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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:
VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:12

lisaABC - the packet may say 4 months onwards....that doesnt mean its okay.

Mumofben - I dismiss it out of hand then

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:12

I've exclusively BF both my children for a time before adding formula. I do not work for a formula milk company (!!) rather I just wish that there wasn't so much pressure from health professionals carping on about BF when it isn't for everyone. I loved BF I really did but I know people that have just stuggled & struggled & been made to feel like social paraihs for not carrying on with little or no help from MW or HV...you are not a bad person if you chose not to or can't BF that's all.

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:12

[gasp] at lisaabc. works for you? so what? and of course it's your choice, you're the parent. but surely your duty of care goes beyond doing what 'works for you' to doing what works for your baby's long term gut health?

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:16

coriander i did struggle with bfing, and what i wish for is that i'd had more highly-qualified support, more information about drug interactions and more intervention quicker. i don't wish for there to be less of an emphasis put on bfing as the best thing to do if it's possible. that's a really wrong-headed approach to a problem if you ask me.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:17

Coriander...I hope you dont think I was suggesting you worked for for a formula company? I wasnt - I was merely pointing out that if anyone has an agenda, it would be from a company who profited from giving advice (or labelling their tins/jars in a certain manner), rather than the WHO.

No-one is saying that people should be vilified for not choosing or being unable to breastfeed. That's not to say that on a parenting forum we should give substandard advice in order that we spare feelings. We all strive to give advice AND spare feelings, but, sometimes, if someone feels strongly enough about their apparent feelings of failure, then no amount of tiptoeing is going to make them feel better, is it?

Twinklemegan · 12/02/2007 21:17

Oh dear, I know I'm wading into a fight here, but here goes...

I'm often confused by the analogies used when discussing weaning age e.g. baby interested in what you're reading doesn't mean it's ready to read War and Peace, etc. etc. No of course not, but when my DS shows an interest in a book or magazine I'm reading I give him one of his own; if he shows an interest in my mug I give him a plastic cup to play with, or give him a beaker of water. So if he shows an interest in my food why shouldn't he have a little of his own, assuming he's not too too young?

I'm playing devil's advocate here since I do understand all the good reasons for waiting til 26 weeks, but it's just always puzzled me.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:19

Because showing an interest in food is no indication of a baby's gut maturity. Its simply indicates the baby wants to have a grope at whatever is on your plate.

Which is why picking up a book may mean he is interested, but, it will be a few years before he is actually ready to start learning to read.

Does that help?

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:21

VVVQV, I feel more than happy with my choices. I have cousins that were weaned under the old guidelines of weaning at 4 months who are now into adulthood with no associated food problems at all...I'm just saying that guidelines are just that guidelines, they just may not be suited to everybody & every case.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:24

Of course not.

But when bandying advice about on a public forum where thousands of parents seek advice. Surely the guidelines ought to be what we stick to giving?

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:25

actually your point rather vindicates BLW as an approach, twinkle. in the original test the babies were introduced to food (hello baby, hello food ) at four months, but they were left to their own devices as to whether they ate it. the majority started to pick up teh food and eat it at 6 months.
however, the thinking is that if they can pick it up and eat it by themselves then they are probably good to go. there are a couple of women on here whose babies grabbed food from their parents before 26 weeks, and they are BLWing their little hearts and tummies out. but unless we leave it up to the child or stick an edoscope down their throat to take pics of their gut lining, we are as parents just do not know when they're ready.

lisaABC · 12/02/2007 21:26

i never said it was right for all babies of 4mnths i said its an option she could take try it once or twice to see if it causes any problems ie toilet wise and go from there

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:26

but my doctor says that after 18 weeks they can handle other food stuffs other than liquid.....& yes, do agree that advice should be given if requested & no matter how passionate you feel at times it does seem that some threads / Mnetters go a bit overboard with advice cum preaching....it's rather overwhelming at times I can see

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:27

have you actually read this thread, lisa?

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:29

but why would your doc be goin against WHO guidelines, coriander? he really shouldn't, you know, it's most irresponsible of him.

lockets · 12/02/2007 21:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:30

Yes but I think with a degree of flexibilty perhaps? It does come across on this thread that all babies are doomed for evermore if weaned earlier than 26 weeks & I for one just don't believe that's true...that's all....but respect those that chose to wait 6 months & longer...like I said each parent / child is individual & makes their own life choices with the ensuing consequences - & that doesn't just refer to weaning.

Twinklemegan · 12/02/2007 21:31

I must admit Aitch I didn't try finger food with my DS before starting to wean him (a bit early for good reasons, as I've said before on here). But he did grab the spoon and feed himself with it almost from the word go - does that count??

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:32

indeed lockets..

lisa - you said "...i have introduced my dd to rusks as they are for 4mnths onwards "

if that's not saying they are alright.....well, its ambiguous to say the least isnt it?

mixed · 12/02/2007 21:35

my friend's granddad is 90 y, plays tennis and smokes.
Yes, this kind of argument has been used before and yes, I shouldn't compare early weaning with smoking but it is what comes up in my mind when I read similar arguments from those who wean early.

Of course they are "only" guidelines as it would be difficult to make them into laws. The fact that they are guidelines doesn't make it less true. (OK, I don't believe that guidelines are always true)

What you do is your choice of course, I feed my children chocolate, sweets chips etc but I don't claim that what I do is healthy. I suppose ultimately bad feeding habits can have repercussions on later health, use of (nat.) health service and taxpayers .

DH is a GP, the only thing he knows about weaning is what I have told him...

mixed · 12/02/2007 21:37

I've had the wine but where is the chocolate???? Better have a rummage in my cupboard now.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:37

One of my GP's said that I shouldnt be feeding my DS past one year. They dont keep up to date on b/feeding and weaning stuff. They are GP's, they only need a scant knowledge of stuff like that, and they often dont bother to update themselves, until they become parents themselves usually.

Thereafter....well...

Have you thought that there may be areason why some folk "preach" as you put it, about subjects such as this?

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:41

no-one has said anything about dooming children to a life of allergies, coriander, i think that's in your own head tbh. there has been much chat about minimising risk, however.

twinke, off the top of my head i'd say if he's self-feeding he's self-feeding. the problem is that if you fed him as well then you get into the whole knotty area of appetite regulation. also there are other benefits to feeding solid solids, iykwim, such as texture and taste differentiation. but i'd say (with no medical background) that if he was grabbing the spoon and putting it in his mouth then that would be a positive sign. however, if you gave him the same ingredients in the raw would he have been able to eat them? hmmm. oh well, at least he was willing, that's got to be good, doesn't it...

Coriander73 · 12/02/2007 21:42

You obviously feel incredibly passionate about this whole issue so with all due respect I don't really think there is much more I wish to add...good luck to all of you pre weaners or those already weaning & let's hope we're not all doomed

AitchTwoOh · 12/02/2007 21:44

righto, coriander, nice talking to you. where's the isketch room, then? [rubs hands]

VeniVidiVickiQV · 12/02/2007 21:47

oh yes...will be isketching when I get home