Advice on why not to wean early

[BornToBeAPrincess]

I was talking to my lovely friend at work this morning when he mentioned he?d bought baby rice for his son. His son is 10 weeks old.
He and his girlfriend are young first time parents to this gorgeous little boy. Their health visitor has advised them to give the baby rice from 14 weeks. They don?t know any different and the health visitor is their only source of professional help.

I don?t want to tell them how to raise their little boy and I didn?t do very well this morning with my advice. I think I said something like 'No no no, please don?t give your little boy that its wrong'. But I just want to show them why they should wait.

I?ve had a quick google and found a few things to print out to show him but I just wondered if anyone had anything to add. I?ll print this thread out to give him tomorrow.

Thanks.

Am sure I read the World Health Organisation recommends holding off weaning until six months unless the baby is showing signs of being ready (waking up in the night when previously sleeping through, showing interest in food).

How do these HVs get away with giving such mad advice? A friend of mine was told her 2 week old needed to learn to be "independent" and be left to cry in her own room - shudder

Dept of Health and NHS guidelines recommend 6 months and not before 17 weeks. The HV will have this leaflet .

14 weeks is too early - 10 weeks is WAAAAY too eaarly, Why are they considering it - is it nightwakings? He's probably having a growth spurt.

2 weeks

I have no idea why some HVs say these things. Some of us have mumsnet but others just believe what they're told

Hes a good baby, he only wakes up once in the night at 4am for a bottle. I don't know why shes advised it

Food Standards Agency

HVs are NOT infallible, they need to know that and do their own research so they are well infomed.

Both of those links are fantastic. Just what I was looking for
Thank you

Kerala, waking in the night and showing an interest in food aren't signs of needing food - they're normal developmental stages. Babies usually show an interest in everything their parent does, IMO. Doesn't mean they're ready to drive or play golf.