When to wean/ introduce solids. So confused!

[LDNmummy]

My DD is a big eater and I am introducing a top up feed of one formula bottle before bed time today. She is 13 weeks and I am thinking of introducing solids at 4 months (three weeks time) but the general advice is six weeks.

My DSis weaned her children at 4 months which was the norm just a few years ago and research from last year seems to suggest it is actually better as waiting till 6 months may actually increase the chances of problems with allergies etc..

Any advice?

I would probably just give her one jar of fruit or veg puree daily to start with.

general advice is six month not six weeks!

Wait til six months or until the three signs are present. no rush to mush If only because it's 2 months of not cleaning up food from the floor walls table your hair

Weaning is fun but it's messy

i would wait as long as possible and get as much milk as possible in during the day. if you think she's ready then try giving more milk during the day for a few days then think about it again.

you could also try pretending with an empty, clean spoon as if you are going to feed her and see what happens. it takes a lot longer at this age to get baby used to taking solids off a spoon. i started early with one of my babies and spent weeks trying to get him used to having a spoon in his mouth. meanwhile he was going through a growth spurt so it was really hard to work out what was going on or what to do.

Taking lots of milk is not a sign that your DD is ready for solid food. She's just a hungry child and milk (breast or formula) is the best thing for her until 6 months.

6 months has been the advice for a good 8 or 9 years now, and it was 4-6 months for 10 years before that. I wouldn't be in any rush - 4 months is an absolute minimum age.

Best to look for external signs that your baby is ready - like being able to sit up, losing the tongue-thrust reflex and being able to pick up food and get it in her mouth, chew and swallow. If she can do that then she is ready - my ds could feed himself at about 22/23 weeks.

Thank you for the advice. Its the conflicting research that has stumped me. I will try with the spoon and watch out for the signs in the mean time.

When they say the baby should be able to sit up, is that completely unaided and for a lengthy period?

My DD can pull herself up at the moment but flops forward once in a seated position. She can hold her head up fine in a seated position, she just cant stay in that position yet IYSWIM.

It's fairly straight when sitting in a high chair. A lot of people wean on bouncy chairs, but it's very difficult to cough up food reclined. You can try it yourself and you will see what I mean!

Is there conflicting advice? I thought it was pretty straightforward. 6 months is ideal, but certainly not before 4.

Yep, just sit up fairly straight in a highchair without slumping or slouching over - if you need to have the baby reclined in a bouncer or carseat then they are too little.