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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

When did you/will you wean and why?

43 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 10/11/2015 17:20

I'm just wondering, not many people seem to wait until 6 months.

I waited with ds1 until 6 months, despite loads of pressure. He was absolutely fine with his milk.

Ds2 is 20 weeks, I'm going to wait until at least 24 weeks just because again he's fine, and weaning can be a faff.

But he is quite interested in us eating, I've got a feeling he's going to take well to food, I kind of feel a bit guilty when we are all eating as his mouth starts going. He is also almost sitting up, and he has much better hand to mouth coordination than ds1 did at this age.

I'll still wait but I wonder whether this is the point when people decide they're ready.

OP posts:
GeorgeTheGiraffe · 10/11/2015 18:40

I started early with dd1 and wished I'd waited a bit longer (she was 5 months). I feel I got sucked into the whole "start her on solids it will help her sleep longer at night". Didn't make an ounce of difference! Anyway, she's fine (20 months now) but I just wished I'd held out a bit longer

missmargot · 10/11/2015 18:47

We did baby led with DS at a weeks off six months. If your DS is really insterested then you could give him something to hold/explore/mash in his hair whilst the rest of you eat. DS loved doing that for weeks before he actually ate anything, which was fine and he was having fun exploring and I didn't want to spoon feed him.

trapdooragain · 10/11/2015 18:49

four months with dd because that was the recommended advice four months with ds1 because he had a reflux four 1/2 months with ds2 due to reflux

Snossidge · 10/11/2015 18:51

Between 4 and 6 months (can't remember exactly but I think earliest was 20 weeks and latest about 24), because they seemed interested and were sitting well/holding their heads steady/picking stuff up.

catsofa · 10/11/2015 18:53

Close family member has an allergy, so I wasn't going to rush to wean as they're more likely to have reactions to foods the earlier they encounter them. Just started BLW now at 6 months.

sleepyhead · 10/11/2015 18:56

6 months with both.

Both times several people seemed weirdly obsessed with my babies getting food before then. Like bizarrely overinvested and bringing the subject up more often than strictly necessary (ie ever), but the babies themselves weren't bothered.

I dare say some babies are up for it earlier.

anothernumberone · 10/11/2015 18:59

17 weeks, 22 weeks and 27 weeks. The more I had the less inclined I was to wean. For dc2 and dc3 once they started there was no stopping them. Hovers the pair of them.

tinytumble · 10/11/2015 19:01

Just started yesterday; she'll be 6 months next week. Really just wanted to give her the opportunity to put things in her mouth to distract her from the agony that is teething. She's been interested for ages but in reality is not as excited as I thought she might be.

Weaned DS1 at 4.5 mo on HV advice; DS2 at 5 mo in hopes it would help with his silent reflux (it didn't).

It's all a bit of a faff, I wasn't in any hurry this time despite much pressure from family etc. And DD is huge (9.5 kg), so I've heard all the 'hungry baby' arguments too...

Hellochicken · 10/11/2015 19:02

Ds1 at 5 1/2 months as I was excited and couldn't wait! He had signs of being ready for weeks, also was a bit unsettled at night - as advised weaning didn't help!
Dd1 at 4 months as she was enrolled in a clinical medical trial - it was a pita as she needed a lot of help, was spoon feeding for weeks.
Ds2 was 6 months and dd2 will be 6 months (she is 4 months 91st centile, can sit up in highchair, she can just about reach out for things and lift/pull them to her mouth), but for me/them I can't see any good reason to start earlier.

Hellochicken · 10/11/2015 19:08

Dd2 also moves mouth when we are eating! I think it's cute but I don't feel guilty thinks of the clothes washing I am avoiding

Snossidge · 10/11/2015 19:29

I thought it was the opposite with allergies catsofa? The later something is introduced the more likely it is to cause an allergy.

catsofa · 11/11/2015 22:23

Oh maybe so Snossidge, now I look it up again it just says they shouldn't be eaten before 6 months.

Wizadora1 · 11/11/2015 22:28

16 with ds as he had severe reflux and was a 'failure to thrive baby' despite feeding really well as an ebf, he was constantly sick. His reflux improved vastly and he has gone from below any centile to a steady 50th centile at 28 weeks. It's just what worked well for us. I will probably try to wait longer with any future babies.

Wizadora1 · 11/11/2015 22:28

16 weeks that is.

comeagainforbigfudge · 11/11/2015 22:36

I'm going to start at the weekend. DD will be just over 5 months. She is sitting up unsupported, picking things up etc plus her wee mouth starts going too when she's watching us Grin

doleritedinosaur · 11/11/2015 22:37

6 months as I went by the three signs for baby led weaning especially as there's an intolerance in the family & signs seen with breastfeeding.

Every baby is different though but I did try some spoon feeding but he prefers feeding himself. It's so much easier & he eats what we have do each meal & works out well.

blackkat1978 · 11/11/2015 22:39

25 weeks with both of mine as I wanted to do BLW & didn't see any reason why they needed solid food any earlier than the guidelines which have been in place since 2003

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 11/11/2015 22:58

I'm hoping to do a mix of spoon feeding and blw.

I had a lot of pressure with ds1 to wean him early people seemed to have a weird obsession with it.

My parents and in laws swear that we were all starving by 3 months old.

OP posts:
DramaAlpaca · 11/11/2015 23:02

DS1 was weaned at three months because that was what the guidelines said back then. By the time DS2 was born, the guidelines had been changed to four months, so that is when he & DS3 were weaned. I'm sure if they were babies now I'd be weaning at 6 months.

WheresMyBurrito · 11/11/2015 23:04

DD is 24 weeks; I'm hoping to hold out til 26 weeks but might not get there. Honestly, the way she looks at us and chews the air while we eat, it is a bit like having a puppy!

In a way, and I know this is super petty, I kind of want to hold out to 6 months just to prove a point to my mum Grin

Lilipot15 · 11/11/2015 23:10

What are the three signs for baby led weaning and the signs seen breastfeeding referred to above?

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 11/11/2015 23:22

I know what you mean burrito, I think certain people hate it that ds was just fine with his milk.

In my honest opinion I doubt it makes much difference, 3 months, 4 months, 6 months but it's all a bit of a faff so if they don't need food I'm happy to wait.

OP posts:
Snossidge · 12/11/2015 17:10

This is the NHS advice Lilipot, it's not specifically related to baby led weaning (as in no spoons/only self feeding)
www.nhs.uk/start4life/solid-foods

Snossidge · 12/11/2015 17:11

Although this Stay in a sitting position and are able to hold their head steady
doesn't necessarily mean sitting unaided on the floor etc - so long as they can sit upright in a highchair or on your lap it's fine. Otherwise one of mine wouldn't have been on solids until 8 months.

Snossidge · 12/11/2015 17:12

There is quite a bit of evidence that 4 months makes a difference vs. 3 months (in terms of infections, digestive problems), but as fair as I'm aware not much difference between 17 weeks and 26 weeks.

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