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Weaning

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

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Original poster

Is 20 weeks too early to start weaning?

36 replies

LittleLady101 · 02/07/2015 15:25

My daughter Is nearly 20 weeks and she seems really interested in everything me and my partner eat. She watches intently everything that goes into our mouth and I'm wondering if maybe she's ready.

I've upped her milk from 6 to 7 oz because she was just finishing 6 and she's still finishing 7! So maybe she's wanting something more?

This is my first baby and everyone i know the recommended age is 6 months but I've looked on food boxes and stuff and it says 4-6months..?

Any help?

OP posts:

CMOTDibbler · 02/07/2015 15:30

Leave food till shes 6 months. I'm sure she looks at your car keys with interest, but it doesn't mean she's ready to drive

Just up her milk more if she seems hungry - waiting can't do any harm.

Georgethesecond · 02/07/2015 15:32

When I had my first sixteen years ago the official advice was sixteen weeks. I'm pretty sure babies' bodies haven't changed much.

cjt110 · 02/07/2015 16:02

We started at 16 weeks. DS eats great and eats pretty much everything.

Original poster

LittleLady101 · 02/07/2015 16:20

It's good to know that some people have started early. My mum said that she started me and my sisters early as well.
I defiantly think she does want more than just milk. So I might start an a week or so.

OP posts:

LucyInTheSkyWithDonuts · 02/07/2015 16:32

Why would you start earlier than is advised? The guidelines are 6 months for a very good reason, giving babies solids before then can cause a variety of health issues in later life. Just because Auntie Beryl started at 10 weeks and her kids seem fine doesn't mean it's a good idea! Wait till 26 weeks and give more milk if she wants it, there is no rush.

Poodlesrock · 02/07/2015 16:37

Don't ask on here! People get very funny about early weaning, you would think those that wean early have committed a sin equal to child neglect!

Now I'm going to run and hide!

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 02/07/2015 16:40

I agree with poodle

53rdAndBird · 02/07/2015 16:54

NHS advice is that the signs of being ready to start food are:

can sit up and keep head up;
can grab food and stuff it in their mouth;
loss of tongue-thrust reflex (when they push out food from their mouths).

Staring at food at this age is just a baby thing - they're interested in what you're doing. Doesn't necessarily mean they're ready to manage food. (Mine was really interested in wine glasses and coffee mugs around that age, but she wasn't getting any!)

HeadDreamer · 02/07/2015 16:59

Neither of mine are until after 26 weeks. They looked at food funny from very young. That didn't translate into eating though. Now at 9mo I can be smug when I see friends still feeding their 1 year old today. And my 9mo been feeding herself adult food since about 8mo. (She got pincer grip at 8mo).

HeadDreamer · 02/07/2015 17:00

Basically starting early doesn't equate faster weaning. You skip all the mush and even spoon feeding if you start later.

Georgethesecond · 02/07/2015 18:48

Having said that, I'd give her 8 oz bottles and see if the intervals between feeds get shorter even after that. If they do, I'd give her something more. But more milk may be enough for a while longer if she's only on 6/7 oz. Is that 6 bottles a day?

drinkscabinet · 02/07/2015 18:57

For your own sanity delay weaning as long as possible. They don't suddenly start having 3 big meals a day so you end up doubling the time you spend feeding them, you've got all the milk feeds still and then you have to add in meal prep and the cleaning up.

You'll always find people who started early, I know someone who gave her DC watered down condensed milk because it was cheaper than formula. Doesn't mean I'd do it myself or recommend anyone else does it.

Twodogsandahooch · 02/07/2015 18:59

Why the hurry? It's a faff. There are far more calories in milk than baby rice or pear purée.

CultureSucksDownWords · 03/07/2015 21:03

The standard NHS advice is to wait till around 6 months and never before 17 weeks. People weaned earlier in the past, before more was known about the issues that can occur.

I don't understand why anyone would actively ignore sensible, considered advice based on our most current understanding.

squizita · 04/07/2015 09:52

What drinks says.
If you have a slow weaner like mine you'll basically be cooking or feeding 24-7 for ages So don't make it longer.
Mine eats happily but still not big enough meals to significantly reduce milk at 9 months!!

mariposa10 · 04/07/2015 10:08

I'm sorry but this makes me pretty cross. If your baby is hungry you need to give them more milk. The NHS website says 'You should start giving your baby solid foods, often called "weaning", when they are around six months old. Health experts agree that this is the best age. Before this, your baby's digestive system is not developed enough to cope with solid foods.'

