when to wean?

[Iobaby]

My DD is 19 weeks on Monday. She has slipped from 9th to 2nd centile, but is following 2nd centile. When I got her weighed on Weds, HV asked how we were getting on with solids - I said we hadn't started as were hoping to be EBF as long as poss - having weaned DS at 17 weeks on paediatricians advice - severe reflux and slow weight gain I was hoping to try BLW this time and wait until 24 weeks. However, DD has started waking in nights having been sleeping through since 8 weeks, and is madly chewing hands. Has been going 4 hours between feeds, but I am trying to feed her more often to increase her intake generally.
I am now really unsure what to do - am I right to try and hold out? I am worried that she is hungry, and I should just start with baby rice and puree I need advice please

Baby rice and purees will reduce the calories that the baby gets, doing nothing to help hunger, so that is not a sensible reason to go for it. I think your HV was being a bit off to ask about solids in that way. current NHS advise is to wait until around 6 months, 19 weeks is not 6 months.

So I'd wait, those were your instincts and pureeing is a lot of work compared to BLW so it makes sense to me :)

If you can feed more frequently during the day that should help with her weight gain. If she doesn't feed in the night normally you would expect baby to feed more frequently in the day (~8 feeds a day). 4 hourly and not in the night is very few feeds really so any more you can encourage her to take would be great.

There is also the 4m sleep regression this is a developmental leap which is not connected to hunger but you could use her night waking as a way to get extra feeds into her until it passes.

I weaned Ds at 17 weeks. He is now 6 months and has stayed perfectly along the 75th centile line. I dont think itnwill help her to gain weight!