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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

The government guidelines for weaning say to wait til 6 months, don't they?

68 replies

Wallace · 22/11/2006 20:18

So why, when I asked today, did my HV say they recommend between 4 to 6 months? A bit later in the conversation she did say something about "as close to 6 months as possible". Even worse, the red books you are given (for development checks, growth charts etc) say "babies can begin eating solid food between three and four months" !

OP posts:
Whooooosh · 22/11/2006 20:24

Well when I trained as a nanny,the rule of thumb was 12 weeks or twelve pound-whichever came sooner.

THings have changed and my personl view is go with your instinct.If you haev a really hungry baby who just is not satisfied with milk at dfour months then a bit of baby rice won't kill him/her.
If you can wait till 6 months then great....not much help I admit but I can't help feeling there are just too many rules and regs about feeding babies these days.

lockets · 22/11/2006 20:27

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Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 20:28

12 pounds! Ds2 weighed that by the time he was a month old

Ds2 is 17 weeks, and my personal view is that I will try to wait til 6 months, but won't feel bad about it if I don't. I feel it will be a lot less hassle to wait, and at the moment ds2 is fine

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DizzyBint · 22/11/2006 20:29

HVs often say things against the current guidelines because, like whooooosh, they may have trained a long time ago and don't see the value of up to date information.

CountTo10LordsaLeaping · 22/11/2006 20:32

The guidelines are for 6mths and were only bought in about 2.5 years ago (increased from 4 - 6mths). Some hv's I have spoken to didn't really agree with the change as they think 6mths is too late. My lo was weaned at 16 weeks (very slowly) and its the best thing we ever did. It really depends on the child and you have to follow your instinct with it. Milk is great but if you're having to constantly increase feeds, it would suggest that it just is not providing what your baby needs.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/11/2006 20:35

Guidelines say no earlier than 6 months - but the WHO has been recommending this for some years now. Alot of HV's dont seem to have got the message for some reason.

Perhaps they know more than the WHO, or have conducted their own worldwide studies on thousands of babies........who knows.

Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 20:49

That probably is the reason dizzybint. LOL at HV knowing more than WHO!

I am getting fed up of people (ie MIL) suggesting that ds2 needs more than just BF. Of course he sucks and chews his hands, watches people eat, shoves things in his mouth, and dribbles - he's a baby and that is what babies do! Doesn't necessarily mean he is ready for weaning Mind you, the clever lad even manages to put spoons in his mouth (I let him hold a teaspoon when I am eating and he's on my lap) but that doesn't mean he could manage a Sunday roast

OP posts:
NotQuiteCockney · 22/11/2006 20:53

Hey, when my DSes were that age, they were very interested in everything I was reading - should I have started expecting them to read then?

The advice has been six months for years and years by the WHO. The NHS only started recommending 6 months when maternity leave was changed to 6 months.

DizzyBint · 22/11/2006 21:02

dd loves watching me drive. shall i let her steer?

Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 21:03
Grin
OP posts:
lockets · 22/11/2006 21:04

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Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 21:06

I love MN

just need to find a way of persuading MIL that ds2 will not be joining in with Christmas Dinner...

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Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 21:12

Now I think of it, d2 was having photos taken today, and was staring at the photograher - shall I get him a camera for christmas?

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fannyannie · 22/11/2006 21:12

yes WHO guidelines do indeed recommend 6 months - but then they also recommend giving the MMR and I know of lots of parents who don't support that view.....

VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/11/2006 21:16
NotQuiteCockney · 22/11/2006 21:17

You are definately depriving your poor children by not letting them drive/change nappies/take pictures. You are horrible mean mums.

fannyannie · 22/11/2006 21:17

why sigh??? There's lots of recommendations WHO makes which aren't considered to be 'set in stone' yet this one always seems to be.

lockets · 22/11/2006 21:18

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/11/2006 21:20

What, you mean like the upper and lower limits of ideal blood pressure? Or perhaps the upper and lower level of iron in your blood?

I sighed, because I feel fed up, now I am sighing at the fact the people seem to think it okay to belittle rather important guidelines designed with a childs best interests, on a widely used parenting website.

Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 21:20

NQC now I feel guilty...

camera for christmas it is

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fannyannie · 22/11/2006 21:21

but VVV the WHO is MASSIVE and covers alsorts I would have thought that their recommendations for all children having the MMR should also be vermently (sp) followed also..........shouldn't they????

CountTo10LordsaLeaping · 22/11/2006 21:22

I think you have to remember they are just guidelines and you have to remember that each child is different so should be treated differently. Most of us were weaned ahead of 6mths and have any of us been detrimentally effected by it? My belief is that they are more encouraging people to breastfeed for longer due to the benefits of it than telling people its harmful to babies who are weaned ahead of 6mths. I remember my mum being like that at 9/10 weeks. I think they forget that things change!!!!

Original poster
Wallace · 22/11/2006 21:23

I think the guidelines for having MMR should be followed. That is my personal opinion.

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VeniVidiVickiQV · 22/11/2006 21:25

At this point, I feel I should point out that as such, there are no "benefits" to b/feeding, because it is the natural thing to do.

If you are talking about extended b/feeding then that is something slightly different.

NotQuiteCockney · 22/11/2006 21:26

Oh, I was weaned early. I have some interesting (non-food) allergies, and a moderate case of IBS.