her milk feeds at the moment. I have started sitting her at the table with us when we eat so she gets used to the idea; at the mo she demolishes books while keeping an eye on us! I do feel under pressure to be weaning though from family, friends and mothers at my baby group.

comeonbishbosh · 06/08/2010 10:49

Interestingly (to me anyway!) I was at a museum yesterday which had a display about food with a parenting book from the 1930s, and then it was advised that weaning should begin at 9 months!
I enjoyed the simplicity of breastfeeding until 6months, and then being about to jump in with pretty much anything. Seems a rough logic to it, and her sleeping is as good as any of the babies weaned earlier. That said, it's not like there is a magic day when everything changes.

AngelDog · 06/08/2010 13:27

Like others here, I can't understand why everyone else I know was so desperate to start before 6 months, other than sheer competition to see who could get there fastest. Weaning is a lot of hassle (although we're BLWing which is a lot easier than purees IMO) and it was nice to have a few months clear after the non-sleeping trauma of the first 4 months when life with DS was fairly easy. Life was easier when I could just bf.

Most of my friends who weaned early spent a lot of time complaining that it was so much hard work and their babies didn't seem to want the food. Maybe it's coincidence, but we started the day DS was 6 months and by the second day he was happily scoffing most things you put in front of him.

I think lots of people are pressurised by friends / family, in the same way that they're pressured to use formula to get babies to sleep longer.

Not many people (or HVs) seem to be aware of the 4 month sleep regression which makes babies wake more frequently no matter how they're fed. And how a few mushed carrots are supposed to fill you up, I've no idea. DS actually woke more after starting solids as they gave him wind.

snugglejunkie · 06/08/2010 14:05

We started very gradually around 5-5.5 months. I'm aware of the WHO guidelines and fully intended to have no solids pass DSs lips until 26wks (EBF - wanted to keep the whole 'virgin gut' as long as poss), however I eat a lot of fruit and he made several successful lunges for pears/apples/bananas

As such was going to do BLW - started well, however after doing a bit of spoon loading he would sit there at mealtimes grabbing at the air with his hand and baby bird mouth . How could I resist!

Kid myself that's it's still sort of BLW, as he generally has what we have - some put on tray to play/shove in his own mouth inbetween me loading spoons. The rest I roughly mush with a fork. Never bothered doing 'proper' purees, guess we're lucky that he's never had a problem with managing different textures and amounts in his mouth. Plus he had 6 teeth through before 6mths.

Actually I found the whole weaning business the most fun and easiest bit so far. At a few days short of 9mo, he is fully on 3 meals a day and has eaten everything offered so far gusto and no ill effects - even things like curry & chilli!

Tis twaddle about solids and better sleeping tho - can tell you that from bitter experience...

snugglejunkie · 06/08/2010 14:07

with gusto

Tigresswoods · 06/08/2010 14:09

Because every baby is different.

Simples.

pecanpie · 06/08/2010 14:48

DD2 is 5.5 months and I gave her a first taste of sweet potato yesterday because she has been displaying a LOT of interest in trying food. She insists on joining us at the table - tries to make her presence known until we bring her to join me, DH and DD1 (age 3).

I don't plan on properly weaning for a good few weeks, but as DD is displaying a genuine interest in food, it seemed to be a good time to let her taste some different foods before she reaches 6/6.5 months at which point she may be ready for more than a teaspoon of puree.

I think a lot of 'signs' that a baby needs to be weaned - e.g. waking during the night - can simply be put down to growth spurts.

AngelDog · 06/08/2010 14:48

snuggle, the NHS guidelines actually say that if a baby younger than 6 months is sitting up, picking up & tasting finger foods, they should be encouraged, not prevented.

AngelDog · 06/08/2010 14:50

NHS guidelines Here.

Tigress, generally true, but that's one of the reasons I wonder why virtually everyone I know IRL starts at the same time - 4 months.

snugglejunkie · 06/08/2010 14:55

AngelDog Looks like at least my DS was fully aware of the NHS guidelines

As it was, he seemed ready so I just went with it and didn't mention it to my HV.

AngelDog · 06/08/2010 21:11

snuggle, mentioning things to HVs? You mean you even considered it?

Mine have never even spoken to me about weaning!

jemjabella · 08/08/2010 12:54

I guess because people think they know best and the guidelines are just there to annoy them?

We started at 6mo but not much was consumed til about 7.5mo. If/when I have another I'd consider holding off longer just from a laziness POV.

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