weaning at 10 weeks

[kiki22]

I am having a huge dilema here and need advice.

DS is 10 weeks old and constantly hungry he's a big boy already 14lbs from 7lbs 3 at birth. He seems to need more food than he's getting as his milks not satisfying him he's constantly staring at us eat and puts everything in his mouth spends 90% of the day chewing his hands!

I've asked HV about his and she says there are 2 options 1 being giving him hungry baby milk but he's currently on lactose free so the hungry baby may give him a sore tummy again which makes him very miserable or 2 start giving him baby rice as it's lactose free but obviously it's very early. HV has more or less said she can only advise the hungry baby as they won't advise weaning before 16 weeks but it's up to me which has left me thinking why would she mention baby rice if it was a no go? Do i put him on baby rice and milk until 16 weeks or hungry baby and risk making him ill again?

Anyone have any ideas? i really don't know whats for the best but the poor boys going to eat his own hands if something isn't done soon!

so he is only have 2 feeds over night? he seems to be making his own little routine of some big feeds, and a few snacks, it certainly doesnt sound like he is having too much milk, just do as you are doing and let him have milk when he wants it, ignore the hv!

On that note op get another HV she sounds like she has a screw loose and her advise doesn't sound right either.
Just feed him however much he wants x

I don't think i will just yet, i think because he's big everyone forgets how young he actually is was in 3-6 month clothes at 9 weeks and sits up really well with support when i tell people his age they always say they thought he was older but no matter how big looks or acts he's still only 10 weeks.

Head is back on straight now think i'm giving up asking anyone in RL for advice they just confuse me lol

he gets 3 - 4 oz of water a day too. He is just a greedy boy like his daddy me thinks.

I bf, so forgive me if I'm talking rubbish, but couldn't you give him milk instead of the water? Isn't there enough water in the formula already?

you shouldn't be giving water alongside th4e formula- that just confuses the stomach - he thinks he's getting food, but he's getting water, that means his stomach gets ready for food, then gripes because it's getting water instead (think about if you have a drink of water to stop you feeling hungry - it doesn't work and just makes you more in nneeeed of food)

He's also probably going through his 12-week growth spurt early.
DD had hers at 11 weeks (just), and it lasted until 13 weeks.

Giving him milk instead of water doesn't work he only gets water because he gets constipated doctor advised to give it between feeds which is actually becoming very difficult since he's snacking, he only takes maybe half an oz of water at a time i don't give him anymore at a time.

Poor wee soul has had a hard time with food and tummy problems since he was born, the problems seem to have almost totally stopped now thats part of the reason i was so confused about what to do about hungry baby food vs weaning tbh neither sounds like a good idea to me considering how much problems he's had. The thing that made me want to pick weaning over hungry baby was normal formula made him ill and the rice didn't seem to bother him but honestly i'd rather just leave him it was others going on t me that made me feel like i had to pick one or the other.

Don't think anyone else said this.
The milk has as much or more calories than any of the early weaning foods. Milk is more calorie-dense (more calories for the volume). In other words, it fills him up more. So counter-productive to try filling him up with lower calorie food, iyswim, if you think he's somehow extra hungry.

Babies are oral fixated. They love putting anything in their mouths. The mouth is their primary sense organ. It's how they explore the world.

I never FF but I thought the thinking was very strongly that they should be demand-fed just as breastfed babies are. Quick Google seems to strongly support that. I always fed mine as much as they'd take.

Thanks i never quiet understand how to avoid feeding a baby on demand tbh how do u not? leave them screaming and hungry? seems crazy to me if he's hungry he gets fed.

if he's hungry he gets fed

You will never go wrong then op, honestly.

Don't doubt yourself. Listen to advice by all means, but only follow it if you genuinely believe it to be correct. If it sounds like a load of tosh it invariably is!

Keep doing what you're doing, you're doing fine.

DD is 12 weeks and weighs 15lb 4 and I wouldn't dream of feeding her anything but milk for a good 12 weeks yet. She drinks over 1200ml of milk a day and is still on the 98 centile as she was at birth.

Ignore what the HV says, ignore what it says on the tin and listen to what your son is telling you. Give him as much milk as he wants, stop flapping and trust your instincts. I've been "advised" to give DD baby rice by various people as she's so big and I simply said no. No need to make excuses, to justify your reasoning or feel guilty. A simple no will do.

Hi OP, have you tried giving your baby more than 6oz bottle at a time. My DS is 16 weeks and in the 91st centile, had same problems as you! I make up a 9oz bottle and he usually goes 3.5 - 4 hours between feeds.

cherryblossom i have the most he takes is 5-6 at the one time he just wants some every couple of hours through out the day just now.

Feed him when he's hungry. Every 2 hours is quite common in babies of that age.

From what you have posted about his feeds, he doesn't even seem that hungry to me, just normal. My oldest son was FF from 10 days old and by 5 weeks he was taking 9 x 5oz bottles a day, one every hour and then sleeping through at night. It never occurred to me to wean him, I just kept feeding him. Hungry baby mil made no difference, just constipated him, so I just went back to normal first milk.

He'll be fine, as has been said, frequent feeding is common and normal for young babies.

hi
the basic rule of weaning is that they need to be able to hold their own heads up and ideally be sitting up. A ten week old will choke unless you are holding him in position (not logistically that easy to do). you also cant put him in a high chair/bumbo without support.

so once he is holding his head steady and sitting up with a little support then you can think about it. You mention that the hungry baby milk will upset his tummy, so will baby rice for the same reasons.

Ten week old babies are still a bit of a mystery and whilst you might think he is trying to communicate something to you, he probably isnt. We used a dummy for our 'sucky' baby, if you dont like dummies then leave him with his hands to suck and dont worry so much. If he is gaining weight normally then there is nothing to worry about.
We eventually weaned at 18 weeks, earlier than recommended but it worked for us!

noticed you said about the small bottles as well, move onto the bigger ones and see how much more he drinks in one sitting - probably not that much more - maybe he just likes little and often?

Try give some wather between feeds. It worked for us.