Boots baby porridge says from four months - why is this allowed?

[Stefka]

I started weaning DS at five months - something I now regret. One of the foods I picked up for him to try was boots organic porridge which I thought would be nice for him and has from 4 months written in big letters across the top.

Why are they allowed to do that? If we are not meant to be weaning until six months? Also I looked at the ingredients and it has gluten, wheat and milk in it - aren't those the foods that it is really important for babies not have early?

I hate that I gave my DS this. I am glad I only did it a couple of times.

Just come back to this, and i'd like to defend myself a bit. No it's not 'mind spinningly confusing' but I tend to be led by HV/GP and not D of H as i speak to the forer more often. Things DO change all the time. Weaning dd (now 9) was at 4 months. Pregnancy advice also very different now etc etc. Keeping on top of different subjects is quite confusing while holding down a job/ family/ whatever. Sorry, but TikTok, i don't feel your sarcasm was much needed.

Meant to be light-hearted, not sarcastic, sorry.

You're just wrong on this one, morethanmum - at least as far as weaning is concerned.

The difference between '4-6 mths' which pertained for 20+ years, and '6 mths' which came in the UK 5 years ago, is not that great, and one change only in the last generation is hardly frequent.

If the HVs and GPs keep getting it wrong, and changing what they say to mothers, then that's just poor care, as far as I can see.

not sure if this has been posted - but the porridge that i read was suitable from 4 months doesnt have wheat or gluten in it. The plum one had baby rice, quinoa etc. No oats.

All babies are different My dd1 4yr was breast fed till 5 months but started weaning at 4 months as just wasnt satisfied with milk alone. with dd2 8months i was going to stick to not weaning till 6 months and exclusivly bf till then, NonNonNo said baba give me grub at 4.5 months!!! Im not talking about steak and chips here!! but if it kept baba happy and content with a wee bit of rice then who am i to argue.BTW dd1 is now the most unpicky eater ever will try ALL food happily.

Something is going wrong somewhere along the line.

Like Fawkeoff, I was advised to wean my dd at 16 weeks. This was 4 years ago.
When I had my ds1 I was advised 6 months. This was only at the end of 2006.

I have since had another ds in Dec last year and my HV said that I could try weaning ds as all babies are different.

Theres no consistency and everyone gets differing advice.
Its no wonder people get confused.

Next 'study' will either say wean your babies before they're born or after they're 25

I saw the Dr today who told me that it was fine to wean early and I also talked to another mum who has been told by HV to start weaning and her baby is only 15 weeks. Being a new mum is hard enough without everyone telling you different things. I don't understand why health professionals are saying these things if the official guidance says they are wrong - they really should sort it out.

What I don't get is that you get hit between the eyes with "breast is best" and "don't wean til 6 months" but the minute your baby stops lasting between feeds and starts waking up hungry in the middle of the night, you get flung into the middle of controversy as to whether to wean or not. If you're supposed to hold out until their 1/2 year birthday, where is the support for people who suddenly find their 5 month old baby is starving hungry all the time, waking up loads in the night, sitting up and trying to swipe every forkful of food that comes within range? All the books say that these things are signs that your baby is ready to start solids. What are you supposed to do when a baby is giving out all these signs, you're feeling like a cross between a dairy cow and a zombie, but there's still a month to go? Rightly or wrongly, I was told by HV that it was time to start weaning, and I was all set to go for it with the baby rice. But when you come on here and have a browse through various threads you suddenly feel like you are a Bad Mother for even considering the idea.

It seems there's loads of support now for breast feeding (a great thing), but not a whole lot, even in the healthcare community, for holding out until 6 months before solids. Out of all my friends with babies, most people breast feed, but I only know one person who has held out until six months. Could this be because there just isn't any support for dealing with a baby who wants solids but isn't allowed any??

Sanguine - I wanted to say it, but didnt have the energy to type it.

In all seriousness - I went through the same, DS went from a happy contented baby to one who simply wasnt satisfied on bmilk alone. Weaned on Baby rice at 21 weeks, onto formula at 23 weeks - and touchwood both made him much happier.

I actually avoided the weaning boards deliberately at that time; because there was no changing the decision I had made with the support of the GP and I refused to spend time feeling as though I had damaged my son in some way

I read a thread the other day from Stefka who voiced the same - and I totally knew where she was coming from. I too know no one in RL who has managed to wait it out til the 26 weeks.

Why are you upset by this? I started to wean dd1 before 4 months because she was always hungry. It's not a law that needs to be up held.