It's not rocket science - "it may cause harm to wean early, it does no harm to leave it till 6m" - WHY do people still want to shovel baby rice in at 12 weeks (or earlier)?

[hunkermunker]

I have come up with some ideas as to why people wean early:

they have competitive baby syndrome and are annoyed someone else's baby rolled first, so they want to get theirs onto steak and chips via baby rice and one fruit or veg a week for months

Well, an idea. Any more?

think those are in the minority though over here in the UK anyway...
I mean, I know of people who opted out of seeing a HV, but those tend to be well read and educated people that will research before doing anything...

In my area loads of people wean early and those I know I have asked why ...and it's the typical thing of ...seems ready, yaddayaddayadda...basically down to social conditioning...people feel a BAby needs to be spoonfed by a certain age...and all that...
the people I have asked also readily admitted that indeed their HV's were advising them to wean later, but they felt they knew better....

Can someone tell me, really, where does this doubled birth weight = ready for solids thing come from?

Oh, and v. impressed with those of you seeking out research - I think I'm doing well if I've found time to read the free paper!

I think some people take the view that because health advice changes, that means health advice can't be trusted.

Message withdrawn

NoBiggy the thing about doubling birth weight is written in the book "The Dinner Lady" by Jeanette Orrey - incidentally this was recommended to me by a number of MN's!

My god, I talk a lot of shite when I am pissed, don't I?

Hmm my ds2 doubled his birth weight a few weeks ago, he was 8lb 2 at birth and is over 17lbs now, BUT he's only 12 wekes old

its sunny outside

Isn't here, just got back in anyway.

but v. windy noddy. i am still going out to do some gardening tho!

My dd turned 6mths this past weekend so we're starting BLW.

I speak to many other mums online who have babies of the same age, all of whom weaned early, some as early as 10 weeks . Their reasons include;

(1) Waking in the night
(2) Baby is "hungry"
(3) Baby watching people eat
(4) Weight
(5) The jars say from 4m
(6) Everyone else is doing it

Having pointed out all the relevant research to them, their reasoning is then;

(a) My HV said it was OK
(b) I was weaned at 4 weeks and I'm ok
(c) I know my baby better than research
(d) The guidelines only apply to 3rd world countries
(e) If I don't have my baby on 3 meals by 6mths I'll have missed the weaning window and he/she will never eat solid food
(f) My baby is losing weight, weaning will help

etc etc etc etc etc

I like these ladies a lot but I do find their attitude to weaning appalling. I'm just glad that I can log on here and hear some sense coming from those such as Hunker

is this still going?

out of interest though, what exactly is the research all this is based on? I've never seen any.

BLW is the giddy limit-no offence

do they get people to remember when they weaned and then look at the children?

The reason people wean early? Because it's acceptable to do so. The NHS weaning leaflet gives you a list of foods to give before 6 mths, health professionals recommend it (some of the time), the jars say from 4 mths, we were all weaned at 3 mths - no ill effects for most. Of course people are going to wean early, they're being drip-fed messages that it's ok to do so - doesn't take a rocket scientist to work that one out.

I am obviously abusive then as I weaned all three early! Haven't read all of this as no time, am currently persuading my abused children to go to bed and sleep all night! You can have your opinions but don't use words like abuse that generally - I love mine to bits and they're all happy and healthy

"e) If I don't have my baby on 3 meals by 6mths I'll have missed the weaning window and he/she will never eat solid food"

ha ha. weaning window. so2me people NeED throwing through the weaning windlow!!

Perhaps I could tempt you ladies over to the sock thread?

ooo is there a sock thread?

i'm curious about the sock thread!!

Kerrymum - that's terrible, you poor thing . Hopefully a story like yours will serve as a cautionary tale for any mums tempted to wean too early.

NKjfap938wruv (or whatever lol) - actually I think you're right. I certainly know of people who listen to their mum/aunt/sister first and foremost. In one case this went to the extreme of giving their DS tea of all things, before he was a year old FGS! This is a real problem, because not only will they not be listening to the guidance on timing, they may well also not be listening to the guidance on what foods to definitely avoid, which will just make things even worse.

I think that's a great summary from Horatio there. Certainly fits with my experience of chatting to other people online and IRL.

Kerrymum, that sound terrifying.