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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:
AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 20:49

that is another issue as well, mumofben, and an interesting one. i saw a graphic of a wheat grain now versus 50 and 100 years ago in a food mag and the modern one was something like 30 times as big as the oldest one.
the article proposed that the difference in grain size (and milling, production etc) may make it even more likely to induce allergic reactions. i suppose that using that line of thinking, given that eg carrots are bigger, everything is more tampered with, that you're best sticking with milk for as long as possible.

i didn't say you maximised your children's chances of allergies, just did not seek to minimise them when you had the opportunity, coriander.

welliemum · 12/02/2007 20:50

WHO advice is based on a meta-analysis of many research projects dealing with many facets of weaning. This is the next best thing to a big randomised-controlled trial (which will never happen).

Just one individual study on its own is not very strong because of all the confounding factors like education, lifestyle and so on.

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 20:51

Gosh 12 months?

Yes quite agree mumofben, surely it's what you give to begin with? We have so much more information to hand than our parents had re certain foods that trigger potential allegeries etc that we can afford to be more selective. I cannot see how certain fruits & vegetables can do them any harm at 5 months plus. Both my doctor & HV have advised me that as J was a big baby & one that has eaten huge amounts of both BF & FF that I would probably find myself weaning earlier than 6 months. I am more than happy to do this as he is interested in our food & yet despite upping his milk intake he is waking through the night & he constantly hungry. He is readier than most...

naughtymummy · 12/02/2007 20:52

I'd just like to say to the op if she is still around, that i went through this with DD about 2 weeks ago (at 17 weeks). I had weaned my son at 4 months and of corse had legions of folk in RL saying it didn't do me any harm etc. I was sorely tempted to start the ol baby rice or glue as my MIL calls it.

However I listened to advice and decided to wait, went back to feeding at night and an extra feed in the day and she is now going 11-7 again abeit with 6 feeds between 7 and 11 but no matter. I just wanted to say it is a growth spurt and your milk supply will increase to cope. Another hug advantage is that I lost 11/2 lbs during this time, so if your dc feeds more just think of them sucking all those extra calories off your baby weight

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 20:54

The same WHO that is full of breatfeeding nazis (sorry "gurus") that advocate exclusive 6 months plus for BF & make you feel an utter failure if you can't do it? But that's another topic...

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 20:56

Coriander, my DD was a big baby. She waited quite happily until 6+ months.

Weight and growth really doesnt make any difference in any case. Their gut matures when their gut matures. Simple as that.

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 20:57

ah, i see. you've got a thing about the WHO. well, weaning your baby early will certainly teach the WHO a lesson.

(hang on, no it won't...it isn't even sentient.)

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 20:57

12 month..what? Corriander...are you surptised that people would be happy to wait that long if it was found the best for their child?
I mean, in the end...again....what is a year in a whole lifetime of food?
MY 2 younger ones were both weaned at 6 month (they are now 4 and 2 1/2)....and especailly my ys wasn't really that interested in food until 12 month, but did he make up for that, lol....I offered he didn't want it, he was a chubby lil one, and still is, so, don't think there is much worry there, lol....honestly, I think wellies point about societies conditioning is a vary valid one!

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 20:58

Oh FGS Coriander....

Piss off.

naughtymummy · 12/02/2007 20:59

Unless you are already wafer thin in which case think about all the chocolate you can eat to manufacture her milk

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:00

I've increased the feeds to 7 at various points to cope with his demands / growth spurts but it's becoming increasingly hard hard to mantain...I will see how he is at the w/e when he is 22 weeks if he carrys on as he has then yes I will offer & see. If not then I will solder on for another week...but I'm doubtful.

welliemum · 12/02/2007 21:00

Nazis?

Oh, I've suddenly lost interest in this discussion.

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 21:00

hm.....coriander....what does that have to do with anyhting....it't not the WHO's fault that bf support is so rubbish or that our society is so daft about it....and in the end it has noting to do with weaning...really, has it....

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 21:01

coriander, looks like you don't believe muhc in demand feeding...7 feeds...it's a number...doesn't tell ya anyhting, does it

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:01

I take that back - I dont like to use offensive words.

How about GO AWAY.

The WHO stands for World Health Organisation

They set guidelines for universal health matters. They dont work for a government. They dont earn any money. They certainly dont gain ANYTHING for advocating the benefits of breastfeeding. Except that it helps to prolong/improve life in the world's population.

Please dont use the world "NAZI", it is offensive to many people - not just breastfeeders either. DO go and find out the FACTS before coming on here and spouting twaddle and then offending people.

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:03

well, that's an incredible mature response VVVQV and no, I don't have a thing about the WHO moreover the contant brainwashing that goes on in certain quarters.

3LoveHeartsAndNoMore · 12/02/2007 21:03

feed when your lil one wants it, as long as they want to....is that so difficult?

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:05

come on coriander, what's the brainwashing?
are you bfing? ffing? what's the source of your anger at the WHO and bfing experts?

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:05

Brainwashing? Really?

For what purpose? To make you feel bad? One great big organisation designed to make you feel inferior?

Look, I'm sorry if you struggled with b/feeding - I really am. I know what an emotive topic it is, and i know how dreadful it can feel to not have managed to do it, or do it for as long as you wanted. That doesnt mean anyone has an agenda, or a ploy to make you do anything that wasnt in your, or your baby's best interests.

Unless they were from a company that made formula perhaps....

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:07

for the record i never managed to exclusively bf, and i felt like shit about it. but i must say that it made me even more determined to comply with the WHO guidelines that were within my reach.

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:07

Eh, yes I've been demand feeding since he was born actually - not that I have to justify myself to anyone. I do apologise if the term nazi affends but honestly, if seems as though if other MNetters don't agree with what the majority of you all spouting then we're just told to f off...what ever happened to open debate & respecting the choices others are making for their children?

lisaABC · 12/02/2007 21:09

i have a dd that is 4mnths and she does exactly the same thing it works for me because i get up at that time how old is your dd and what time does she go down at night? how much milk does she take?it sounds fine to me and its completely up to you when you wean her i have introduced my dd to rusks as they are for 4mnths onwards maybe try that but only 1 a day then build up it works for me!

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:10

but you've not come up with anything other than 'didn't do me and mine any harm' to back up your part of the debate. and some of the things you and others have said are just plain wrong. if you are advocating ignoring WHO guidelines then you surely can't expect to go unchallenged?

plus you did call people nazis... which although you've apologised did lower the debate to a previously unplumbed level.

mumofben · 12/02/2007 21:11

can't link, btw, as it's the book we're not allowed to mention........

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:11

Well, there is debate, and there is wilfully ignoring the facts.

There isnt much to debate about with regard to the evidence put forward to suggest exclusive b/feeding for 6 months and b/feeding for 2 years, or to delay weaning until 26 weeks onwards. Really there isnt.

So, to post on a thread asking for advice - you gotta give the facts, not anecdotal stuff about how it never did mine any harm. Its in everyones best interests to present the most current and up to date advice. Can you not see that?

Its not a direct criticism of the choices you made. If you feel it is, then it seems to me that you may not feel confident in those decisions in the first place. (And I took back my outburst...)