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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Original poster

What age did you start weaning?

26 replies

milkyman · 06/03/2013 08:49

...

OP posts:
ceeveebee · 06/03/2013 08:53

6 months. No need to do it earlier and it's a massive PITA so glad I left it until the recommended time

PeggyCarter · 06/03/2013 08:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MorningHasBroken · 06/03/2013 09:00

About 5.5 months. Ds was sitting, reaching for our food, crying when we ate in front of him so he just seemed ready. He was a couple of weeks prem anyway, so we were advised that starting a bit earlier than 6 months could be better for him.

Flisspaps · 06/03/2013 09:02

Just shy of 6 months with each.

Both were showing the signs of readiness (able to sit up unaided, no tongue thrust reflex)

Pleasenomorepeppa · 06/03/2013 09:03

On her 6 month Birthday. She'd grabbed bits of food off of our plates before but didn't actually eat any. Although she was over a year before she ate anything resembling an actual meal Grin.

Pascha · 06/03/2013 09:03

DS stole bits off my plate at about 22 weeks but I left it in any serious way for a few weeks because we were on holiday and I didn't want the faff.

worldgonecrazy · 06/03/2013 09:07

We did BLW and it was about 19 weeks when she started grabbing food off plates and sucking it. Doing BLW meant we didn't bother too much with set dates or ages, she had been sitting at the table with us from birth so it was no biggy when she started taking food from my plate. She didn't get her own plate of food until she was about a year though, just ate what was on the plate of whomever was holding her at mealtimes.

Indith · 06/03/2013 09:08

Between 5 and a half and 6 months. Once they could sit well enough I gave up taking food off them when they snatched it and let them try. Dd took to it instantly, the boys took longer.

VisualiseAHorse · 06/03/2013 14:05

18 weeks I think. Only ever fruit and veg puree/mash and started more BLW after 6 months. I started early as baby has bad bad reflux and a spoon or two of fruit helped keep the milk down.

Maebe · 06/03/2013 14:08

From about 5m baby had tastes of food, let her lick things if she wanted, but she showed no interest in swallowing. 6m started actual weaning but she wasn't interested. Gone 7m, maybe near 8m before she finally got it.

PoppadomPreach · 06/03/2013 14:09

DS1 5.5months. DS2 4.5 months. The 6 month figure is because many the mothers of many babies in developing world do not have access to hygienic cooking conditions, so EBF is recommended. Personally I do not believe that every baby has some "magic switch" which gets turned on at 6 months which means that they're "ready".

DS2 stopped putting on weight, stopped sleeping through and was clearly desperate to eat (and was hugely enthusiastic once we started). So use 6 months as a guide, and certainly don't start before 4 months unless specifically advised by a healthcare professional, but between 4-6 mo ths, use your own maternal instincts and judgement.

ilovepowerhoop · 06/03/2013 14:16

dd was 16 weeks but that was nearly 10 years ago and around the time the guidelines changed to 6 months. DS was about 23 weeks (around 6 years ago). Started with purees with both and added in finger foods from 6 months.

ChocolateCoins · 06/03/2013 14:18

6 months.

Patchouli · 06/03/2013 14:24

6 months
If I'd followed the 'signs' I'd have given her the remote control to eat at about 3 mths

sherbetpips · 06/03/2013 14:31

think he was about 4 months, basically they need to be able to sit up but as we had a bumbo it was a bit easier. he just became extremely hungry so started on baby race once a day for a few weeks then that was it - 3 meals a day boy!

Indith · 06/03/2013 14:39

No they don't have a magic switch that flicks at 6 months that is true. However, the signs of readiness that you can find on the NHS website are sitting, loss of tongue thrust, ability to coordinate hands and eyes to pick up food, bring it to the mouth and put it in (then chew and swallow). All of these things tend to come together around the 6 month mark. For some babies those abilities will come earlier, for some they will come later.

MissTapestry · 06/03/2013 19:24

6 months on the dot. She was probably ready about a week before that but she's our PFB and DP had a couple of days booked off by coincidence so we waited so he could enjoy the mess and clean the manky nappies too! Grin

VisualiseAHorse · 06/03/2013 20:19

Oh, and all the 'signs' of readiness were clear from about 16 weeks. He could sit unaided at 17 weeks, never had the tongue thrust issue, easily swallowed the food etc.

stargirl1701 · 06/03/2013 20:23

At 24 weeks. The paediatrician wanted us to start early to see if it would improve her reflux.

SlinkyB · 06/03/2013 20:26

18 weeks.

sittinginthesun · 06/03/2013 20:35

DS1, 4 months (9 years ago). He was sitting almost unaided, sobbing and slobbering when he saw us eat, trying to snatch food off our plates. Health Visitor fully in support. I made a bowl of puréed carrots, and he snatched it and was stuffing it in with his hands. Hasn't looked back!

DS2, around 5 and half months, but very steady until 7 months.

Violetroses · 06/03/2013 20:44

DS1 - 5 1/2 months
DS2- almost 5 months. Helped himself to a peach, crammed any food he could get his fists onto into his mouth, never choked on anything, loved his grub.
DS3 - 7 months. He just wasn't ready before.

bobsnotabuilder · 07/03/2013 12:53

DS - 15 weeks.
DD - 19 weeks.

JiltedJohnsJulie · 07/03/2013 13:03

DS 16 weeks on advice of HV. Was totally the wrong thing to do as DS had upper lip tie and tongue tie.

Dd 23 weeks when she grabbed and ate a sandwich.

ReallyTired · 07/03/2013 13:15

Just under 24 weeks. DD hasn't read the baby books and decided to wean herself.

Weaning is lot easier and more enjoyable if you wait until the baby can actually eat proper food and wants to. DD could sit unsupported and could pick up and eat the food herself.

I think that babies vary a bit when they are ready for food.