When to wean?

[Ecgwynn]

One of my friends has a baby the same age as my own (4 months old this week). 2 weeks ago she posted a pic on fb of her son sucking a pineapple and today she's been feeding him baby rice. Should I be doing this too? I thought the recommendation was 6 months?

The recommendation is 6 months, you are right. You can wean from 4 months but its not really recommended and there are no clear advantages, plus there are risks, including increased risks of developing allergies later in life.

The NHS has some good info in starting solids here including what signs to look for so that you know when your baby is ready. You might also want to read this on baby rice before you rush out and buy a packet .

Having weaned 2DC, one at 4 months and one at 6 months I would heartily recommend waiting. At six months they can mainly have what you have (as long as you eat fairly healthily) and they can feed themselves. It is just so, so much easier than making and feeding purees.

If you want to prepare for weaning, have a look at this and if you are worried about weaning and choking, see if your local Children's Centre, St Johns Ambulance or British Red Cross run Paed First Aid Courses. I would just wait though, it is easy to feel pressure when your friends baby is doing something that yours isn't, but in the case of weaning being first isn't always the best .

Ditto everything jiltedjohnjulie says

There's no rush to wean. Guidelines are guidelines so look for the signs of readiness (listed in jjj's link)

as above good advice, no you don't have to and dont be intimidated by other mothers practices, you do what is best for yor baby.

interesting link on baby rice Jilted, thanks. We are planning first foods etc for our 5.5mo who we're aiming to wean at 6mo (unless he grabs food from me first, an increasingly likely eventuality) Since he's old enough for finger foods etc I was thinking of just skipping baby rice completely, but half wondered if he/we would be missing anything. Now I am very confident to skip straight to the steamed carrots and what not.

ecgwynn just do what is right for you, many of my friends weaned early and talk about it in a slightly guilty way (Oh, I know it's bad, but my baby was just so hungry...). But as Jilted's article said, that first taste of food is very emotive for everyone, and if you approach it with anything other than happiness and readiness (sorry know that's not a word) it can't be positive for the baby.

There's no need for first foods at 5.5, its just a faff. I'd go straight to proper food at 6 months and save youself a load of bother .

Ecgwynn thought you might like this as well. I forgot about it when I posted the other day and it is an interesting article .