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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

Anyone else weaning at 14 wks?

270 replies

sleepfinder · 13/12/2006 17:08

My DS has been taking milk only during daytime hours since week 9 - and recently he has been guzzling so much I think that he's going to explode with so much fluid.

So going on the advice of my mother, I tried a little mashed banana after his morning bottle and he absolutely shrieked with joy. After a few days of this, he is now opening his mouth to accept the spoon and swiping at the spoon with his fist (he's not getting it yet though).

No adverse effects poop wise, sleep wise, mood wise etc. Sleeping well through the nights, napping normally and not guzzling huge quantities of milk before bed.

Anyone else on a similar route?

OP posts:
merrylissiemas · 13/12/2006 18:03

ds doesn't even get big macs now. i'm saying that you went with your instincts, i went with mine and sleep should go with hers. it's not like offering a pork chop to gnaw on, whatever happened to mother knows best?

CouldEquallyHaveBeenAnAardvark · 13/12/2006 18:03

Isn't it time someone wheeled out the kellymom link for the OP to ignore as well?

GlennCloseAsCruellaDeVille · 13/12/2006 18:05

there was an interesting discussion five live today in which a researcher is looking at allergy and early weaning..specifically babies under 11 months with excema as they are doing a trial to see whether early weaning may be beneficial for the prevention of allergy rahter than it being better to delay

also looking at when it is best to introduce foods like peanuts as it may earlier rather than later

i can't find the trial reference now, but I'm looking

VeniVidiVickiQV · 13/12/2006 18:05

merrylissimas - the guidelines state 26 weeks for a number of very good reasons.

If you did that with yours - well - good luck to you and your ds. But, when posting on a public forum such as this, where anyone can stroll along and see, I think its appropriate that we bear in mind that people will lurk here looking for advice, and its in everyones interest to give them the correct advice.

Of course Mother's know their baby best, but, when it comes to health issues - well - thats what we have doctors for, isnt it?

Suggesting that 8 weeks to wean a baby is okay is just not on. Simply because the bulk of research indicates that it isn't okay.

merrylissiemas · 13/12/2006 18:05

but what about all the people who were weaned at 12 weeks give or take and have no probs with ibs, intolerances etc. i don't think that i am a worse mother than someone who weans at 6m, i've just done things differently

merrylissiemas · 13/12/2006 18:07

isn't it better to offer two sides though?

tortoiseBells · 13/12/2006 18:08

I think if you're weaning this early then you will really need to take it quite slowly. The nice thing about weaning later is that you don't need to worry too much about what you give them - they can eat most things. It is true that milk is the most important thing at this stage, but if this is what you've decided, then it might be worth chatting it over with your HV (if you've got a good one).

Fwiw, I was weaned at 9 weeks, on Bone and Vegetable Broth, and I don't think I had any bad effects. My children were weaned at 4 mths, 6 mths and 6 mths, and are all thriving. Just make sure you know the facts, and make an informed decision, so you don't have regrets later!

merrylissiemas · 13/12/2006 18:10

tortoise, you've hit the nail on the head there.

MerryPiffmas · 13/12/2006 18:10

It's all down to your experiences and influences in the end - so long as you understand the risks and possible long term effects then so be it.

Dp is very overweight
His two brothers aren't
Dp was weaned at 10 wks when the advice changed in the UK apparently
His 2 brothers were weaned post 6 mths
You could draw a conclusion...

lornaloo · 13/12/2006 18:10

Why risk it? He does not need food. He is far to younge to cope with it. Why risk it?????

achristmasshoop · 13/12/2006 18:11

I started weaning mine at 4mo, and up until now he would eat anything. When I say that, I mean it, he will nibble on things like gherkins, pickled egg, and even curry!!
We started him on banana and he loved it. Wouldn't take to baby rice tho...
Anyway, he is nearly 2.5yo and has only now started to get fussy, but will still eat lots of different fruit and veg.

merrylissiemas · 13/12/2006 18:11

and vvv, i'm not saying that everyone should wean at 8 weeks at all, i'm merely showing some support

lulumama · 13/12/2006 18:11

because you cannot see inside your baby;s gut and see their digestive system...and the ramifications of weaning to early can only be seen many many years on.....

