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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

Should I start weaning yet?

222 replies

fairysnuff · 10/02/2007 18:59

DD has decided to start waking up at 5.30-7ish every morning for a feed. This is not norm for her. I was happy to go with it, thinking it wouldn't be for long, but it has been a while now (a week or so).
Is she ready to wean?
Should I start giving her some food between her last night feeds (second to last feed at 7ish and last at 8.30ish)
Most books say to give lunchtime feeds first, but she needs to get through the night, will a lunchtime feed help??
So confused by it all and totally feel that it is too early! She is just 20 weeks, 21 on Tuesday.
Help!

OP posts:
alex8 · 12/02/2007 13:50

I can see how some people want to instinctively give food to babies but I really can't see how there is some primeaval natural instinct to add milk to ground rice and spoon feed it to your baby or puree fruit and veg and put them in ice cubes trays. Thats not instinct that just following what others do.

Chillout · 12/02/2007 13:53

If suggesting someone rely on their instinct, having availed themselvces of all the info/suggestions on offer, is irresponsible it's a sad day for free speech. All i've said is what works for me. By the time this thread has finished our kids will all be ordereing from menus anyway...gotta go, getting to particular round here and baby wants a walk. Happy feeding.

DizzyBint · 12/02/2007 13:54

eary weaning, a lot of the time, doesn't happen due to instict. it tends to happen because baby hits the 4 month growth spurt, mum doesn't know how to handle it, so gives puree or baby rice to try to fill baby up to keep the old routine going. this is usually accompanied by misinformed HVs and older relatives giving inappropriate advice.

percypig · 12/02/2007 13:54

Sorry if I've offended you Chillout - I guess we're just agreeing to disagree - enjoy your walk!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 13:57

Its not about free speech at all!!!

Its about providing people with correct and up-to-date advice to ensure the wellbeing of someones baby.

If you think that you should be able to mis-inform or ill-advise someone on the basis of free speech - well, I'd be worried about your instincts, personally.

That aside - this is a parenting website and thousands of people wander through here every month looking for advice.

The "Well it worked for me and mine" isnt good enough 'advice' its anecdotal, and pretty flimsy, quite frankly.

Chillout · 12/02/2007 14:02

Perce, no offence at all dude. Old vvcqc however is in serious need of a chill pill and needs to actually READ what i've said, and, in my opinion, preface her views with 'in my opinion'. That's what it's all about - informed opinion. So disappointing from one claiming, albeit indirectly, to have a classical education.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 16:10

Actually, chocolate would be better than a chill pill. Does my PMT wonders

I might add though...that, the entirety of my posts were not directed solely at you...but, you can take it that way if you wish, and then take a dose of your own medicine

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 16:19

fight...fight...fight....

sorry couldn't resist;)

Still wondering if we have shown Christy yet that indeed people that are pro 6 month weaning have actually done their research....lol

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 16:28

LOL 3...

I think with some folk, sometimes, you can only do your best, but it doesnt get through.

I do very much dislike folk perpetuating myths about such things though. Clearly more so when I am pre-menstrual though

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 16:46

lol...and it's hOLIDAYS....DON'T HELP NEITHER...oops caps...or is that just me

Chillout · 12/02/2007 18:26

Enters waving white flag (smeared with carrot puree) and large bar of chocolate...

All I was trying to do was to make the original p'er a bit happier. Everyone comes to Mnet with certain biases, views etc and I'm just the same.I am certainly not pro-early weaning, more pro-choice, and the way I'm chosing to do it is very slowly a little at a time, because that's what suits me and my babe. I have a friend who is making herself ill from following various books and regimes, and feeling like a failure because her baby doesn't do exactly the same thing at the same time every day. I was a bit like that at the start and it made everyone miserable. The day I chilled out life was transformed.
I also have a friend with a child who will be fed, for life, through a tube. It just helps gets things in perspective sometimes.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 18:41
VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 18:42
Chillout · 12/02/2007 18:48

Now if you'd let me puree it and spoon feed you you wouldn't be in that mess......

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 18:52

Ah, but, baby led weaning allows me to eat it at my own pace, in chunks I can manage. Saves you faffing about with a blender and a spoon too

Aside from that, I'dve bitten your hand off to get to the chocolate before you got the chance to reach the blender.

lockets · 12/02/2007 19:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 19:10

lol chillout and vvv....C-H-O-C-O-L-A-T-E.
Chillout, thing is, the reaction wasn't provoked by the op, but by the fact taht some people tried to give outdated advice...iykwim....
in the end, of course everyone has to made their own decision, but isn't it better if it is an informed choice?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 19:12
3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 19:13

lol that just put Homer Simpson into my mind now....lol....

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 20:06

FWIW, I weaned DD at 5 months 1 week & never had a problem with lumps, finger foods, allergies of any kind etc etc. She is now 2.5. I have a 22 week old son who I'm planning on weaning this weekend as he is very very hungry & has started to wake again when he was going through. I know that this is the right time & plan to do exactly what I did with DD...i.e start with a bit of mashed banana...yum I think every situation & child is different -
whilst I'm not advocating weaning at 10 weeks I really don't think that most children can wait until 6 months.....& long live petit filous...

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 20:09

Most babies can and do wait until 26 weeks. Please dont make sweeping generalisations.....I need more chocolate.....

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 20:11

plus...milk has more calories than banana.

Its a FACT!!!

If your DS starts to sleep through once you've given him some banana it will 99.9% certain be a coincidence!

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 20:12

'most babies can't last'? it's amazing the amount of people who i know that weaned according to the old guidelines who tell me they can't believe dd lasted til 6 months. and yet... the vast majority of my nct and baby group chums lasted with no difficulties whatsoever.
i wonder if when the guidelines change upwards again (as they probably will...) whether i'll be on here saying dd would never have lasted until 9 months?

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 20:14

i've got some green and blacks with the letters vvv and qv on them... how serendipitous.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 20:18

gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme gimme

pwease....[flutters eyelids]