Health Visitor bad advice?

[TobiGus]

I had a '6 month review ' with my health visitor even though my baby is 5 months and so far I have taken a lot of her advice with a pinch of salt because when I've checked out some of the things she's recommended online the NHS website pretty much contradicts her every time.

Today she asked me if I've weaned my baby and I said no she's only just turned 5 months old and I thought the advice was wait for 6 months and she told me I could wean now because she's holding her head up and if she's looking for more milk or waking in the night these are signs she's ready. The NHS website pretty much contradicts all of this and says these are NOT signs they are ready. Which am I to believe?? What did everyone else go with?

[Danikm151]

On wean before 6 months if it’s due to a medical condition and advised by the dr.
Is she an older HV as they will hang on to the old ways. I’d ask to give some feedback to the management team that she needs training

[TobiGus]

@Danikm151she is older. She also told me I can give my baby cow's milk at 6 months? I'm pretty sure that's a hard 'no' and it's not until 12 months.

Thanks will look into it

[dementedpixie]

Cows milk can be used in cereal and in cooking from 6 months. It's just not suitable as the main drink until 1 year

[Kitkat151]

Cows milk is fine with food eg cereal, mash potato, rice pudding, cheese sauce

[TobiGus]

@dementedpixie @Kitkat151 Ah I see that's probably what she meant to be fair to her. Thanks

[RandomQuest]

I’m generally no fan of health visitors but in this instance what she said sounds absolutely fine. The NHS advice is to wean around 6 months and when they are showing signs of physical readiness including yes holding their head up. The guidelines do not say that you have to wait until exactly 6 months. So if baby is 5 and a bit months and showing those physical signs then yes if following the NHS guidance you can start. From 6 months baby can also have cows milk in food although formula or breast milk should remain their main drink i.e. you don’t need to use formula to make porridge, cows milk is fine (assuming no allergy of course).

See here:
www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/ready-or-not/

[Kitkat151]

I think you are pretty lucky that you got a 6 month review.....round my way you wouldn’t see a HV from 6 weeks to 10 months......6 months is not a core visit