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Weaning

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

How many babies make it to 6 months on milk alone?

91 replies

ThomasTankEngine · 01/08/2007 20:21

My HV says only 2 in 500.

I am struggling with a DS at 15 weeks, at 16lb, so far fully BF.
Anyone have any accurate figures?

And what percentage of MUMs are BLW-ing?

OP posts:
Tutter · 01/08/2007 20:22

i read it was 1 in a 100

but don't ask me where i read it

Trinityrhino · 01/08/2007 20:23

gosh I would have hoped it was more than that

lilymolly · 01/08/2007 20:23

Mine
but she has always been petite, and not had a huge appetite.

tassisssss · 01/08/2007 20:24

don't believe it's only 2 in 500 as I know several

lulumama · 01/08/2007 20:24

your HV is probably talking bolleaux

my DD made it to 3 days before 6 months ( started her earlier because DH had the day off and wanted to see her eat her first food! )

my best friends dd made it to 6 months + a few days

your DS is obvisouly thriving on milk, and at this stage , there is often a growth spurt

milk, milk and more milk is the most nutritious, calorific and filling substance you can give a baby..a spoon of puree or rice is not going to fill him as much as a good milk feed

JeremyVile · 01/08/2007 20:25

Mine did.

(i block out the incident at 5 mths when my mother thought he really wanted some chocolate )

2Happy · 01/08/2007 20:25

It was publicised earlier this year that less than 1% make it to 6m exclusive bfed. Don't know about BLW. That's a bit of a negative thing to say to you if you're struggling; did she give you any practical help as well?

JeremyVile · 01/08/2007 20:26

....not because he wasnt 6 months - i'd have had no qualms weaning him earlier if he seemed to want/need to....

But chocolate........

2Happy · 01/08/2007 20:27

(I should say, I think the

Califrau · 01/08/2007 20:27

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Message withdrawn at poster's request.

octo · 01/08/2007 20:28

Lulumama - is that really true about the milk being more fulfilling than food? DS3 never seems satisfied after a bf feed but when give him a bottle he smiles at me then conks out. Am still bf and want to continue - so will be watching this with interest.

massivebigpantsface · 01/08/2007 20:31

mine is a week over 6 months, exclusively bf until 2 weeks ago when I started weaning before going back to work. I'm sure she would have been fine for another couple of weeks though.

Clayhead · 01/08/2007 20:32

My 2 did!

lulumama · 01/08/2007 20:32

breast milk is actually a wee bit more calorific than formula

formula is 'heavier' therefore fills a baby more, so can seem more satisfying, but just it takes longer to digest than BM

a good breast feed or a good formula feed is larger in volume than a spoon or two of baby rice or pureed carrot, the majority of which will be pushed out , scraped off the chin,back in, and out, and in etc !!!

so it is more filling to give milk

there are frequent growth spurts in a young baby, which give rise to the notion that milk is no longer satisfying at 12 weeks/ 16 weeks/ 20 weeks

you can do no harm by delaying weaning until 6 months

your baby will show signs of readiness, loss of tongue thrust reflex being a good one, waking up in the night and seeming hungry or chewing things are not neccesarily indicators that food is required

babies don;t know food exists, so they are not missing out

expatinscotland · 01/08/2007 20:33

the dd's did!

when dd1 was a baby, the guidline was 4 months.

but dd1's had delays all her life, so she didn't show any interest till around 6 months.

massivebigpantsface · 01/08/2007 20:34

octo - I have found that dd is much more satisfied since weaning but the meals are not replacing her bf, they are in addition to them. The only feeds that she is seeming to cut down on are the night time feeds. She was previously feeding about 5 times and now about 3 (thank goodness!)

JudgeyMcJudgeson · 01/08/2007 20:34

mine did.

All babies I know did 'cept one whose mum was eager to get her onto solids.

Loopymumsy · 01/08/2007 20:34

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kamikayzed · 01/08/2007 20:35

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Bectheneck · 01/08/2007 20:36

My DS was 16lb 12oz at 16 weeks, 19lb 11oz at 6 months and exclusively BF. He's just over 7 months now and BM still makes up the majority of his diet.

I am pleased that I've done it as I weaned DDs at 4 months (as per guidelines back then) but I'm very lucky that I've always found it easy and have loved doing it.

Oh and I started off BLW but the mush has crept in so it's a combination of finger food and spoons now.

BabiesEverywhere · 01/08/2007 20:37

Ignore the HV...my HV told our first mother group that she had NEVER met a mother who breastfed exclusively to 6 months and that we shouldn't bother trying !!!

When DD got to 6 months and 1 day before eating solids, I really wanted to look up this silly HV to tell her but I didn't bother.

bumperlicious · 01/08/2007 20:37

My mum told me today that her partner's son (in his 30's) was given solids before they left the hospital

mumfor1standfinaltime · 01/08/2007 20:37

My ds went to 6 months weighing 17.6lb on formula milk and was born at a healthy 9lb 12 oz!
At 15 weeks he was 15lb.
He was a very long slim baby (72cm long at 26 weeks) and still is tall for his age now at 2.5 he is the height of a 4 year old.

I started with mushy foods like banana and finger foods at 6 months, I had no idea what or how to wean! I just gave him things to explore as well as spooning some bits inbetween.
He has always been a very 'milky' baby and he would have huge amounts of milk, he didn't seem that interested in food. He still has 2 pints of cows milk a day at age 2.5 as well as his meals and snacks, but as I said he is a big lad!
You have to do what feels right for your situation imo.

kamikayzed · 01/08/2007 20:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

BabiesEverywhere · 01/08/2007 20:40

Oh yes, we do BLW too, or rather DD does ;)

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