just starting weaning... few questions HELP

[skiesmylimit]

My son is 4 and half months I'm weaning due to his weight and milk intake.

I have tried baby porridge and just now some pureed jar food (just to get him to take properly before I start cooking more for him)

Anyway, he just doesn't seem to be swallowing any? Just spits out. And whinges for milk. Do I carry on till he masters swallowing it? Why is he doing it?

Also, what can/cant he eat at this age?

Maybe he's not ready?

He's very little, so if he isn't swallowing yet or still has the tongue-thrust reflex then he isn't developmentally ready for food.

At this age all they need is milk. If you do decide to give food, just stick to baby rice, fruit and veg til 6 months.

He is apprantly too heavy, he's 18 pound, quite short, so overweight. If he carries on with this weight gain health visitor is concerned he will become obese as a child.

So she's reccommend I wean, because that would reduce his milk intake (9ounce sometimes up to 14ounce of hungry baby milk every few hours) therefore weaning would keep him fuller foe longer so less daily calorie intake

He spits it out because he still has the tongue thrust reflex that pushes things out of his mouth. Babies are not ready for anything other than milk until they have lost this reflex. In addition to this he should be sitting and able to grasp food and take it to his mouth. This will all happen around 6 months, sometimes a little earlier, sometimes a little later.

from your second post, I would ask for a second opinion. Sometimes early weaning is medically advised. However, this would not be the HV alone who should advise it. If there really are major concerns he should be referred to the paediatrician who could fully advise you on how to manage his diet IF there are concerns. Chances are your HV is talking shit.

What's the issue with his weight? If he's underweight, food won't help. At this age all you can give are fruit and veg purees - far fewer calories, fat and protein in them than in milk. If he's hungry and milk doesn't seem to satisfy him, he needs more of it. Feed him milk on demand and you won't overfeed him. There is no need to offer anything other than milk at this age.

Sorry, just seen your second post. I would be asking to see a paediatrician for a second opinion.

Yes, agree with getting a paed referall to discuss the reasons for the weight gain.

Agree he isn't ready. My dd is same age and swallows fine. When she was drinking too much milk before I gave her cool boiled water or you can get ready made baby juice for 4mths. In my experience HV and even drs get it wrong, you know your baby

He's not ready. Your HV is talking shit! HTH

I think he still has his tongue thrust reflex too. Once they are ready, they'll be able to swallow the food instead of pushing it out with the tongue.

My baby is same age as yours and weighs more!We did start weaning but not because of his weight but because he is ready. He loves it...opens his mouth wide and swallows down without spitting any out.

Your baby does not sound ready and HV who give out advice like that should be fired!

Your sons weight is not a problem and does not mean he will be obese as a child. How much you feed him, what kind of food and how much exercise he gets will decide that.

Abandon the HV, the scales and just enjoy him. You will know when he is ready. Dont let some under qualified HV spoil your time with your son and make you feel guilty for no reason. Feed him milk when he is hungry and you are doing nothing wrong. Some babies just weigh more than others!!

I say this as second time mum who worried her way through the first helped by bad and wrong advice by HV. It's not worth it!

sorry just seen post about how much he eats.

I would stick to 9oz every three hours and distract after food to see if that helps.

My ds has 40 oz a day plus 2 meals and at one point was on 48oz. Would not give more than 9 oz at a time though and could be distracted if moaned after.