Is 18 weeks to early to wean?

[koalabear]

she's not grabbing at food, but is consuming 7 ounces of milk every 2.5 hours during the day

.....duck and run for cover!

How did pear and rice help your baby to be more contented, Carla? There is more calories in milk than in either of those foods.

this thread is an interesting read for me

Carly P - thanks for concern - dd is hungry, but I am just giving her more milk at this stage on the basis that she is possibly going through a growth spurt - she certainly isn't showing any of the other "readiness" factors talked about on this thread

I will keep going for a couple of weeks, and reassess at 22 weeks.

thanks everyone for your very individual thoughts

The WHO have NOT just changed their recommendations from 4-6 months. It has been recommending 6 months for many many years.

I really hate it when people come out with daft anecdotes and quips about "giving a bit of this or a bit of that wont kill them" and my number one pet peeve "It never did mine any harm".

The WHO are a huge, well represented, and respected organisation. Their advice is based on studies of thousands and thousands of babies over years and years.

They are the "cowboys" who set guidelines on what is considered low iron levels for example ie anything under 10 mcg is considered low. Or normal ranges of Blood pressure - ie the guideline that diastolic over 90 is considered HIGH. Why doesnt anyone question THOSE particular guidelines?

Come on now people. Lets do the right thing and give out PROPER advice - no one is here to criticise choices that you may have made for your child. The current GUIDELINES as laid down by Goverment through consultation with the WHO are:

Exclusive b/feeding is recommended for the first 6 months.

It is recommended that weaning should not start before this time. (for reasons already stated by other posters).

how quickly food is digested has nothing to do with calories.

cholocate v melon for example.

baby rice and pear takes longer to digest than milk. therfor kept them happier and mroe content as they felt fuller for longer......

And agree with your last post NQC.

I should have just parped really lol!

yes nqc - she can be cranky - i'll just keep giving her milk for now

''Exclusive b/feeding is recommended for the first 6 months''

so they are also saying the only breast is best......feel sorry for all those mothers who tried and couldnt........a bottle before 6mths is also criminal.....how wonderful to still live in the dark ages.

CarlyP are you seriously suggesting that the WHO should not recommend breastfeeding as the best option for feeding a baby??

Actually, it takes 30 minutes approx for fuit purees to be digested and moved on from the stomach.

It take several hours for milk to do the same thing.

I think you have your facts confused Carly.

They tried Carly. I dont think anyone gets "blamed" or "flamed" for trying.

Statistics in my opinion can be used and are used to prove anything. Research which contradicts main theories is often hushed up or the results diluted. This is so research organisations continue to receive funding.

Why blindly believe WHO statistics on the best time to wean your baby - an individual I may add - when contradictory research showing that weaning before 6 months for SOME babies is fine has probably been hushed up. WHO IMO are probably worried about WHAT some people are feeding their babies before 6 months if they do. They cannot guarantee that they will be fed only baby rice, fruit puree - easily digestible foods which in the majority of cases will be fine. So rather than risk the health of some babies make blanket guidelines for all babies.

Wiht MMR vaccine, lots of people disagree that MMR is 100% safe for all babies, yet the government recommends it and says there is no/little evidence that is causes serious problems.

Why do some parents disagree so strongly about the MMR - based supposedly on sound research, yet believe that weaning a baby before 6 months is the root of all evil just because WHO guidelines say so?

I think people should reach their own opinions based on their own childs needs. Discuss with the Health Visitor/Doctor first and then make an informed decision.

'pear/rice' puree takes longer than 30mins. sorry to say.

i am not saying the WHO shouldnt recommend it. of course it should. however thats jsut something else for mother to feel guilty about....''I stopped breastfeeding at xxwks, and gave food at xxwks,i must be a terrible mother'' sort of thing.
some ppl would feel AWFUL about thinking they have 'done wrong by their baby and if we are saying to follow the WHO guidelines on weaning, then we must say 'follow the who guidelines on breastfeeding over bottle'

sorry Carly P but I am saying people should follow the WHO guidelines on feeding their babies because that is the best thing for the babies health
Whether or not someone might, hypothetically, feel bad because they can't or didn't follow this advice is surely neither here nor there.
because what's the alternative? The WHO hide the research and don't recommend bf/weaning at six months so no-one has the right advice?
that makes no sense at all to me.

I knew I'd find you here VVV .

No, it really doesnt. I dont know where you are getting your information from.

Pureed fruit and rice take even less time in the stomach.

Oh i know CM!

Id parp if it wasnt too late

oh don't go now QV

If the only thing that is stopping a baby from being contented is whether or not they have food in their stomachs, Carla, why not give them milk every time their stomach is empty? What do you think pear and rice can do that milk can't?

im getting my information from a special care baby nurse.............who im sure knows a hell of alot more about my babies than you do

No don't go QV. Your posts have been excellent.

Errr why are you so sure?

Because I read them, QV.

:)

(I know you didn't mean me, really)

ah - my abies. sorry thought you meant ALL babies.

More pertinent though, i think.

Sorry, but look up all the research you like - dont just take my word for it. You are on the internet - go have a google. Your special care baby nurse woman is wrong. Sorry.

what about mine franny
have mine been terse and combative ?