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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

Grumbly When Weaning - what's your experience???

58 replies

Santamander · 05/12/2006 08:50

We've just begun to wean our wee one (17 weeks today).
Started him a couple of days ago on baby rice a couple of times a day.
He's been particularly grumbly and out of sorts.

I'm guessing (rather arbitrarily) that this is normal due to his little insides doing backflips to deal with solids.

What are your experiences of this interesting time???

OP posts:
eenysugarplumfairy · 07/12/2006 12:22

thanks charliebird. I am Santamanders wife so this is our baby we are talking about. He is 16 lbs so he definitely fits that criteria. Thanks for the extra information.

BahHunkBug · 07/12/2006 17:19

Charlie, sorry to pee on your fire, but I'm afraid that's nonsense.

Baby tummies don't develop faster in the developed world and get readier for solids sooner.

And weight has nothing to do with developmental readiness for solids.

MerryChristmasfromQV · 07/12/2006 17:25

and special

Thats wholly untrue Charliebird!!!!

eenysugarplumfairy · 07/12/2006 17:47

Again, oh dear.

DizzyBinterWonderland · 07/12/2006 17:53

i love it when people put in brackets 'on HV advice' as if HVs know what they are talking about.

MerryChristmasfromQV · 07/12/2006 17:56

awww eeny. Sorry you have been getting conflicting replies (and HV advice). The general consensus, i can assure you, is correct. Hold off weaning - give more milk.

LOL Dizzy!

moondog · 07/12/2006 18:28

That's utter bollocks Charlie.

Fantasy.

moondog · 07/12/2006 18:30

'guidelines you don't get to hear about'

Whose guidelines pray??

Some mad old HV who trained in the Crimea with Florence Nightingale??

Sheeesh!

Charliebird · 07/12/2006 18:39

Well Moondog I'm sorry but I really didn't expect that agression. Actually it wasn't a Health visitor - it was a doctor who is part of a UCL committee looking at infant development.

DizzyBinterWonderland · 07/12/2006 18:58

i don't think that makes it any more valid

doctors are forever spouting shite also

MerryChristmasfromQV · 07/12/2006 19:00

LOL! Yes - a GP asked me a few months ago why i was still b/feeding because you only b/feed to 12 months, dontcha know

moondog · 07/12/2006 19:02

even more unforgiveable then

arse

Charliebird · 07/12/2006 19:16

Dear Santamander & Eeny
I'm gonna drop out of this thread as there my comments have been shot down in flames - I hope by some very qualified experts. My comment to you both are the WHO print GUIDELINES - the clue is in the word. My limited experience is that every baby is different - and paternal instincts are usually very right. If you feel your baby should not be taking solids then stop! However if you think your baby needs the solids as the little mite is hungry.. then continue. If in any doubt talk to qualified experts. Wish you both all the very best.
Kind regards
Charlie.

welliemum · 07/12/2006 19:21

What we really need on mn is a [groundhog day] emoticon

moondog · 07/12/2006 19:30

Milk is more calorie dense than baby rice Charlie.Can't you see that??

Charliebird · 07/12/2006 19:36

Mooodog - You are absolutely right - but most Mums mix Baby rice with breast or formula Milk which makes it even more calorie dense. Hungry babies eat the baby rice mixed with their milk in addition to the milk that they drink... therefore making their daily calorie intake higher than a baby just drinking milk. Unless of course you are suggesting that the parents should increase the milk daily milk intake? In which case I am sure you've read the latest research on overfeeding babies on milk?

tinkersbelles · 07/12/2006 19:42

TIME ladies please !!!!!!!!!!

Don't think any of this is helping santamander or anyone else for that matter.....

MerryChristmasfromQV · 07/12/2006 19:44

Okay - what do you think the difference is between feeding a baby milk off a spoon mixed with rice or giving a baby milk in a bottle?

If the baby is hungry - it is hungry - you feed more. If its not - you dont. The point here is simply that people presume that a baby is seemingly more hungry and therefore ready for solids - if that is the case - more milk would satisfy that hunger more than anything else.

Baby rice has little calorific content - if you mix with milk you are as good as adding air to milk to "bulk it out". Its nonsense.

MerryChristmasfromQV · 07/12/2006 19:46

Tinkerbelle - I think that preventing the perpetuation of myths about weaning and feeding is important on a parenting website, and by default - is helping rather alot.

tinkersbelles · 07/12/2006 19:54

I don't disagree, I just think it could be less personal at times.... If someone is given advice by a "professional" then I would expect them to trust that advice and I can fully understand them passing that advice on, in good faith. If it can be proven to be incorrect, then yes, it should be corrected, but it could be done politely and should not be a case of character assassination (sp?).
Sorry if I offend anyone with this posting but I don't like to see people so upset they say they won't post again....

DizzyBinterWonderland · 07/12/2006 20:03

i think it's very important to explain away these myths. so many people rely on HVs and doctors who are giving incorrect outdated information. it has been said on here time and time again every time these sorts of questions come up.

welliemum · 07/12/2006 20:34

I think, tinkersbelles, that the comments here look worse than they're intended to, because people here are just sooooooo frustrated at the same myths being peddled again and again. It's not directed at individuals (imo).

Just to get back to the OP, if it were my baby being grumpy at starting solids, I think I'd take that as a sign to stop weaning and go back to just milk for a bit longer. It doesn't seem right to me that they should be upset by solids - presumably if the gut is ready for solids they would take to them very easily.

Certainly this was the case with dd1 (weaned very gradually starting at 6 months).

moondog · 07/12/2006 21:04

Not convinced Charlie.
Not at all.
Point me to yuor sources and I'll gladly read them.

welliemum · 07/12/2006 21:31

Just out of interest, apart from fewer calories than milk, what does baby rice provide, nutritionally? Have never had it in the house d.t. dislike of wallpaper paste so I'm a bit ignorant.

Sorry, reading back, sounds a bit flippant but not meant to be. Is it literally made of rice?

I was wondering this because although rice is a staple food in lots of places around the world, its function in the meal is usually as a filler, rather than for any nutritional value (as it doesn't have much).

So if baby rice is similar, I would imagine it's not doing much for a baby from the nutrient point of view.

Happy to be corrected on this, but at the moment I don't see much point to baby rice, especially as a first food (compared to say, sweet potato).

DizzyBinterWonderland · 07/12/2006 21:33

it is rice flour. just a thickener. usually thiamin is added to it.