To start a week early?

[Funtcase95]

Hi all. Being quite strict on starting BLW at 6 months exactly. DD is 6 months next Sunday. She's off her milk big time at the moment, EBF, I think because of teething. She's having good nappy output but just not feeding anywhere near her normal amount. She's constantly chewing everything, red cheeks, whingey and clingy so I think it's her teeth (or lack thereof). Would weaning her a week early be worth it? I know she won't consume much, if anything, but even just to be able to give her something to soothe her gums that she could eat too I'm thinking might be nice for her? Anyone weaned early for this reason?

My DD is six months next Saturday. I haven't started yet and will wait because she doesn't really seem interested in food, or particularly ready. She's quite small though and not a big eater (formula fed).

My DS2 I weaned at about 5.5 months because he was the opposite. My other DS we started bang on six months but didn't really eat food til he was about ten months, he's still a crap eater at 4.

You'd be totally fine to start now, really most people I know have started a few weeks early. I doubt it will help the teething though to be honest. Anbesol liquid is quite good for that.

@mistermagpie looks like you've had babies who have all weaned in different stages then! She's definitely ready for food in the sense that she watches & grabs anything me or DH eat, mouth open etc, can sit unaided and has lost her tongue thrust reflex. Will chat with DH over dinner and discuss if we think we should go ahead! Thanks for your help & experience!

Adding on to my own post - could she have tap water now or should we wait until 6 months/pre boil before then? Thinking if she's not breastfeeding much, popping some water in a sippy cup to begin learning might be worth a shot?

If she wasn't premature, you'll be fine at 25 weeks. If you're doing BLW give her some cucumber or something to gum, if she's teething she'd probably like it even more!

Tap water I think we boiled and then cooled until they were about 9-10 months. They don't drink much of it mind.

Yeah my baby can't sit up unaided, although my middle child didn't sit up by himself until he could walk, but she is under the 50th percentile for weight (she was a few weeks early and has always been petite) so maybe she's not the strongest?

As long as she's showing the signs of readiness she'll be fine.

I found Dentinox Gel and Ibruprofen useful for teething.

Foods that might help are a clean, wet flannel to chew on, frozen banana and big chunks of cucumber to gnaw

We started about a week early; given that, for the first few weeks, barely any food gets eaten, I didn't think it was a big deal to pop DS in his high chair with a stick of cucumber if he wanted it. It was more about getting used to the idea of sitting there than anything. DS is no 9 months and eats anything and everything (albeit we do a mix of BLW and spoon feeding things like soups and curries because DS loves them but I can handle the mess!)