Seriously? Why the rush to wean early?

[ecat]

I really don't understand why there is such a huge desire to rush the weaning process. If the WHO says 6 months and most babies are only just starting to sit up straight enough to swallow, why are babies being made to do things that they are not physically ready for?
A bit of a rant but I just don't get it!

[TarkaTheOtter]

zara they can get iron from breast milk and formula and, if you're worried, vitamin supplements.

[mindosa]

Because all babies are different and the needs of a baby vary.
Because they want to and believe its best for their child.

[VisualiseAHorse]

Awful awful reflux was solved by early weaning for us. He had nothing but a few teaspoons a day of fruit or veg, and the odd ricecake as finger food, starting at 18 weeks. Then when he hit 6 months we introduced other foods.

At 9 months he eats anything and everything. Still has reflux, but so much better than it was (think throwing up in his sleep, in the middle of eating etc). I felt he was ready. Sat up (slightly supported) at 17 weeks, no tongue-thrust thing from the first mango puree :)

[Zara1984]

ChocolateCoins how do you propose babies get sufficient levels of iron after 6 months if they're not weaned by then?

[ChocolateCoins]

I agree with you op. Even 6 months seems early to me. How can people not understand that their babies guts are just not ready for food! Or that milk has more calories than a spoonful of carrots! So if your baby is 'hungry,' give them more milk. The guidelines 'keep changing' (as the early weaners like to say) because of advances in research. This is one of the things that really annoys me.

[aamia]

But what if your baby shows all the weaning signs before 6 months? Mine has been sitting next to us on the sofa for weeks and can sit with no support at all. He sticks things in his mouth and sucks/gums them then rejects as not edible, is more than double his birthweight, interested in food, no tongue thrust reflex etc.

[Astr0naut]

I started solids with ds at around 5 months, but he was my first and you want to keep moving on to the next thing. It was only stuff like baby rice and breast milk (god, was that a faff) and Annabel bonkers recipes. I told myself that it'd stop him waking in the night for feeds.

It didn't.

With dd, I really didn't want to start weaning her because I knew that'd be the end of my easy lunch times where ds had butties in front of Cbeebies and I bf and internetted with dd.

So I did blw instead. Much easier. Took a couple of months for DD to really throw it down her, so I had to hold my nerve, but definitely paid off.

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

It is quite a different process, but it's quite freeing and I don't feel so het up this time.

[Clembobita]

Same over here!!!

I am honestly surprised and thrilled at the whole process, watching her pick up things, taste them then decide if she wants more or not is lovely. Also her excitement when she goes in her high chair.

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

Hi Clem. I am going for BLW too this time. DS2 seems to know what he does or doesn't want already, picking up things he likes the look of and dropping the others!

[Clembobita]

Hi ladies, first post as I have joined to get help with BLW :)

My first child who is now 7 was on purees by 18 weeks, I just knew he was ready. My instinct told me that was the reason he was up every 2 hours, was draining 9oz bottles every 2 hours and was just never content. He was a BIG baby, born 9lb14 and his weight gain did not slow down. Upon eating food he was like a gannet. He sat up at 5 months and I knew it was the right choice. The HV also advised to go on solids because of his size and everything I had said.

My daughter is a complete different kettle of fish. She is 6 months and is feeding every 4 hours 7oz bottles, she had the 4 month growth spurt but her food demand never increased dramatically. She can now sit up and has been putting her own dummy in for a few weeks so I decided to go down the BLW route. I started last week with things like cucumber. She is mostly playing with it but I am so glad she is letting my try this BLW route. I remember hearing about it and thinking what a load of rubbish, but fate has led me down that route.

Im going off topic here, but basically I am trying to say every baby is different. It is very confusing being a first time mum as to what is right and what is not, we learn from our own parents and our own parents were advice to wean babies young. The advice from the HV has only in the last few years changed and no doubt will change again soon.

