What age did everyone start weaning?

[Cjo99]

My DD is 16 weeks old & from she was 14 weeks I have been giving her a few little spoonfuls of puréed pouches of fruit etc (picture included) 2 friends of mines have said they started weaning around the same time as me but others have said I'll upset her tummy. She seems fine & enjoys it. Just looking some stories from other people? (by a 'few spoonfuls' I literally mean 5 or 6 very small spoonfuls)

@bruffin the EAT study protocol involved giving the babies just 3g per week of each of the six foods - that's less than 4 teaspoons of food a week, a minuscule amount. Not at all the same as genuine early weaning.

@LittleTopic No they are completely Organic

@Namesgonenow Why would I report her? She's amazing. If someone would report a HV over this I'm afraid that someone isn't a very nice person :( she said she can't officially recommend because obviously the guidelines are 6 months but she personally did what I'm doing from 16 weeks

@HavelockVetinari You must love calling people names. Also I'm pretty sure smoking around children & letting a 16 week old who is sitting up independently have a few tastes of a variety of puréed foods- are very different.

@majesticallyawkward oh really? I've seen a few people say this! Might be best not trying it Im going to be making my own stuff for her to try in a couple of weeks! Seems to be the healthier option. She seems to be displaying most of the signs- but not all She is opening her mouth when I put a spoon near it, she stares me out any time I'm eating & starts to eat her hand, it's so funny😂

@Spam88 Yes I have & that is not all I have taken from this thread. As I have gathered since then, it's not a good idea. Thanks. Oh and, I know. I was proving a point to an earlier comment.

Thanks everyone for their mostly lovely comments! Except a few. Going to try making my own puréed stuff in a couple of weeks as @HarrietM87 recommended (thank you!) Think I will avoid the baby rice as it doesn't seem very nutritious

@bruffin thanks for that link, it's very interesting!

You can make your own baby rice puree - soak long grain rice overnight and then pressure cook it. Then mix into the baby’s usual milk. I will try a finger food version of this when my baby’s older.

@GrumpyHoonMain I think I'll try that as finger food when she's older too, sounds like a good idea, thanks!

Ds1 was about 5 months.
Ds2 was 5.5 months ish.

Both started on baby rice ( I was young and didnt realise how pointless this is). Then mainly homemade purees/mashed food with the occasion jar. I used the Anabelle Karmel book for a lot of recipes.
They are now 15 and 13. One is really fussy. One eats anything.

Oh and both were doing that standing thing. Didnt mean they needed solids. My experience of HVs is a lot don't actually follow current guidelines. I've seen HVs reduce new mums to tears.

If shes only have a 'taste' then genuinely what is the point? Why are you going to make your own purees in a couple of weeks? Why not start now?

@PorpentiaScamander I guess I could start now. She just always seems to want to eat what I'm eating so thought a little bit of those pouches would be fine. I will have a look at that book you mentioned, thanks!

And I know, most babies stand like that- it was just another poster said they didn't believe my 4 month old was standing whilst holding my hands so I added a photo just to showthat's all.

This thread is painful.

Posters: Here is excessive evidence that early weaning is not good for your baby unless a medical professional suggests it.

OP: But I’ve got such a strong little baby so I must feed her this pouch of sugar! My health visitor is a lovely person so can’t possibly be wrong about this.

@BeingATwatItsABingThing You obviously only read the last few comments I didn't say anyone was wrong either.

Also I'm hardly feeding her a pouch of sugar. I'm letting her taste some puréed carrots or broccoli every other day? Please read before you comment. Thanks!

The book has good recipes but is out of date regarding advice. Ie it suggests purees from 4 months progressing to 'proper' food. I skipped most of the purees but used the toddler recipes a lot.

Op, I’ve read the entire thread thank you.

You aren’t accepting that maybe you’re not doing the best thing because you are going to carry on regardless.

Wow I’m shocked at a lot of these comments, OP has been nothing but nice...

I think what you’re doing is just right! I started weaning my DS and DD at 15 weeks, they are now 10 & 7 and perfectly healthy with no digestive problems or allergies. In fact, all my brothers and sisters were all weaned at around 16 weeks. We are all doing great in our teens & 20s. I thought that was the norm. If you prefer to wait until 6 months that’s great! If you want to start earlier, that’s fine too! 🙂 It’s YOUR baby

DD was 6 months and we did BLW. She's 10yo now and I'd never heard of BLW until I was at a breastfeeding support group and got chatting to a mum with an older baby who was eating something. Went home, read up on it and thought it seemed easier than purees/mush. It also made sense to start at 6 months which the guidelines were and still are.
I'm sure the minimum age recommended is 17 weeks=4 months so I certainly wouldn't offer any food at 14 weeks!!! Certainly don't be taken in by the cute pouches and marketing. The food is crap even if it's organic and the pouches non recyclable (despite what they claim).

It is sweet when they're paying attention, but please do look up the signs of readiness. It's also a chocking risk if they're not ready (yes even on purées!). From the nhs website;

Signs your baby is ready for solid foods
There are 3 clear signs, which, when they appear together from around 6 months of age, show your baby is ready for their first solid foods alongside breast milk or first infant formula.
They'll be able to:
• stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady
• co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth by themselves
• swallow food (rather than spit it back out)
The following behaviours can be mistaken by parents as signs that their baby's ready for solid foods:
• chewing their fists
• waking up in the night (more than usual)
• wanting extra milk feeds
These are all normal behaviours for babies and not necessarily a sign that they're hungry or ready to start solid food.

One of the things you see with babies who are too young is they'll push out the food and you see parents scraping it back onto the spoon. It means they're tongue thrust reflex is still strong.

My 6mo is only just ready, I do baby led weaning and it's much easier after the initial few weeks.

My kids both started weaning when they were big enough to steal food off my plates, put it in their mouth and chew it. Just short of 6 months

@Mumof2babas Thanks! I thought it was normal too! I'm going to hold off for just a couple of weeks, maybe until she is 19/20 weeks now, meet the guidelines half way

@majesticallyawkward Thanks that's some really good information She is doing most of them except holding the food. I've never heard of BLW I think I'll read up on it. She sleeps from 8am-7am thankfully for me..Thanks very much!

It’s been official guidance to wean from 6 months for 19 years. So how anyone thinks that is the norm is a lie. Wean early if you want, but you’re going against scientific guidance. Your mum doing it isn’t the way you should be raising a living breathing human being. Times change, so does advice.

Ridiculous.

@Cjo99 No problem! I’m 19 weeks pregnant with my 3rd I’ll probably do them same as the first two! Although I have been reading about BLW and it does seem easier!

Why would I report her? She's amazing. If someone would report a HV over this I'm afraid that someone isn't a very nice person sad she said she can't officially recommend because obviously the guidelines are 6 months but she personally did what I'm doing from 16 weeks

Of course a HV going against guidance should be reported. It is your choice what you do, but they shouldnt be giving advice just because they did it. FFS.

@Sandybval I just wouldn't report anyone for something that small...

It’s potentially harmful advice from someone who is meant to look out for the best interests of your baby. It’s not something small!

DD1 I waited until 6 months & did a combo of mashed food & blw (skipped smooth purées). Ella's kitchen pouches were good back ups but I did avoid the ones with added fruit. The prune one was useful for slight constipation though.

DD2 was 5 months & sitting in her highchair stealing DD1s food to suck on. I just kept a very close eye on her. She's now 6 months and loves food. I just whizz up a little of what we're eating to a lumpy texture & give her some finger food to play with. She can sit up, chew & swallow so is definitely ready.