my babies slept through the night very young ( weeks old) , so the argument weaning helps them sleep is not true IMHO.......some babies sleep, some don't.......the baby sleeping through at 6 weeks, or 8 weeks is going to do so anyway

milk, milk and more milk is all a growing baby needs.....

i am absolutely all for mums going with their instincts, but this is not a case where you can physically see if they are ready ..as you can't see their digestive system..

different to using your instincts if your baby seems ill.. IFYSWIM...

yes, some babies are hungrier...but milk and lots of it is more filling than a couple of teaspoons of food

also, much advice from 10 or 20 years ago has been discounted as medically unsound, do why is the new evidence on weaning being discounted?

merrylissiemas · 13/12/2006 18:14

but if the old advice is unsound, how do we know theyre right now?

DizzyBinterWonderland · 13/12/2006 18:16

the new research looks at what has happened to people who followed previous advice.

GlennCloseAsCruellaDeVille · 13/12/2006 18:17

I think it seems wisest to wean quite a bit later than 14 weeks unless you are following the regime of a paeditrician for some particular health reason

there is no reason to start earlier just because baby is taking lots of milk

lornaloo · 13/12/2006 18:17

Lulumamas right. You can't see what early weaning does, so don't risk it.
I tried giving ds some baby rice at 5 and a half months as my hv said he might need it as he was a big baby (9lb10oz at birth). I tried but he was not interested so I waited and didn't properly start untill 7months, by this time he was clearly ready and was able to hold carrot sticks and feed himself. He still has more milk than food and is 14months old now. He is in 2 year old clothes and growing well. Milk is much more important in a babys diet.

lulumama · 13/12/2006 18:19

due to the increased prevalence of food intolerance and allergies in people weaned earlier...science and medicine move on..no doubt in 10 years time, there will be new developments , that might show babies should not be weaned until 12 months old...

but the point is, there is up to date information on weaning...and it recommends weaning at 26 weeks....and i for one, think it is advice worth following, i don't think it makes me a better mother, but i have Crohns disease, i don;t want to mess with my children's digestive systems

i weaned DS at 20 weeks as that was the recommended time then, i am not an expert, so i have to believe the DOH is giving this advice based on massive amounts of research and data. I choose to believe it

Twiglett · 13/12/2006 18:25

I weaned DS at 14 weeks .. when the advice was to do so at 16 weeks .. it was because I wasn't aware that was an earliest date

I weaned DD at 26 weeks because I was aware of the advice and relevant studies

I think anybody who weans earlier in the face of the current medical advice is patently NOT acting in the best interests of their child .. and I think that's remiss, if not a little stupid

but I will accept that advice may well change .. we can only do the best for our children based on the current research available ... when weaning DD I looked at the research and there was none that said it was detrimental to wait until the gut is developed (ie 26 weeks) and only research that said there were potential links with asthma / excema developed as teenagers

if you don't want the best possible future for your children its your decision

noddyholder · 13/12/2006 18:33

Ok everyone I was not saying early weaning is ok but she did sound like she had made up her mind.

ImMcDreamyingofawhitexmas · 13/12/2006 18:34

It is advice though - not the law. It's up to you as a parent to decide. I weaned at the recommended time but then I didn't have particularily hungry babies or bad sleepers - not sure if I would have tried earlier if that had been the case.

I must confess though I don't follow 100% of the advice 100% of the time - DD slept on her front is one example

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 13/12/2006 18:39

MY older too were weaned at 14 weeks (18 & 15 yrs) Ds1 was probably earlier than that if truth be told. Dd (13) was weaned at over a year. She's the one with the excema and chronic constipation. That's just my experience though and the current guidelines are presumably well-researched.

If you're going to do it you need to do it very slowly and stick to pureed fruit, veg or baby rice for a while.

saggarmakersbottomknocker · 13/12/2006 18:39

too?. two.

noddyholder · 13/12/2006 18:39

She is not asking for advice but support which is not what she is getting.She is getting the
advice from her mother

MerryPiffmas · 13/12/2006 18:46

she never asked for support actually being pedantic..
she asked was anyone else weaning at 14 weeks. or on a similar route