How can I tactfully tell family that I don't want to wean yet?

[emmy1979]

Getting a fair bit of pressure from various family members to wean my 17 week old ds2. Trouble is when ds1 was weaned guidelines said 16 weeks. This worked for ds1 because he didn't (and still doesn't) like the taste of milk. However DS2 loves his milk, is massive compared to his brother, and having just changed from bf to ff is draining his bottles at every feed. Have spoken to HV to check that it's ok that he's having an extra 7oz feed at night and she said give him what he needs. I want to do BLW at 6 months but both sides of family keeping saying we should give him baby rice as he's started waking more often at night. How can I tactfully tell them to bog off? I'm starting to doubt my resolve and my dp (who is struggling with the disturbed sleep) seems to be hinting that we should listen to them. We've got a big family meal tomorrow and I need help with wording my defence please!

I don't see that you need to be tactful. Do you? Just say.

Thanks for all your words of encouragement. Just spoke to dp on phone and said I'd spoken to hv. He said we should still think about getting some baby rice in....aaarrrgggh! Going to have to use some stock answers on him too. Dreading this meal tomorrow now as have a feeling I might be ganged up on. Might print out some websites terramum and just brandish them in peoples faces until they shut up! Blardy families. I wonder why people don't realise that giving their opinion mostly means pressure.

Tell them no-one has been harmed by waiting till 6 months, but detrimental affects can occur from weaning too early. Why risk it?

I had this from my family today. When I said I hadn't started weaning yet, they helpfully suggested baby rice and said she must be ready for solids now. Lo is 5 months. I smiled and said "well I'm going to try to get to 6 months." I must have sounded assertive as they didn't try to argue with me!

emmy1979 - I started around 13 weeks saying "oooh we are half way there ds. Another 13 weeks and you'll get some too" any time there was food on the go. Then obviously reduce the number of weeks accordingly as time goes past.

This drip drip effect seemed to do the trick as nobody said anything, or not to my face anyway.

Emmy

I had exactly the same thing, my mum wanted to give my daughter who was 5 months at the time SOME CHOCOLATE BUTTONS!!

I told her she had never had anything except milk and she said 'your cruel, you should encourage her to eat'

I just ignored her and told her straight I would be waiting until 6 months and I did, and I'm proud I did. Had my DD needed to be weaned earlier, then of course I would have, but she wasn't interested so I didn't. He is your baby and its your choice.

Having waited the six months, she loves food, she gets so excited when she sees the bowl of yummy food coming out!

Good Luck

it's a common question this, i suppose you just blame the HV/GP...

My MIL has been asking 'if hes on anything else yet?' for several wks. Which i interpret as 'why isnt he?'

Actualy he has been having 'bit and bobs for a couple of wks now, but he is 23 wks(i think? im losing track!)

My ds is very big and my HV said id done very well to last so long on just milk!

Baby rice has fuck all calories compared to milk anyway which alone is a reason for not going there.

Why should you lie though lie Fio suggested?
I don't get this?
It just perpetuates a stupid myth and makes it harder for other women down the line.

another difficulty with lying is that it means that they can't look after your child...