The thing i don't get about "early" weaning

[Pippinella]

I'm not having a pop at anyone who has weaned their baby onto solids "early", its totally up to each mum and I'm sure they have their own reasons for it. I was advised to wean my baby when he was five months old as he was going through a bit of a growth spurt (coupled with a sleep regression I think). In the end I weathered it with extra milk as whenever I tried food he rejected it or vomited immediately, so waited to 6 months and here we are.

Anyway, my point is, you hear about mums giving their three month old, or even younger solids (I presume baby rice or similar). But how on earth do you get a three month old to eat off a spoon? My baby is six months and counting and still does that tongue thrust thing with a spoon, and all the food pours out straight away! I can't imagine a younger baby properly eating off a spoon, it fries my brain imagining it. So, how?

Or have I just got a very awkward young man who is being weird? lol

I don't know but my grandmother potty trained all of her children as soon as they could sit up unsupported!! I have no idea how she did that either! Do you think that it's the same as anything, with a little pratice you get the jist of it after a while?

I weaned my dd at 5mo the rules were different then, and she opened her mouth like a baby bird after the 2nd or 3rd try and gulped down things she liked. However my ds who was my first child, I'm sure I weaned at the same age used to tongue thrust and push fists in.

My mind boggles at very early weaners I just don't see how it works.

Some babies are ready earlier. I didn't begin weaning my ds on purpose til he was 5 months, at that time you wre advised to begin weaning at 4 months so most people thought 5 months was really late. But by then he had already eaten loads of things he'd stolen off my plate or grandma had smuggled him. But dd just wasn't ready at that age and did the tongue thing you describe, and it was pointless trying to wean her until after that had stopped.

Exactly, NatashaBee - how???

Glad its not just me bemused then. I know babies all develop at different rates etc, but three months physical difference?

I suppose it's like all development - some babies are earlier than others! I once gave my LO milk from a spoon at 12 weeks. It was in response to a MUCH older mum who told me to give him baby rice because he seemed hungry. I wasn't so sure so tried milk from a spoon. Even though he took it off well, I still didn't give him the baby rice which was just as well as he had a growth spurt.

I did begin weaning at 17 weeks but without going into a LONG story, we stopped after three days because he reduced his milk too much due to a tummy bug. He began reducing it the day after his 4 month jabs (weaning began after this!) but we didn't notice at first (until I checked an old text I sent to my mum in a blind panic!). I got approval from GP and HV to begin again after a week (18/19 weeks) but I waited until he was back to normal with his intake and nappy contents.

He is 22 weeks on 1st June and we began again on 29th May. He is VERY ratty when there is no food left and he is guzzling milk like there's no tomorrow!

A friend went to a sure start weaning class and in the last couple of weeks weaning guidelines have relaxed. Whereas they said 6mths exclusive BF, now they are saying as long as they have 4 signs weaning at 4 months (17 weeks) is fine but stick to fruit and veg only - which in my experience of knowing lots who wean at this age, is what they all do! I don't know/heard of anyone giving anything other than baby rice and fruit and veg at that stage.

I'm glad you're not being judgemental as all mums know their babies best. I was judged a few weeks ago by the 'What on Earth Brigade' when I asked perfectly reasonable question. That poster DID NOT even answer my question. It is easy to judge sat behind your computer or mobile but unless you know the parent or baby well and their circumstances, nobody is in a position to judge.