17 week old - too young to wean???

[emwad]

My 17 wk DS has started waking up in the night (usually between 4-5am) for a feed, he has slept through for 5 wks. He has been feeding 4 times per day, and finishes 8oz quite easily. He weighes nearly 18lb (only 7 lb 12oz at birth).
My HV told me not to start weaning for at least 2-3 weeks but I've given him baby rice today and he munched loads as well as his usual 4x 8oz feeds, but now I feel awful incase I'm starting it too early.
What would you do?

Foghorn, I don't think anyone was suggesting the only answer was to increase milk intake only in the day, the suggestion was to increase milk intake overall ie feed when they wake during the night.
The baby gets more milk and hence more calories per 24h and no solids needed at all.

I dont think waking up in the night twice at 18 weeks is that unusual regardless of what happened before.

A Baby expert in the 40's, Truby King, can't remember his first name, recommended weaning at 9 months.

Weaning was not especially 'early' in our terms until well into the 50s and 60s.

Truby King (Frederic was his first name, ucm, I think, please can I have a prize for that bit of useless info!!) did indeed advocate weaning at 9 months, and he was writing in the 20s, I think.

Solids really don't provide much in the way of calories to a young baby unless they are mixed with large amounts of cereal eg rice or rusks.

At 17 weeks, babies can usually have more milk, offered little and often. Foghorn you say you have offered more milk and he won't take it. Doesn't appear he is hungry, then. But your baby, your choice

Point taken MrsB.

Hercules - DD1 didn't go backwards in her sleeping, she slept right through from about 8 weeks unless she was poorly.

Twice in the night is killing me atm considering I usually finish feeding DD2 for the 2nd time at about 5.30 then DD1 gets up at 6.15ish - the light mornings are getting to her and getting to me too

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drum roll

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Mac: the spangly knickers are giving me terrible thrush

I've no sympathy - you should have bought cotton ones.

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Emwad - I think my DS was on around 35-37oz a day when he was 4 months. They tend to be on their maximum intake around that time, and will have reduced it again by 6 months. That was certainly my experience.

Message withdrawn

wow, i'd be fascinated to see that book, what's it called? (tis aitch btw). also, what kind of foods were they giving as first foods? when were non-purees introduced?

How many months is 17 weeks? Aint it 4 months

I know that sounds silly of me to ask

Though the advice is six months for weaning I think every baby is different! 17 weeks is the earliest. My HV said they now say six months so people at least get to four months. Your baby is a good weight at 181bs he could be ready though I would try a feed at 10pm even if it means waking him. My little one is over 8 months and only weighs just over 15lbs. They really do differ! Hope this is helpful Emwad. Go with what you feel is right for you.

but it's not 'right for you' is it? it's right for them. and if something as wonderfully simple as giving milk rather than baby rice for an extra two months makes it less likely that they'll develop IBS or crohns or allergies, or at the very least provides both of you with peace of mind that you followed the guidelines then why is that so difficult? [genuinely baffled]

I'm glad you saw that one too Aitch. Wasn't fast enough

Am also baffled by some people.

I waited until six months to wean my son and did not give in to pressure because he began waking in the night. I was not convinced he was hungry. He still wakes up once nearly every night.

But it changes all the time. They used to say 4 months then it was 5 and now its 6

Argh!!

"They" used to say put babies on their fronts.

"They" used to say put gin on their gums and honey on their dummies"

"THey" used to say give 'em the belt.

But times have changed, research has been done and this is the latest and most up to date advice .

It may well be wean at 12 months in the future - who knows?

I just know I'll keep myself as informed as I possibly can in order to give my children as good a start in life as I can.

so the trend is going in what direction, kks? not backwards. seems to me that your point makes it all the more important to wait.

Oh Aitch, whilst you're here...is it possible to give a BLWer too much yoghurt (I hand her loaded spoon, she shoves it in gob, sucks yoghurt off spoon, sometimes pulls a really 'sour' face then hands me back spoon for more) because for the first time in her life she hasn't done a poo a day (I should probably be slightly grateful although it's always interesting to see what's survived the digestive system.......)

dunno, tbh. would yoghurt bung people up? dd is fairly regular so it's not something i know a lot about, sorry. she does get bunged before a tooth breaks through, i do know that.