Advice about weaning for friend

[mamasmissionimpossible]

A friend of mine has come to me to ask advise about weaning her 3.5 month old dd. She feels she needs more than milk as she is 'always hungry' I suggested blw which I did with my dd at 6 months. My friend was not keen and said she wanted more control over weaning ie spooning in purée.

I know it's her dd, but personally I feel 3.5 months is too young to wean. What can I advise her without causing upset? She wants me to find my weaning info too. Help!

It is her choice when to wean. YOu know it is too early but you can't tell someone else how to raise their child. aLl you can do is offer the advice that she has asked for.

Saying that, clearly the first thing you need to hand her is a leaflet with the current guidelines on it!

If she is going ot press on and wean this early then blw is not going to be possible anyway even if she had wanted to do it.

I think the best advice for anyone weaning is relax. Relax, relax, relax. Milk will continue to be the main source of calories and nutrients for a long time yet so if she is determined to wean then just offer small amounts of fruit or veg puree at normal meal times and continue to milk feed as normal. If the baby clamps mouth shut, spits out, turns head away etc then don't worry, jsut put the puree away and try again next meal.

Hopefully of course you can find her a good leaflet and she will change her mind but if she doesn't then your next task if gently advising her to not stress and not force anything.

this one is from the NHS, it emphasises that babies are often more hungry around 3-5 months but it doesn't mean that they are ready and has in bold print that you must not wean before 4 months and also lists what should be avoided before 6 months.

Thanks for the advice easilyconfused. I will look out a leaflet with current guidelines. Her dd is formula fed. Does this make a difference to weaning?

Being formula fed doesn't make a difference to the guidelines.

The leaflet I've linked to is actually very good, explaines guidelines simply, makes it clear what to avoid, encourages finger foods etc.