DD is 18 nearly 19 weeks should I start weaning.

[Louboo2245]

Up until a week ago she was sleeping through no problems, she has now started waking twice a night. She constantly watches others eat DS got a bit defensive when she was staring at his fish fingers and chips.
She has other indicators but because of those wonderful government guidelines should I wait until she is a bit older.

Things have been thrown a bit as I was in hospital on tues for an operation, but I don' think that has made a big difference to her routine.

Advice please.

I'd wait.

Watching her big brother eat isn't a reliable indicator of readiness to wean on its own.

Can she sit unsupported?

Also, weaning is not shown to improve sleep - many babies sleep worsens when they start weaning. If you think she's hungry, give her more milk.

Weaning is a massive pain in the arse

The mess, the 90 minute lunches, the nappies

Leave it as long as possible

It could be the 4m sleep regression/developmental leap see here.

This also has some good advice on what signs indicate a readiness for eating foods.

Thankyou x

You know the guidelines. You know why they are there. Why wouldn't you follow them?

Because every baby is different and haven't yet been taught to keep to government guidelines?

Of course every baby's different. That's the point. Most babies will be fine with early weaning. Probably the vast majority will be. But some won't. And you can't tell until it's too late which sort of baby yours is. That's why the advice is to wait- not because early weaning ia automatically damaging to all babies. But because it is to some.

The baby is 18-19 weeks seeker. there is no evidence of harm in weaning after 17 weeks in the UK.

your assertion that it is harmful to 'some' babies is incorrect - there is i believe solid evidence of harm to a minority of babies prior to 12 weeks in the Millenium Cohort however.

Guidelines aren't set with the aim of babies then following them.
They're based on what suits the majority of babies based on scientific research. There's not some sort of agenda to force babies to eat solids later.

DD is 22 weeks and I've been tempted to wean but I remember the hassle it was with DS. It seems quite exciting until you get to the practicalities of it! So I'm waiting even though she watches us eat and can grab stuff and shove it in her mouth.

I am excited about it, that's why I'm asking opinion and not just jumping in.
My DS is 8 so can't remember what weaning was like. Though saying that DS was so relaxed I can't remember much of his milestones

[grin.] I'm already missing DD's whereas with ds I could tell you everything!

I gave dd a lick of pear and she loved it. So might just let her taste until we get to 6 months and progress to feeding properly.

I started weaning my LO at 17 weeks. He is nearly 19 weeks.

My friend gave me a Heinz guide and it has a timetable and ideas for what to give. I think it's brilliant because the thought of when to increase the amount stumped me.

Guidelines do state '6 months' but you can start at 17 weeks if YOU think your baby is ready for it. My LO was. I went to my GP (reduced milk feeds) and it turned out he had a tummy bug. He's fine now. Still weaning and back to normal with milk feeds although he does have an off day like today!

They are just that - guidelines. If you are unsure there is no harm in waiting. As I said previously in another threas, most of us were probably weaned at 4 months, some earlier and we're all here to tell the tale. Guidelines were altered to fit with MOST babies not all babies.

As for messiness - I must be lucky that SO FAR my LO is a very tidy and clean eater!

"Guidelines do state '6 months' but you can start at 17 weeks if YOU think your baby is ready for it. My LO was."

Well, I hope you use your powers of X ray vision only for good.....

A Heinz guide?

Having not seen one, I can only assume that it starts at 17w recommending Heinz Baby Rice as the ideal food to begin with followed by various other fabulous Heinz baby foods...

bugger any online guide,
x-ray vision not required when there is reasonable quality, recent and UK-relevant evidence that 17 weeks on is not going to cause harm. of course, there isn't any measurable benefit in terms of health outcomes either.

completely up to the OP.

Well we started today. She had a couple of mouthfuls of baby rice and we'll take it from there. Hoping for a better nights sleep tonight.

Go for it!! My DS is 20 wks tomorrow and has been having some food for a couple weeks. He is a monster baby at almost 20lbs and hasnt been satisfied with milk for weeks, launches himself at food, eats worrying amounts when given to him and doesn't refuse anything. I could follow the 26 week guidelines but i genuinely think it would be to his detriment so have used my own initiative and responded to the cues he is giving me just like you have there is nothing wrong with that as long as go slowly.

I also have a weaning guide but it's a cow and gate 1 they do peddle their own products but also have recipes, checklists for recording when a new food is given, the response etc. also money off vouchers which I'm sure will come in handy at some point

Remember to start them on driving lessons when they start showing an interest in the steering wheel, won't you?

Seeker

Ah yes the guidelines which are there to advise not dictate and which are not applicable to every child.

Are you actually suggesting that the op should deprive her child of what she, as her Mother, thinks she needs based on guidelines which do not apply to every child?

We started weaning at 17wks, so far it's been a piece of piss, DS loves the mush, will happily feed himself & is less messy with the food than his milk.

Good luck for when you do start!

Nope. As I said, I'm very pleased that the op has been able to use her x ray vision and is therefore certain that her baby is not one of the very few who might suffer ill effects from early weaning. I just suggest that those of us who are less gifted might prefer to follow the guidelines that people who study such things suggest.

you are scaremongering seeker without a good evidential footing.

as ' the Millennium cohort has recently reported (Quigley, 2008) that the age of introduction of solids had no effect on risk of hospitalization for diarrhoea or lower respiratory tract infection' and indeed the european food safety agency also concluded that 'Overall, on the basis of present knowledge the Panel concludes that the introduction of complementary food into the diet of healthy term infants in the EU between the age of 4 and 6 months is safe and does not pose a risk for adverse health effects (both in the short-term, including infections and retarded and excessive weight gain, and possible long-term effects such as allergy and obesity). '

no x-ray vision needed.

If you sat and smoked 20 Marboro in front of her she'd probably show an interest too..

She's probably a bit too young for matches but a lighter should be fine

bugger annoying things like good quality evidence reviews too then.