So how do you know when they're ready?

[Piccalilli]

Dd is 21 weeks and we're starting to think about weaning. She's bottle-fed, currently draining 5 8oz feeds a day and sleeps through the night but has recently started waking earlier and earlier. I've read all the debates on here about early weaning and I'm inclined to stick it out til 6 months if I can although I'm really unclear about whether this is such a benefit if baby's bottlefed (perhaps someone can enlighten me??). What I'm really wondering is - how do you KNOW that they're ready? It can't just be a question of 'right, she's six months, break out the baby rice'. Would be grateful for any advice.

I'm bumping this for you as I'm not an expert (my DS born in 2002 when the advice was four months so I didn't have to stick it out so long)so hopefully someone will come along with some up to date advice!

Mine would be of the "Well my DS weaned at 16 weeks and it never did him any harm" variety!!!!!

yes you lessen the risk of your child developing allergies and allergic reactions like excema and asthma later in life

it is to do with the maturity of their gut obviously individual children may mature earlier but that is the cut-off point for all and unless you are willing to cut him open to inspect his gut then I don't see what difference 5 weeks will make

I weaned one at 14 weeks when the advice was 16 weeks

but I stuck it out till 26 weeks with the 2nd because that was the advice

there was a growth spurt around 20 weeks but it settled down

I do not take the decision lightly .. I think if you are aware of the advice you would be negligent in ignoring it

I think (not sure because I breastfed until I went back to work) that the 6 months applies to bottle fed babies because it's about the maturity of the gut to accept other substances than just milk. A bottle fed baby is not going to have a more mature gut, I would have thought.

Also TBH I think because most people, for various reasons (family/friend pressure, baby waking more etc) find it hard to stick it out to 6 months it generally does end up being a case of "break out the baby rice". When DS was a baby and the advice was 4 months the signs to look for were interest in your food (but most babies of this age are naturally nosy about lots of things), putting things in mouth (but again they all do that IME), not being satisfied after a full feed etc.

also its much much easier to wean at 26 weeks .. less faff and quicker

Ah yes twiglett I remember you racing through the fruit and veg purees with your DD. Actually I was so totally lazy that I started my DD off on a rice cake.

Piccalilli do you think you could increase your DD's milk intake, because I think like Twiglett that we had a growth spurt at about this point?

I was going to ask EXACTLY the same thing.... Becky is nearly 19 weeks and taking anything up to 12oz at a time!!! She's a little piggy, but also still sleeps through, but is waking earlier and earlier for a feed. Currently goes 7pm-6amish.

How DO you KNOW when they are ready?!

Twiglett, from the tone of your response I think you've misunderstood me. I'm not looking for reasons to wean early, I'm happy to leave it til 26 weeks particularly as I'm quite nervous about the whole process. It's just - why 26 weeks? Why not 27, 28? How do I know if she's ready for it even then? All of the 'signs' I've been told to look out for are already there - displaying interest in food, grabbing for food on my plate, waking at night when she never used to...so does that mean that once we get to 26 weeks she should be ready?