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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

3 HVs advised me to wean at 21 weeks - looking for support or otherwise

125 replies

Bethbe · 18/04/2007 20:43

Have always planned to wean DS1 at 6 months (a week late actually to have a bf camping trip), but my DS1 has changed his feeding behaviour and now on three seperate occassions a HV has suggested that it could be time for something else.

LO has always been a hungry baby, - has been drinking between 11-13oz EBM for evening feed since I first began expressing when he was 4 weeks old. He has always loved his food and has always fed on the breast aggressively and focussed, not playing or using me as a dummy.

He is also very physically developed. I've never had to hold his head, and he has been able to stand supported since birth. He's not particularly fat, but he is a bit of a bruiser.

Over the past couple of weeks he has began to get very fussy on the breast. He's been wanting to feed all the time, but when I put him on he keeps pulling off (dragging my nipple) and crying and then does a quick scream and re-latches for a couple of sucks and then pulls off again.

The above is all that I have told the HVs, but in addition:

He is also a human canabal, munching on any part of my (or my DHs) body that he can get his mouth near.

I know he can swallow, because he munches and swallows both his regurgetated milk that comes back up, and flem from his recent colds.

He makes swipes at my food (but I think this is probably more out of interest than to feed).

I've been following many of the weaning threads to guide me and many suggest that there is no harm in waiting, but if it is true that he needs more than what I am giving and the battle and misery that it would take to wait, then surely it would be more harmful to wait.

One of my worries though, is that the reason for our frustrated and unhappy feeding is being overlooked if indeed weaning is not the answer.

Any suggestions gratefully received!

Thanks!

OP posts:

foxybrown · 18/04/2007 21:43

Dunno, cos its a weaning thread maybe? Don't take any notice, people are funny about bf/weaning threads. I generally like to steer clear of them because I find them frustrating, but I also feel I have quite a lot of experience which I'd like to share to support others.

Anyway, that aside, if you don't want to take that particular HVs advice, is there another you can get a second opinion from? what do you feel is right?

oliveoil · 18/04/2007 21:44

I am not being rude but there are approx 3452 threads which all say the same thing and end up tomorrow with 286 posts all ranting on

Original poster

Bethbe · 18/04/2007 21:46

Teething! He is teething I'm sure, but isn't as dribbly as he was a while ago. I bought him a zillion teething thingies but he doesn't seem very interested in any of them.

The HV that suugested BF was boring is usually the most sensible of all the ones I've spoken to which is why I posted on here - coz I'm really not sure of her advice this time.

OP posts:

UCM · 18/04/2007 21:47

I took DD to the Drs this week as she had dropped her feeds to about 15 oz per day (ff). He wasn't worried, told me not to worry unless the fontanelle dipped.

Lo and behold she has started drinking again after a bloody week of worry !!!

Cazee · 18/04/2007 21:48

I was just going to suggest teething, as my DD is fussing at the breast now, and I am pretty sure that is why.

CountTo10 · 18/04/2007 21:48

Like the other 104 great threads doing the rounds about nice people, old mners, newbies, fluffy bunnies yawn yawn yawn!! It's the old adage - if you're not interested, don't post. It just belittles someone else's problems which is unfair!!

Bethbe - the teething thing is a good point. It might be that if he has sore gums then feeding might be uncomfortable for him. Does he have a dummy or anything at present?

UCM · 18/04/2007 21:49

Ah but Olive, the WHO may change their mind tomorrow, so one has to be quick and in the know as so many of us are.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/04/2007 21:51

Actually, you kinda are OO. But Im sure you didnt mean to.

Agree with everything that Lulu has said.

I remember DS going through a phase of this tbh. It is also worth bearing in mind that their weight starts to plateau too when they become more active.

Maybe you could try BLW and see if he is interested in that?

Original poster

Bethbe · 18/04/2007 21:52

Well, Olive this is the first time I've done this! I'm not trying to cause a row, itsjust that having you first LO is pretty scary at times and it really isn't helped but a wealth of conflicting advice, undervalued, under-staffed support and political policies and drivers to laden mothers with the guilt of all of the failures of society!

