Earliest age to start weaning

[MrsLianeB]

My LO is 12 weeks and is a stocky lad on the 91st centile. He loves his milk and is taking 7oz bottles 5/6 times a day at the moment.
He loves sitting in his high chair whilst I am busying myself in the kitchen and have given him a plastic spoon to play with. He seems to have quickly been able to grasp the spoon and bring it to his mouth so I am wondering if 6 months to start is too far away. I noticed baby food being advertised as 4-6 months would it be dangerous to my LO to start at 4 months??

17 weeks is the very earliest you can start. It is probably not dangerous at that age (the risks with early weaning are to do with causing the baby gut and bowel problems in later life and reducing the baby's milk intake too soon, so they get insufficient nutrition) though waiting til nearer 6 months is safest.

There's some advice here about the signs that they are ready to start weaning - www.nhs.uk/start4life/Pages/babies-introducing-solid-food.aspx

It wouldn't be dangerous - when my elder two were born, the guideline was at 16 weeks. But it's sub-optimal. Perhaps talk to your HV about your specific circumstances?

The mouth is the primary sense organ until they are at least 1yo. Just because they mouth things doesn't mean they should eat them! It's just how the interact with everything. Weaning is a faff & makes the nappies more foul. Don't do it any earlier than you have to.

I would second (or third) the advice of definitely not before 17 weeks. There is lots of evidence that it increases the risk of a variety of problems.

None of the things that you have described indicate a readiness for weaning. I would just continue letting him entertain himself with safe objects such as the spoon whilst you get on with things in the kitchen. There's no need to rush to weaning - it often seems to be a stage that parents are desperate to get to. I never understand why people are so keen to start!

Thanks for all your advice I am a first timer with no family or friends with babies for guidance. What signs should I be looking for?

Have a look at the link in my last post.

MollyMatey's link is to the NHS page with a list of the signs of readiness. The most important two IMO are that your baby can sit up pretty much unaided (in a highchair ie they are not slumped), and that they have lost the tongue-thrust reflex. If they still have the t-t reflex, they will automatically shove out any object/food in their mouths with their tongue. It would be quite pointless to try and wean if they are still doing that.

Have a look at the mumsnet pages on weaning as well - there's a good explanation of the whole weaning process.

Being a big baby is not a sign of readiness. Their digestive system is no more or less developed then a child of the same age.