Should I Stop Weaning My 5 Month Old?

[anz07]

I have recently started weaning my daughter, just after she passed the 5-month mark. I know the recommendation is to wait until 6 months but she has always been a big baby (10lbs6oz at birth and now in 18-24 month clothing!). She has also been showing lots of interest in our food. She has always been formula fed since birth and guzzles down 8oz bottles - think she's been doing this since she was about 10 weeks.

So, we started her on purée 10 days ago - only a couple of teaspoons a day, no more. She was constipated at first which I knew was to be expected and then, after about 3 days, had a massive blow out (to put it mildly!). Again, I knew this was to be expected. However, since then, her poo has turned from brown to a mustard yellow colour. She has been going for a #2 numerous times a day and we're now having to change her 3 times in the night as she keeps having these frequent bouts of diarrhoea. I thought it would pass but it's still going strong and she has horrendous nappy rash.

She loves eating the purée and always asks for more (which we don't give). I reduced the amount to 1 teaspoon a day a couple of days ago, so really minimal, but the diarrhoea is still happening around the clock.

I am now thinking to pause the weaning and just go back to bottle feeding to allow her stomach to settle for a few days. I wanted to get ahead of the game as we're going on holiday when my daughter turns 6 months but am now questioning whether it would be better to begin weaning when we get back.

Has anyone else's child had a similar reaction? I know an upset stomach is normal but we've had 10 days of it and it's horrible to see her in pain. She's also cutting her first teeth which doesn't help. I know many people link an upset stomach to teething but I've read this is a myth?! Help!!!

Would you consider introducing solid foods as part of her weaning and doing that slowly instead? That way you can determine if it's a certain food that's causing any reaction with her
I'm going to try doing the 100 foods with my dd and slowly introduce those over time and keep an eye to see if there are any reactions

What is it you've been feeding her?

Like fruits, vegs etc?

Perhaps something to discuss with your GP or health visitor.

Maybe the fruit or veg purée is too much for he gut to manage at this age. Would a simple baby rice or porridge be a little easier.

I think purée of veg and fruits can often cause this.

I would do porridge made with her normal formula for a few days. Just a little bit at breakfast. If that’s fine, then gradually add things like a bit of banana for her to try.

The guidelines are around 6 months, not that you have to wait until exact 6 months, so I don’t think you’ve massively jumped the gun on weaning. Also mine both had awful teething nappies, nursery seemed to think it’s a thing too, so whilst I know there’s no direct evidence of a link, I wouldn’t completely dismiss it either. What are you feeding baby?

Thank you, perhaps I will give this a go. We have tried her on a different purée every 3 days so am not sure if she’s had a bad reaction to 1 specifically…the bad stomach just seemed to become a permanent state!

Thanks for the advice everyone. Just to clarify - she has been eating purée. She has tried the Ella’s Kitchen pouches and had carrot, parsnip, peach and sweetcorn. I just gave her bottles today and have decided to leave the purée for a couple of days. We did try baby rice a while ago and that also seemed to give her an upset stomach, can’t win!!

She’s not old enough. I would go back to bottles u Tim her gut recovers and then do steamed baggies - finger food, not purées.

I’m in Canada where it’s recommended between 4-6 months. After some tummy troubles with rice porridge the paediatrician suggested the wheat or oat porridge then adding in different purée as we progressed. It helped his tummy lots. She also said to watch out for acidic foods and suggested veg before fruits.