Weaning onto solids

[Tillytoes14]

Hi, just wondered what age you weaned your babies. My daughter was four months yesterday and the last few nights she has been waking up very hungry, previously she would sleep through the night without a feed. She's also not sleeping too well throughout the day, so is getting very overtired. I went to a weaning group last week and the new recommendations to wean a baby onto solids are six months. I don't think my daughter could possibly wait another two months drinking solely breastmilk, I've never had an oversupply of milk either. Is four months a bit too early to introduce some solids, or shall I increase her feeds, which is what the health visitor recommends, she already feeds every three hours max and feeds from both breasts, sometimes she still seems a little bit hungry after that. I honestly don't know what to do for the best. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you!

The NHS weaning guidelines are really useful. They tell you what to look for in terms of your baby being ready. The main signs are that a baby can sit up (with support), has lost the tongue thrust reflex and can put food in their mouths, chew and swallow. This happens around six months.

The guidelines point out too, that wanting more milk or waking up in the night does NOT mean they are ready for solids. This is just a developmental norm.

Milk will remain the main source of calories and nutrients until they are 12 months and at first, very little will be taken in the way of solids. Introducing solids isn't about hunger, it's about the gut being ready.

Contrary to popular belief, the guidelines aren't prescriptive. They advise following your baby's lead, not rushing it and enjoying the process. They recommend you look for the above signs and take your baby's lead.

The guidelines have been 6 months for 12 years now, so not new at all.

My eight year old daughter had her first solids at 27 weeks and my four year old son was 26 weeks.

If your baby is still hungry after taking both breasts, then switch back to the first one again and so on. There will always be milk there and if you follow their cues, they'll take what they need. Feeding more frequently than three hourly is fine too. Just be led by what your baby wants.

NHS weaning guidelines

Thank you for that very useful information. I did try putting my daughter on the first breast for the third time, but the milk was very slow to start flowing again, my daughter then keep pulling off and crying, but then she seemed ok afterwards. When I went to the weaning group, most of the mothers had said their babies were feeding every 5-6 hours, but all of them were bottle-fed, does that make a difference, or is it mainly down to individual babies. I was pretty shocked, as my daughter will sometimes feed two hourly and then three hours max. Most people have told me she's ready for solids, but I also considered although she holds her head very well, she can't sit upright at the moment as her back still arches.

Hi OP! It looks as though this thread might have accidentally slipped into the wrong topic. We're going to move it over to Weaning for you now.

I would just feed more often. At that age mine often fed still every 90mins during the day as they have a growth spurt around 4 months

I think your feeding pattern is probably far more common than every 5-6 hours. Do you often go 5-6 hours without a drink? I think most adults need fluids more regularly than that, never mind babies. I think as breastfeeding is thirst, hunger and comfort all in one neat package, it's normal and natural for it to be demanded more regularly than your friends are describing.

I always advocate following your baby's lead. Mine both fed 2 hourly at 4 months which is normal. Bigger gaps are normal too but with fairly small stomachs, a time of great development and breastmilk being so easily digested, the feeding pattern you're seeing at 4 months is normal.

The milk will flow a little more slowly if you're offering the first side again which some babies may find frustrating. Try winding again at that point in case you're mistaking discomfort for hunger (easily done) and then offer again. She might not be hungry. She could be cross, wet, windy, tired or interested in doing something else.

Nothing you have described indicates she's ready for solids. Stick with the NHS guidelines. They're really helpful and encourage you to look at what your baby needs. If she's not sitting or still has the tongue thrust reflex or lacks the hand eye coordination to self-feed, then she's not ready.

Up the milk for now. Sounds like you're doing brilliantly. Don't feel pushed into weaning too soon or worried that your baby is different. She's your baby and is her own unique person.

My DD fed every 2 hours during the day at 4 months (bf) and didn't start dropping feeds until she was 7 months or so. Started solids at 6 months. It's perfectly normal for feeds to increase at this age as they're getting bigger and needing more milk. Milk is absolutely the best thing you can give them just now. Waiting until 6 months to start solids also makes weaning easier because they should be able to sit up by themselves and start to learn to feed themselves (if you do BLW). Also after 6 months you can give them pretty much anything to eat (exceptions being honey and anything that's a choking hazard like whole nuts).