Bad weaning advice from Pampers

[IEatThePannenkoeken]

Somewhere along the line I must have signed up for these emails from Pampers giving monthly baby advice. I don't normally take much notice of them, but I was a bit surprised to read their advice on weaning, which is just plain wrong:

'Clues that your little one is ready to start on solids include a return to frequent waking in the night, interest in food when you're eating nearby, chewing of little fists, and an appetite that won't be satisfied by a good long feed.'

Pampers Weaning

What rubbish. They do not give any mention of the real signs (sitting unaided, loss of tongue reflex, and ability to pick up and eat food themselves)

Anyone else think it's a bit irresponsible (and lazy) for a big baby brand to be perpetuating myths about weaning?

I think any weaning advice should be taken with a pinch of salt to be honest. Every baby is different. Our consultant advised us to wean our latest premie addition at about 5 months even though 'technically' he would have only just been 3 months. I weaned my DD at 7 months and my middle DC - another premie - at about 6 (so only really 3.5 months) - all based on solid professional advice because every baby is different. Pampers emails do my head in though

I know that it can be different for premies, and obviously professional advice for individual babies trumps general advice, but I just would have thought that Pampers would have gone to the trouble of finding out what the current official advice is (for the majority of babies).

Given they didn't go to the trouble of redesigning nappies that didn't leak , I see no reason why their weaning advice would be any more careful .

Also would anyone ever follow their advice on weaning?

I agree it's shit, why they can't get it right baffles me, though the conspiracy theorist in me says that Pampers probably have a stake/are part of a group which sells weaning foods. And the above signs are ones that appear earlier than 6mo, and so more opportunity to sell, sell, sell.

Gigondas, I know, I'd hope that most people would look elsewhere for weaning guidelines, but apart from these emails if you google weaning, Pampers have paid for the top slot on the results page.

Bit unnecessary for a nappy brand methinks?

Hence me doing the same, LadyBeckenham

Pampers are made by proctor and gamble - not sure they do food/drink but it'll be some brand thing about trusted brand for mothers.

I note they also make washing powder so think the leaky nappies is a deliberate ploy for laundry product sales.

Do they also have a stake in Sudocrem? Cos DD gets nappy rash every time a Pampers comes near her bottom.

Pampers are just repeating the AAP advice which changed last year.

From the BDA position statement

?
Putting toys and other objects in the mouth
?
Chewing fists
?
Watching others with interest when they are eating
?
Seeming hungry between milk feeds or demanding feeds more often even though larger milk feeds have been offered

Sitting up is not considered a sign of being ready to wean.

aap advice

It is in the UK (the AAP being the American Association of Paediatritians). All the things stated by the AAP are developmental stages not really related to being ready to eat but things that happen in the build up to it (except asking for more milk - that appears to be related to formula as BM content changes with time but intake doesn't - BM intake at 5 days is ~700ml, intake at 3 weeks is ~750mls and intake at 6m is ~800ml).

No Rush To Mush guidelines are:-

Stay in a sitting position and are able to hold their head steady

Co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth, can look at food, grab it, and put it in their mouths all by themselves

Swallow their food. Babies who are not ready will often push their food back out, so get more around their faces than they do in their mouths.