confused about when to start weaning

[scottygirl5]

Just a quick question. My DD is 19 weeks and at her check with the HV last week i was told that its not long till she can start weaning as she's not far off the recommended 24 weeks and that once we hit that we can start. This confused me as i thought the guidelines were 6 months which is 26 weeks isn't it? So which is it,24 or 26?

Thanks!

Six months is 26 weeks. I'm not sure the fortnight is very important. Dd was 25 weeks yesterday and I gave her a first taste of purée this morning.

She spat it out.

26 weeks :)

I suppose i partly want to know because i think DD is pretty hungry now and has started looking for more frequent feeds day and night but 5 weeks early didn't seem as bad as 7 weeks early! Don't think I'll give it a go till she's over 5 months though my DM keeps telling me how she weaned my brother at 3 months!

Your baby may be hungrier, but that's not the same thing as ready for solids. I would wait.

You are looking for the following signs before weaning:-

At least 17 weeks, but 26 weeks is better

Ability to sit upright in a highchair without slumping

Loss of tongue thrust reflex (if you put something in baby's mouth do the push it back out? If they do then they aren't developmentally ready regardless of age or size)

Ability to pick up foods and put them in their mouth (aka the banana test)

Lots of info on the 'No Rush To Mush' website (government one not crank website!)

ds was about 4 mths ds2 was about 7 mths.
there is 2 years between my ds and the guidlines were so different it was unreal. What i could eat while expecting, when to start with solids, how long they should sleep, the list is endless.
theres 2 years between me and dh and the same differences were around in the 70's to1 Go with what YOUR child tells you.

It's around 6mo, ie 26wks.

But the key is around. This page from your birth to 5 book explains the sigh when your baby is ready for solids. Btw hunger isn't one of the signs.

Thanks guys. All I'd got from HV was the 24 week thing and the suggestion to go ahead soon. Will have a look at those websites.