you say potato and i say potata

[SpikeMomma]

Just had a talk from a health visitor at a baby group. She said that at 6 months a baby should be fully weaned on 3 meals a day - to keep iron levels up (which they will have lost from birth by then).

I was quite surprised at this - as i wasn't going to start until then, but had it in mind that i'd do it gradually. I personally want to leave it to as close to 6ms as possible as breast feeding is great for me and my boy seems happy as is at the mo.

Just interesting to know if this is accurate or not. I know one person says one thing and others say another. Just interested to hear your comments.

The WHO guidelines say not to start weaning until 6 months, but HVs have been saying for years to start at 16 weeks and many of them seem quite resisitant to change.

If you are happy to leave it until 6 months then do - and tell your HV about the current WHO guidelines. It's apparently better for the baby and gives their gut more time to develop properly. I've also seen people who say that you don't need to rely on purees and slop for so long when you wean at 6 months, you can give finger foods and textures much sooner.

As far as I remember the iron stores do start to deplete at about 6 months - but that's no reason to wean early. They won't have run out by six months.

No, load of old balls. Please ask your HV for the latest guidelines leaflet. There's a link to the pdf of it I posted on here.

Some babies don't eat much for the first year. Iron stores don't suddenly bugger off overnight.
HVs are generally mental.

Please remember these three things. It keeps you sane, I find

Also, if you're still bfeeding, he won't need supplements or vitamin drops. The iron in bmilk is more bioavailable than in formula (it can constipate babies it's wedged in in such high quantities in some of the follow-on milks) and your baby will be fine just breastfeeding.

Milk should be the main part of their diet for the first year anyway - food's just tasters - if you get hung up on babies eating three square meals a day by a certain age, you're often setting yourself up for troubles and getting stressed about food, which you don't want.

Might be an idea to ask your HV what research they're basing their opinions on, but not everyone's like me

Lordy, 3 meals by 6 months?
Ds wouldn't eat anything until he was 7 months. He has never been ill and eats anything and everything. He will be a year old next week. Best things come to those who wait I say!!

Lol at "mental"!

My hv came round at 3 months specifically to tell me not to even think about weaning until 6 months. It would be nice if they could all recommend 6 months but be flexible to accommodate babies who actually need weaning earlier.

DD is now 7 months and has been eating pureed fruit and veg for the last month. She only has 2 'meals' per day which includes a couple of tsp of baby cereal or yoghurt for breakfast and a few ice cubes of veg/fruit for lunch. She is fine with this and I don't want to rush her.

If you and your ds are happy with the breast feeding then stick with it til he's 6 months and then gradually introduce solids. It's more about getting them used to solids at this stage as the milk is still more important.

Also, be sure to ask your HV how much iron is in carrots.

thanks all. in conclusion, she was talking out of her ass?!

hunkerpumpkin - lol!

asked another hv (mentalist to you hunkerpump), and she said it was fine to wait and gradually introduce foods. So, i'm back to being un-confused!

HAve a look at this thread and the link to the latest government guidlines that your HV should be distributing.

weaning guidelines