should I start weaning?

[janeybooks]

New to this, so please bear with me if too longwinded! My DD 18 weeks old and so far soley BF. She sleeps through night but rarely goes to sleep before 11pm and hardly naps in the day. Currently I BF on demand and suppose to soothe and send to sleep (bad mother?!). She doesn't seem to be showing signs of hunger, but feeling pressure of peers and 'books' that I should be offering solids. Advice gratefully received!

Wait until she is as close to 6 months as possible, that is the recommended age for weaning by the NHS and World Health Organisation. Ignore peers and out of date books! Stay strong, she is your child, not theirs.

Not long winded at all! You should see some of the essays that get posted sometimes, without even a hint of paragraphs!

It's not bad to soothe her with bf - until pretty recently she was always inside you, no wonder she is happiest to be still attached ...

And yeah, don't wean yet. There's no point in doing it early.

Thanks for reassurance! Suppose was beginning to wonder whether fact she sleeps so little during day and stays up so late was anything to do with not getting enough milk. But then if i start weaning she may start waking in night!

she is your baby. Do as you think. You actually do know what you are doing!!
enjoy

hi janeybooks - am new to this too.....but I have 16 week old who I have soley bf. she is sleeping quite well at night but I do sometimes bf her to ger her to sleep or at least drowsy. Please do what is right for you re when to wean,I got so much 'advice' during the hot summer about my thirsty,hungry baby - suggestions of supplimenting with water and formula - just did what felt right and carried on breast feeding - she gained weight well and my milk was enough.Am going to do the same with weaning....am aiming for 6months if poss as dh and I suffer from allergies....

Dear Janeybrooks
Go with your gut feeling - if you think she is getting enough from BF carry on - if you think she is getting hungry then look at starting to wean - but you MUST go with your own instinct - I know it is hard to decide what is right but your baby will let you know!! I have two children (4 year & 2 years) and I let me lead me!! My 4 year old I weaned at 16 weeks (as was the guidance at the time) but he was a big baby 9.2lb birth weight and was taking 9oz of milk by 8 weeks - I BF until 6 weeks but found I could not keep up with his needs and went on to bottle but that is what he needed at that time.

May DD was slightly smaller but still a hungry baby but I BF her for longer althoug still started weaning at 18 weeks. She has not slept in the day since she was 12 weeks old!!! which was a bit of a shocker (DS had a nap until 3 years old!!) but I went along with her.

They both love their food, and milk, and I truly believe that you take your lead from them. Every baby is different and I appreciate there are guidelines but you go with what you think is the best for YOUR baby! Good luck and you are doing the right thing!!

Sorry Janeybooks - my last post called you Janeybrooks - typo sorry!!

No, don't wean her. She doesn't need it. You already know that, I think - ignore the peer pressure and stop reading books

Perfectly possible to get to 6 months and beyond, IMO and IME - I've done it twice. DS2 was 27+3 when he first gnawed a bit of banana and still doesn't eat much at...er...37 weeks, I think he is.

agree with the others, hold off weaning. your lo doesnt need it, and it would be alot healthier for her if you just stuck to the bfing till she is 6 - 8 months old. btw, i dont think feeding and cuddling her to sleep is a bad mummy thing, i think its a very good mummy thing. what better nicer more comforting way for your dd to fall asleep than cuddled up to the person she loves the most?