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Weaning

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

Original poster

Baby trying to lead weaning at 4months

11 replies

nymphadora · 11/02/2011 21:01

Dd3 Keeps snatching food from my plate . Figured it was just playing but it's started making it to her mouth. So far it's fell out of her hand before it gets there but I'm reluctant to encourage this as I planned to wait til 6 months.

Previous babies were weaned to purees at 4m as was the guidance then & I was looking forward to BLW at 6m with dd3 but now I'm getting stressed she's doing it early.

WWYD?

OP posts:
smellyfeet · 11/02/2011 21:02

can she sit upright?

Original poster
nymphadora · 11/02/2011 21:17

Yes. Though I think she is more confident than I am! Not for long but she usually tips herself to her feet(best thing ever at the moment). She can sit up on my knee longer than on the floor on her own if that makes a difference.

OP posts:
HollyBollyBooBoo · 12/02/2011 00:05

Personally I did wait until 6 months, even though DD showed all the 'signs' of being ready. I know the guidance constantly changes but when I read that her digestive system isn't fully developed until 6 months I really didn't want to give her digestive problems for life (just my anxiety - not sure as there's any evidence about that!)

Also, having now weaned for a month I have to say leave weaning as long as possible as it is messy and takes a bit of time and planning, stick with milk for as long as possible would be my advice!

Original poster
nymphadora · 12/02/2011 07:45

How did you deal with the pinching food? Did you just not eat around her? That's the bit that worries me as I don't want to discourage her to then encourage her in a few weeks.

OP posts:
MoonUnitAlpha · 12/02/2011 13:03

I disagree a bit that there is a magic moment at 26 weeks where their digestive system matures - it makes more sense to me that when they are ready on the outside they are ready on the inside, rather than it being an invisible process. Otherwise, how did humans before we started measuring time in weeks/months know when their babies were ready to eat?

If a baby isn't ready to digest food, they will still have that tongue thrust reflex and they won't be able to chew and swallow. If you give very liquid purees you bypass that as the baby can just suck/drink it. But if you're letting a baby feed themselves, they won't be physically able to pick up and eat food until they're physically able to process it. I don't think it's possible to BLW too early as the baby is in charge, and they all develop at different paces. A 5 month old who can crawl isn't crawling "too early", a 9 month old who walks isn't "too early" just because they're earlier than average.

I'd let your dd pinch food - if she's not ready to digest it then she'll just push it out of her mouth again.

Flisspaps · 12/02/2011 13:06

Don't stress. Let her pick up the food and see what happens. You can always restrict it to carrot sticks/broccoli etc until she's a bit older.

Don't forget that at her age everything will be going to the mouth though!

Original poster
nymphadora · 12/02/2011 13:17

Thanks. I dont know why im stressing so much as the others were eating by now & they havent suffered!

I do hate the puree stage too so BLW seems to be much better. Think I'll not deliberately give her food but if she pinches it I will try not to stress( easier said than done)

OP posts:
Original poster
nymphadora · 12/02/2011 13:19

Getting a high chair next week so she won't be on a knee at mealtimes & can have toys to chew on

OP posts:
megonthemoon · 12/02/2011 15:37

My DD is 20 weeks so I guess same age give or take a week or so as yours. We have started having her sit at the table with us in her high chair or in her bumbo on the table. She is very interested in what we are doing, but I don't think she really is ready to eat yet so we're just giving her a spoon, bowl and cup and she chomps on those and gives us her best smiles an coos. She would grab food and try to put it in her mouth if she were sat on our lap, but just because it is the most interesting thing within reach rather than because she wants to eat it I think. Maybe your baby is the same - trying to grab it just because it is in reach rather than because she is thinking 'oh yummy, food'!

I am a big fan of the baby taking the lead rather than me waiting for an abitrary time and only then putting food in front of her. So we plan to start putting some fruit and veg in front of her so that she has the option of eating it - we'll probably start doing that in a week or so. DS was eating finger foods at about 22/23 weeks and eating significant amounts himself by 26 weeks so it's quite possible she could be ready then too.

Original poster
nymphadora · 12/02/2011 18:48

She has been watching us for ages. Gets excited when a forkful goes in someones mouth ( like being cheered on!)

Think the high chair will help as she can have things to chew on without raiding my plate! Will get her a couple of spoons to play with too

OP posts:
doricpatter · 13/02/2011 17:00

We're about to dig out the highchair too - DD's 21 weeks and far happier sitting up than reclined in a bouncy chair or beanbag. With my first I waited until 26 weeks to the day I think, but with her I'm not waiting so long to offer food. She seems quite able to grab what she wants with a degree of coordination and I'm sure no harm can come from gumming the odd bit of veg. If she swallows any then so be it. Let us know how you get on :)

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