Stressing about whether to wean or not

[LaDameAuxLicornes]

LO is 6 months and 1 week and EBF. As far as I can tell, the official guidelines seem to imply that you should introduce solids at 6 months EXACTLY, neither a day before nor a day afterwards - I have literally seen nothing on NHS to indicate how wide the acceptable window might really be, jus lots of stuff about not weaning before 6 months (seems to be their main preoccupation) and then the odd vague comment about how by 6 months breastmilk doesn't give enough nutrients. I've just scared myself by googling and finding articles on how if you wean after 6 months you massively increase their chances of type 1 diabetes, though admittedly that was in the Daily Mail.

Problem is, LO isn't sitting up unaided and NHS (I think?) also says not to wean until then. So what do I do? Wean or not wean? I was hoping to do BLW, though not a purist (puree-ist?!) about it and was intending to start with quite soft foods rather than simply handing him a sandwich in true BLW style. I'm very happily breastfeeding just now, so have no personal reason on my side to hurry - I just don't want to do anything that will do damage either way. Any advice?

Weaning is a process, please don't try and reduce milk feeds, let baby work it out for themselves. Is baby showing any other signs of being ready for solids? If so, just hold baby on your lap and let them investigate a slice of avocado or something and see what they do.

There is no magical change that happens on their 6m birthday, it's a myth (encouraged by baby food manufacturers funnily enough) that babies suddenly start needing more just because they're over 6m. As far as I'm aware at around 6 months they start to run out of the iron they had stockpiled from being in their mother's body, but they're still getting enough from breast or formula milk. There really is nourgent needto get them on solids.
However, evidence for a 'window of opportunity' for the introduction of tastes is largely based on the observation that babies of 6 months and older tend to refuse new flavours.
You don’t need to wait until they can sit up unaided. There are many handicapped adults who can’t sit unaided and they aren’t still EBF! Think it is more the holding head securely so they can swallow properly and able to lean themselves forwardto help clear food if needed. Not all babies can sit unsupported at this age. Just make sure that they’re sitting upright to coordinate swallowing and breathing easily. A couple of cushions on both sides of the highchair will help them be more comfortable.

As long they can sit in a high chair it’s fine!

I asked my health visitor the same question last week about sitting unaided and she said it's fine if they're not and not to delay weaning because of it, she recommended rolled up towels in the highchair to support the baby.
Either that or a bumbo type seat would that help?

They need to be sitting unaided, have lost the tongue thrust reflex (where they shove anything in mouth straight back out) and ideally be developing a good pincer grip as opposed to palming objects.
That happens around 6 months but it’s the developmental age that’s important.

Please don’t use a bumpo it’s terrible for the hips and pelvis. Just let your baby develop in their own time and wean when they are ready.

Have a look on Kellymom.com

Can he sit up unaided in a highchair? They don't need to be able to sit by themselves.

As pp have said, its a process - it'll only be tiny amounts of food to start with, if anything. We did BLW and just started off my finger sized sticks of food - cucumber was an early big hit - rather than giving him spag bol or curry that the Facebook groups will have you believe everyone gives their child as their first meals!

I started at 6 months and 1 day, with one “meal” a day. DS was ready-ish then and it felt right to us. The “meal” was more like try a little of my food on my finger or play with a teaspoon or a steamed carrot stick. It took until 8 months until he was eating any real quantities, but now (at 9 months) he’s a very happy solids eater (3 meals a day currently), though I probably still BF as much as I used to. Maybe see how it goes and take a break if it doesn’t work out?

When your baby is ready that’s when it’s the right time and can sit in a high chair or equivalent.

Have you spoken recently to your health visitor or seen if there are any weaning courses in your local area- I did one with NCT which was good.

My baby is 6 months and he was showing a great interest in food even trying to snatch things out my hand. As he was so curious I tried his with a few things before 6 months and so did many of my NCT friends.

I was advised that as I am EBF he is getting all his nutrients from my milk and up until one weaning should be about experimenting with different flavours and textures and it should be fun for the baby.

I wouldn’t wait too long because introducing allergens late is more likely to cause food allergy in later life. I think most countries advise not to wait beyond 6 months. I would personally just start with some purees and give him all the main allergenic foods fairly early. I started dc2 on solids at 4 months after reading the results of the LEAP and EAT studies into allergy. You can give peanut butter on a spoon and scrambled egg. Both my children have quickly progressed to feeding themselves and chewing very solid foods. It doesn’t have to be all or nothing despite what some BLW evangelists claim.

They don't have to sit unaided but do need to be able to sit without slumping in a high chair. I would start now tbh. I gave a mix of puree and finger foods so it doesn't have to be one or the other

I knew a mum at a baby group who didn't start until 6 and a half months (also ebf) and honestly - everything was fine! She waited until her baby was ready.

I started at 5 months and 1 week because ds was desperate for our food and showing other signs but tbh he couldn't sit unaided. In the first few weeks I just sat him on my lap and fed him definitely also nothing to do with the fact that we hadn't bought a high chair yet.

When he hit 6 and a half months or so he managed sitting up and started happily spoon feeding himself in a high chair. Everything has a way of working itself out, please don't read about iron levels dropping after 6 months etc etc as you'll only worry yourself unnecessarily imo. Just start at roughly 6 months, in your own way, ignoring any advice that contradicts your own mother's intuition and your baby will be just fine. Good luck op

Actually, that isn't true at all. The guidelines say roughly 6 months, but the research shows a broad window between 5 months (the first day they turn five months) and the very end of 6 months (just before they turn 7 months). The reality is that most babies are not ready at 5 months as they have a strong gag reflex and cannot sit up safely in a highchair so as to not choke. You do it when you're ready and when your baby can do it safely. Ideally, in the next 4 weeks.

Thanks all, this is really helpful.

High chair arrives next week so maybe I'll try sitting him in it and see whether he slouches or can sit up straight-ish. And yes, I think the BLW groups have a way of making you feel you should be feeding them full meals from the word go! A piece of avocado or similar sounds much more realistic.

If 6 months really means from 5-7 months then that is quite reassuring. I felt like we'd fallen behind somehow, yet I didn't want to rush things if he isn't completely ready.

Haven't seen or heard from our HV in several months. Stupid question alert: can you just send them a text and ask for another home visit?

Do your HV team not run drop in clinics for weighing etc? There's normally a HV present at most of ours as well as nursery nurses so there's normally someone around to answer questions

Not around here, no - it's self-weigh here and I don't think there is a drop-in clinic as such, though I have bumped into a HV (not mine) at a breastfeeding charity group. Maybe I should text her and ask what the system is for getting advice on weaning - I think I have her number somewhere.