[LittleAbruzzenBear]

I have started weaning DS2 this week, he was 6MO last week. He is only just ready. DS1 was sitting up and grabbing a spoon at 4MO so we started him very slowly then. I am not sure, even now, that was the right thing.

[IdaClair]

Another one weaned at 3 months here who had serious stomach issues by my late teens.

Sure, it could be one of many contributory factors, or it could be nothing to do with it at all - but when it comes to my DC, for the sake of a few weeks and a few spoonfuls of mush? Not worth even the suspicion that I might have caused it if they are unlucky enough to have issues. I am happy with the idea that internal development mirrors external, and that when a baby is capable of sitting up, reaching out, pincer grip, bringing food to mouth, biting, chewing and swallowing their systems are equipped with adequate structure (closed gut etc) and enzymes to digest said food.

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

Thanks I know what you mean but the research suggests otherwise. It's a total arse ache & not worth the risk Imo but you have to live it to believe it.

[jeneregretrien]

Very sorry you suffer with an auto immune disease ..just not convinced it can be directly attributed to 3 month weaning?????? So many other factors at play.

[Seriouslysleepdeprived]

Ahh but this is the thing you see I was in 'rude health' until my 30's. I now I have to live the rest of my life with an auto immune disorder.

I was also part if the 3 month weaning generation. i just wasn't so lucky.

[jeneregretrien]

I have 5 kids, 16 years, 13 years, 11 and 10 years, and 17 weeks. I am not in a hurry at all, enjoying every second of my beautiful and last baby. I do give him baby rice and pear already though. I am not inexperienced with babies, have 4 kids in robust health, don't have any friends with babies I'm doing that whole daft competition nonsense with about how "far on" our babies are. More concerned with GCSE results right now. Until he had a bit of rice and fruit he was hungry and fussing more and more at each bottle feed. He sleeps 12 hours at night without a murmur, smiles all day, sits happily in his chair looking around this busy household. Will it make him ill in later life? Well I don't believe so. When I think about the risks our children all face as they grow up I can't get too het up about what difference 8 weeks makes in the big scheme of things. Car journeys, plane journeys, bullying, temptation to take drugs, have unprotected sex, and so on. Let's keep matters in perspective. I was weaned at 3 months as was most of my generation and never been seriously ill my whole life for which I am extremely grateful. WHO guidelines are just that, guidelines. Useful, but not all knowing. A good parent knows when to introduce some mushed up rice and fruit.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

I hope it brings some let up to the reflux for you!

Must be heart breaking to see her struggle so much

[IdaClair]

I'm bf wheresmycaffeine but can't manage caffeine free

I'm not really a to-the-day type but I do believe the 'in the middle of the first year' recommendation is correct and I will go with that. I think dd will be one of the later ones anyway. I'd be suprised if she eats much before 7-8 months, really surprised, maybe later.

[TerracottaPie]

I saw a fb status update the other day that made me think about this topic.

Someone's DC has turned 6 months, I've been seeing pics of them with baby rice from around 4mo and then other puréed veg periodically. But their comment at the DC reaching 6mo was that they had just started to 'get' food and 'talk about leaving it til the last minute'.

Which made me think the DC wasn't ready to have food before that, so what was the hurry from 4mo and why on earth did the Mum think the baby was leaving it until the last minute to 'get' the idea of food when they had only just turned 6mo?

[lljkk]

I vividly remember a friend saying "You're always keen for them to move onto the next stage."

Really? That's so common? . Why don't I feel that way? They're babies in my mind until 2yo, anyway.

It's like finding out how much self-esteem women invest in their bra size. That's been a big MN revelation for me, too.

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

:o if ur ff

Decaf if ur bf :)

You can get thru it :o

[IdaClair]

38 days

[Wheresmycaffeinedrip]

:( ida that sounds really tough! How much longer u gotta wait?

[IdaClair]

Wheresmycaffeine you just described my dd to a T, feeds every 2 hours day and night, throws it all back, whingy, severe reflux under the paed. I'm counting the days until 6 months really I am!