Why on earth would you give your baby solids when there is evidence it may harm them? Why is it that the SIDS guidelines are followed to the absolute letter, to the point of obsession, but when it comes to weaning, 'they're just guidelines, you know your own baby...'? You're setting your child up for an increased risk of digestive problems in later life if you wean them early. Why would you do this?

ElphabaTheGreen · 04/07/2015 10:17

What mariposa said. It's evidence based advice, not based on folklore which is effectively what the 'wean at 16 weeks' advice was.

Packets say 'suitable from four months' because the government hasn't seen fit to clamp down on marketing of baby food, and I wish they would. Baby food companies are usually the same arseholes who flog formula, so are infinitely more concerned about their bottom line and shifting as much product as possible than they are about infant health.

Plus what others said about weaning being a ball ache. It is. Why do it before you're supposed to? The nappies are also disgusting.

qumquat · 04/07/2015 10:54

I just don't get why anyone would want to start weaning early, it's a massive faff. Life with just milk is so much easier! If you wait till 6 months you can skip purée and spoon feeding altogether which makes it much easier as well.

DRSLondon · 19/07/2015 13:42

Everyone is as judgemental about early weaning as they are about formula feeding. Every mother is trying to do the best they can and has their own circumstances for making certain decisions. Aren't we on mumsnet to show support and listen to one another rather than attacking each other? Some babies need early weaning for various health and weight issues. Some mothers can't breastfeed. Get over it.

LashesandLipstick · 19/07/2015 19:09

Christ I've never seen people so emotionally invested in how someone weans their child.

OP you know your own baby, advice says 6 months but not before 17 weeks, your baby is 20 weeks so your call

53rdAndBird · 19/07/2015 19:15

Aren't we on mumsnet to show support and listen to one another rather than attacking each other?

What? Who's attacking anybody? OP asked if she should wean her baby at 20 weeks. Is it an attack to answer with anything other than "yes"?

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 19/07/2015 19:17

Is your baby showing other signs of readiness? Personally I'd wait as others have said as there's no rush. I think it's advised to be somewhere between 6 and 8 months depending on the signs.
That being said there are exceptions. I was advised to and did start DS on solids at 5 months as he was premature, but that was on medical advice, Bliss website etc.
Maybe talk to your health visitors? They also do weaning sessions at my local children's centre for free so perhaps go along to one of those?

Ilovenannyplum · 19/07/2015 19:18

I started at around 17 weeks reflux baby just with baby rice. DS is now 11 months old, eats everything. The only thing I've found that he won't eat is spring onion.
It did him no harm. You know your baby better than anyone, if you think they're ready, go for it.

Be warned. It's bloody messy

morningsarepants · 19/07/2015 19:30

I weaned DS at 5 months so probably about 22 weeks. He was on full bottles and still feeding twice at night.
He went from nothing to 3 meals a day in a week do I reckon he definitely needed it.
DD on the other hand started weaning at the statutory 6 months but wasn't really interested until 7 months. Every kid is different.
I guess that means I don't have the answer though!

Roseybee10 · 20/07/2015 17:54

I wouldn't bother tbh.

I started dd1 at 26 weeks and she wasn't really ready.

Dd2 is 24weeks and has had bad reflux so milk feeds have been a nightmare. She grabbed a bit of brocolli of my plate and started sucking it the other day so I thought I'd let her try some pear today. She just gagged and puked so she's definitely not ready. Don't know why I even thought I'd try her other than her nicking my food but I'm probably going to leave her until about 28 weeks tbh. I can't be faffed with purée so I just do veg fingers.
It's a huge faff and extra work. 7oz bottles aren't huge so I wouldn't worry about giving her more milk rather than weaning. I think sometimes we as parents just want to see them hit that next milestone but milk feeding is so much easier than when the start solids.
It can also disrupt sleep patterns and cause them to wake more often initially during the night.
God remembering all this is making me want to delay it til she's about 3 haha. X

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