OP posts:

foxybrown · 18/04/2007 21:55

He could be having a growth-spurt so might be seeking out more food, but this might pass as your supply increases.

He might be teething (if his nappies are extra yukky that might be a clue).

He might be ready to move on - babies are individuals too.

Feeding is a huge stress for all of us! Do try not to get stressed out about it. You are obviously worried as he has dropped on the percentile line, as we all would be. HV advice may be valid as a 'quick fix' for a growth spurt.

foxybrown · 18/04/2007 21:58

VVVQV, can you give us a quick run down on BLW please?

Original poster

Bethbe · 18/04/2007 21:58

Thanks for your messages everyone! It's great to come here and get support. If nothing else it's helped me to decide to give a week and see if it's just a phase (and then I might give it another week)!

I may also try the LLL but to be honest the idea rather scares me. I'm sure they would be horrified to know this, but because of the general push to bf and the support (I'd call bullying quite frankly) to promote bf in my area all bf gurus frighten me now!

OP posts:

crunchie · 18/04/2007 21:58

OK if he is teething IMHO doesn't that suggest that he is ready for food?? I might be slightly odd but I can take the flak

Listen to your baby, only you can know what he wants, but teeth develop for a reason, to eat, not to drink.

My gut feeling is saying he is ready to start weaning and sod the rest of you.

You could try the 'new fangled' BLW which I understand to be an array of finger foods to to eaten/thrown on floor/mashed into hair etc tec or even try the 'old fashioned' baby rice or worse still pureed veg.

Gosh that would be awful considering all babies over the past 20 years were pretty much weaned before they were 21 weeks and do you know what....most are still alive!!

Do you have alergies in the family? that would be my ONLY reason for waiting longer.

Original poster

Bethbe · 18/04/2007 22:01

No allergies crunchie!

OP posts:

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/04/2007 22:02

Well, basically, give him/her a stick of lightly cooked carrot and see what they do with it

Original poster

Bethbe · 18/04/2007 22:03

I'd be interested to hear about blw, but I understood that that really was from 6 months and anything before needed to be mush!

OP posts:

foxybrown · 18/04/2007 22:04

I don't know what LLL is either ....

... but I would like to add I've successfully had, bf and weaned 3 babies (either at around 4 or 6 months) and have so far muddled through ok by doing what I thought was right for them ...

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/04/2007 22:06

Ignore Crunchie, she's from the "old-school" school of thought , and check out Aitch's blog ... www.babyledweaning.com

foxybrown · 18/04/2007 22:07

I'd be worried about them choking on a bit of it TBH before they've learnt to chew and swallow. Obviously I'd never leave a baby with it, but it would worry me.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/04/2007 22:07

The thing with BLW is - if they are developed enough to grip and put food to their mouth, and then chew and swallow - they are ready.

The best way to do it is give a tray of finger foods and see what happens.

Carry on giving plenty of milk as per normal.

LLL means LaLecheLEague

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/04/2007 22:09

Well if they are ready for weaning, they will be able to swallow.

But obviously, you will be sat there with your baby whilst they play, so not such a problem. Obviously steer clear of whole grapes etc.

foxybrown · 18/04/2007 22:10

so I guess you'd never use the method before 6 months anyway as it would take a certain amount of development to manage it?

UCM · 18/04/2007 22:11

so this is giving the baby food before 26 weeks providing they are able to pick it up and eat.

UCM · 18/04/2007 22:13

Sorry but I am watching this thread as my DD is only 12 weeks. She is putting her hands to her mouth and my DH thinks she wants a bottle all of the time. I think she has found her hands.

But I will be watching out for more details on here.

VeniVidiVickiQV · 18/04/2007 22:13

foxy - you could put a stick of carrot in front of them before 26 weeks, and if they are interested, ready, and truly hungry - they'll pick it up and eat it. If not - they wont.

It's really that simple.

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