When to wean?

[wibblyjelly]

DS is just over 4 months, and I think he is showing signs of wanting to wean. He watches us with great interest when we eat, can hold his head up when sat in a bouncy chair, or gumbo seat. He is also getting the hang of holding something (is everything and anything!), and then putting it into his mouth. I know the advice is to wait until they are 6 months, unless they show early signs. Are these signs enough to go on, or do we wait for something else? What age did you wean your dc's? Tia.

Those are natural signs of development, not necessarily signs to start weaning. I would stick to the guidelines just to be safe.

Anyway most foods do not contain as much calories as breast/formula milk. Especially thinks like baby rice (low levels of nutrition and not as high in calories).

Similar thread here with lots of varying advice Weaning.

i thought advice shifted back to 17 weeks in 2010ish

Hels, NHS website still says 6months here.

Thanks Clargo

I would wait, what's the rush? Weaning is a right faff anyway but so much easier if you wait till 6 months and can fully sit up independently!

Goodness me - yet another change then!

was by 6mths in 2010 but not before 17 weeks as BF/FF was thought not adequate after this age so the programme to wean was more rapid if left right up until 6/12. Around then there was a metaanalysis of available evidence on such things published in the BMJ around then that came down in favour of not waiting until 6/12 to start - must've since been discounted.

I waited til 6 months despite huge pressure from MIL to go earlier. If you read the research it's pretty compelling that it's safer for most babies, medical excretions aside.

Plus by 6 months you can just kick off with baby led weaning rather than faffing about with mashing etc, which is a lazy parents dream

I'm a bit scared of blw to be honest. I'll be really paranoid about him choking

the guidance changed to 6 months in 2003 (around the time I had dd) and hasnt changed again since then

Don't be scared of BLW, it really is brilliant!

Babies' gag reflexes are further forward than adults' meaning they gag more easily as a defence against choking. Nature has their back!

Also nappies once on solids are a whole different ball game and the time spent cleaning up is phenomenal. Wait as long as you can!

I hadn't considered the nappy side of things. His are bad enough as is!