Should we start weaning now?

[nappynoonoo]

DH has been reading the NHS birth to five book and it says that weaning should start if your LO shows;
A) Intrest in the food you are eating.
B) Is able to sit up even if support is needed.
C) Wants to chew.
D) Has teeth.
E) Is still hungry after a milk feed.

DD tick yes to A, B and C. She has two teeth nearly through. And is pretty much always hungry after milk feeds, despite me letting her feed for as long as she wants.

DD is 4 months old now and is BF. BF'ing is going well apart from reacurring (sp?) bouts of mastitis.

I was thinking of weaning DD from 6 months onwards. DH thinks we should start little bits now, i.e baby rice and some small amounts of pureed fruit and veg.

What should we do? Can babies process food this early.

If I am honest I would like a break form the BF'ing a little bit in the day but I also want to carry on BF'ing for as long as poss.

no harm in starting now if you go slow, and stop if they don;t like it, and try again in a few days. can be easier to start with fruit like pear or mashed pot than baby rice though, as that can give constipation if too much too soon. Advice to start at 6 months has only changed in 2004/5, before that we were all doing it from about 16 weeks. You can BF as long as you like of course. usually people BF first then offer first solids, and if baby unhappy return them to the breast during the 'meal'. Good luck.

Thanks nonanny, I think I may try a little mashed potato and see if she likes that, What about some mashed banana, she is always after mine when I am eating one.

It's up to you, if you're wanting a break from bf I don't think it'll make a lot of difference cause lo still needs about the same amount of milk when early weaning... I read that the advice is 6 months as before that their gut doesn't have the right enzymes to digest food properly and also that certain foods may cause alergies if given before. Think babyrice and pureed fruit/veg is ok but best to avoid citrus fruit/anything with gluten in/anything with wheat in/dairy... So, in some ways it's easier to wait till 6 months cause you don't have to watch what you're giving as much.
The advice hasn't only just changed as such, I read a while ago on mumsnet that it has been 4 to 6 months for years and years but through people interprating that wrong was always read as 4 months.
Well that's all the info I know, don't want it to sound like a lecture, just thought i'd give you the info so you can make an informed descision.
At the end of the day it's your baby and only you know when she seems ready

DD does seem ready, I think I am and not ready myself, IYSWIM. Not making much sense am I

You mean you're not sure if you want to move on to that stage cause it's so 'grown up'?

Personally I would try and hold off as long as possible. There are so many health benefits to bfing til 6 months. 4 months is still so very small, and (imo) their digestive bits are no where near ready to deal with food at that stage.

If you really want a break from bf, then formula would be a better option than weaning.

With regards to the 0-5 book,
a - Your child has suddenly discovered there is a world out there. She has probably started to show an interest in everything around her, not just food.
b - I wouldn't be happy giving real food until baby can sit up very well (but that's just me worrying about choking)
c - most babies want to chew at theis age don't they, she has probably just discovered she has a mouth, and that she can use it to work out what things feel like. She is also teething, so is bound to be sticking everything she can in there.

i wouldn't bother. why rush it? so much easier to leave it until they can feed themselves at around 6 months, which is what you were planning to do anyway.

Thats it dalrymps, I don't because it does seem like she will be too grown up. I love the feeling that I am the only one who is providing the nutrition for DD.

wrigglejiggle, I never thought about it that way, thank you for showing it in a different light.

As ruddynorah says I think I will wait until DD is 6 months old before starting.

Glad you can see things a bit clearer now, good luck with the weaning when it does happen! I've got 6 weeks to go and can't wait yippee!

Dalrymps, good luck

thanks