What are the risks of weaning before 26 weeks?

[Madcat22]

Started weaning EBF DD at 22 weeks and having a few problems with bowels etc even though she is now 25 weeks. Sticking to rules re fruit and veg etc. Could I have started too early? Started with DS at 17 weeks (he had reflux and it helped) and he was fine.

Dd had reflux and a heart problem. I was advised to wean at 15 weeks and she was completely fine.

She is 5 and a brilliant eater and nice and slim (she has muscles and a six pack for some reason!)

The risks are general and as such may not occur for a specific child. For each anecdote about weaning early resulting in a very healthy child, someone will post an anecdote about weaning early resulting in a very unhealthy child.

The risks are much greater for weaning before 17 weeks. 22 weeks is slightly early but the issues you are experiencing may well have occurred at 26 weeks as well. Some tummy upset is quite common I think, as their systems adjust to solids.

Weaning before 17 weeks has been shown to have some links to childhood obesity, increased risk of allergies, risk of celiac disease and other gastric upset. It seems impossible to say if these risks are still valid between 17 and 26 weeks.

They say there are risks to the digestive system and though it might not be supported in all cases i think it id certainly supported in our family. I wasn't weaned until I was ready to and I have an iron gut - seriously nothing upsets me, DH however was weaned at 4 weeks old (as per the advice back then) and is a complete fucking nightmare when it comes to digesting food, some foods cause indigestion, he has mild IBS and we have to plan meals and eating out around the toilet situation sometimes.

I used baby led weaning for all 4 of mine (apart from DD1 whom no doubt would still be breastfeeding now if I let her) and they thankfully don't take after their father in the digestion situation.