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Weaning

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

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Original poster

Should I give my 5 month old food

42 replies

Mum070322 · 22/07/2022 22:13

DS is exclusively breastfed and I was planning on waiting until 6 months but he’s so interested in food and cries when we won’t give him any.

he’s currently not able to sit up independently but is fine if he has light support and has complete control of his head and neck he’s also able to pick things up and bring it to his mouth and swallows food.

I was having dinner and had a plain chip on my plate, he was very interested so I showed it to him and put it on his lip not thinking he’d react. He opened his mouth straight away grabbed the chip with one hand, and my hand with his other and was fighting me trying to chow down, eventually I got the very squished chip away and he started crying so I gave him a bit more, he did struggle with the skin but swallowed all the potato from the inside.

Now I’m thinking I should start feeding him food (obviously not chips) but start his first tastes with streamed veg and veg mixed with breastmilk but I have heard weaning too early can cause stomach problems but just concerned I should start while he’s interested.

OP posts:

Suzi888 · 22/07/2022 23:11

Well I had it at four months and started DD at four months. Certainly if your child is crying for food- I’d give it.

AnneLovesGilbert · 22/07/2022 23:14

I’d wait. Babies want a lot of things they don’t need. You wouldn’t give him a sip of wine or coffee if he cried when you said no.

milkysmum · 22/07/2022 23:21

No I would wait until he is 6 months as the current guidance. By then he will be able to sit up unaided and you will be much less likely to cause problems for his digestion and internal organs in general will be more ready for the process.

Perpop · 22/07/2022 23:22

No I’d wait! Especially if he’s not sitting up unaided.

Eixample · 22/07/2022 23:25

The interest in food can be curiosity generally. It’s not like he knows what food is or that it makes hunger go away.
I would wait and follow the guidance.

letmeeatcrisps · 22/07/2022 23:36

i have a 5.5 month old son who is always eyeing up our food so i give him fingertips of what I’m eating (veg/fruit/porridge before adding sugar/salt)
my mum (midwife) told me the six month guidance is there to stop people feeding adult food to two month olds etc .. at 5 months he is nearly there and anyway all babies are different!

i exclusively breastfed my daughter to six months and she is an awful picky eater now (age 2.5)… I don’t think it’s necessarily connected but it sure is nice having an enthusiastic eater around - she won’t even look at her plate of mashed potatoes but I think he’d eat the whole bowl if I let him …

ladydimitrescu · 22/07/2022 23:52

No I wouldn't, especially when he can't sit up.
My son used to scream because I wouldn't let him suck on a fork, babies cry for lots of things they don't need.
A month will only make him more stable to sit, and swallow. He's not actually crying for food, he doesn't know what food is. Food to him is milk. He's crying because he wants whatever you've got. I guarantee if you chewed on a battery he'd want that, too.

ladydimitrescu · 22/07/2022 23:54

Suzi888 · 22/07/2022 23:11

Well I had it at four months and started DD at four months. Certainly if your child is crying for food- I’d give it.

I was weaned at 4 months, I have chrons.
Early weaning and digestive problems later in life are linked, that's why the guidance is there. It's not for fun.

PinkButtercups · 22/07/2022 23:55

I started DS at 5 months. He was showing all the signs he was ready. He could sit unaided by 5 months so found it easier in the highchair etc.

When we are he literally was drooling and smacking his lips together.

PinkButtercups · 22/07/2022 23:56

When we were eating*

easyday · 22/07/2022 23:59

Guidance is guidance - not a law!
If your baby is interested why not? People used to give their babies food a lot earlier than six months. My son got food from four. He was well over 10lbs at birth and was ready to try - he still got most of his calories from me. He's a strapping lad of 18 now.

Suzi888 · 23/07/2022 04:42

ladydimitrescu · 22/07/2022 23:54

I was weaned at 4 months, I have chrons.
Early weaning and digestive problems later in life are linked, that's why the guidance is there. It's not for fun.

Show quote history

Hospital staff advised me to give DD solids due to reflux /colic. Neither of us have digestive problems. It’s not a law that you have to drink milk until a certain age.

BertieBotts · 23/07/2022 11:04

I would, I don't see the point in waiting when they're that adamant and the minimum is 4 months. It doesn't make sense to me to artificially deny them stuff for the sake of a calendar date.

I would do baby led weaning so he's in control though.

awwbiscuits · 23/07/2022 11:09

If he can't sit up properly I would worry about the choke risk

Ihatethenewlook · 23/07/2022 11:12

I started all 3 at mine at between 4-5 months on the recommendations of my HV. People get hysterical on here at the mere mention of feeding a baby solids before 6 months 🙄 as long as they’re over 4 months then do what you feel you should do op

MajorCarolDanvers · 23/07/2022 11:14

Just go with the finger food he is showing and interest in. From your plate.

Stick with fruit and veg till 6 months.

After that anything you can eat so can he except whole nuts and honey.

bluegardenflowers · 23/07/2022 11:47

Licking a spoon with a smear of yogurt, or similar won't hurt and will satisfy his curiosity. It's not hunger just curious

QuestionableMouse · 23/07/2022 11:53

Maybe go with liquidy milk based stuff? Yoghurt, rice pudding (not baby rice!), cereal with lots of milk, maybe a taste of ice cream. You could also blend some fruit to add too. (not saying give him masses either, maybe just a spoonful)

ladydimitrescu · 23/07/2022 12:42

Please don't give your 5 year old baby ice cream, in any quantity.

ladydimitrescu · 23/07/2022 12:42

*5 month old

QuestionableMouse · 23/07/2022 12:47

Why? Ice cream is just milk and sugar, not that different to yoghurt or even plain milk. I'm not saying give them gallons but a small spoonful now and then isn't going to hurt.

ladydimitrescu · 23/07/2022 12:51

Of course It is different to plain milk - what planet are you on? Why on earth would anyone give a 5 month old ice cream?! At all?! Let alone now and then, honestly the worst advice.
Their stomachs are no where near developed enough to handle something that rich.

Pinkflipflop85 · 23/07/2022 12:56

QuestionableMouse · 23/07/2022 12:47

Why? Ice cream is just milk and sugar, not that different to yoghurt or even plain milk. I'm not saying give them gallons but a small spoonful now and then isn't going to hurt.

Why on earth would you want to give your child something full of refined sugar so young?

ComDummings · 23/07/2022 12:57

If he wants food just let him have some. 6 months is a guideline so some will be ready before some after.

sjxoxo · 23/07/2022 13:01

I’m in france and guidelines here are you can start weaning from 4 months. By five months they encourage you to give as much variety as possible as they believe it helps reduce allergies or intolerance. There’s some good info on this in Emily Osters’ second book, Cribsheet, aswell. He’s clearly desperate for food so I’d absolutely give him some! DS is 6 months and has been eating 3 times a day for about 5 weeks, plus milk 4-5 times a day. He’s a big boy though above 100th centile! x

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