Is 4 1/2 months too early to start weaning?

[wurlywoo]

Hi I am just after some advice and suggestions really, dd is 18 wks and going through a phase of not finishing milk feeds, she is showing a lot of interest in what others are eating and I just get the feeling she is ready for more. Also her sleeping in the day is not what it used to be and I am wondering if its because she is not fulfilled with the milk.

For quite a while now she has been on a 7, 11, 3 6.30-7 routine and sleeping through beautifully. I am just worried that she might start waking in the night for food now and I wont have a clue what to do!! She is a very active baby too. Also, her feed in the afternoon she never ever finishes, she gets distracted and pushes the bottle away!

I have started to introduce baby rice in the morning and this is having differing results I usually try and give her two teaspoons (well baby spoon servings!) and sometimes she will have it others not, depending on how hungry she is. She is on 70z at mo with 8 oz before bed if she isnt too tired to have it that is!

Could just be a phase. Lots of babies go through phases of being 'off' their milk. I would take this as a sign if her not being hungry to be honest. Don't forget that at this stage most babies take an interest in food and anything their parents are doing! If she starts waking, again it could just be a phase so I would just get her a bottle incase she is hungry. If it continues then I would introduce solids but there is no rush.

My ds was weaned at 23 weeks and has only just this week at (9 months) actually eaten anything worthwhile and actually enough to fill up on!

It's entirely up to you but I really think if you can possibly wait just a few weeks then it will be worth it!

Have been thinking about it today and I think I will wait to be honest purely to make it easier, although I am going back to work in June and weaning when I am going back will be a logistical nightmare.

Just found it odd that the afternoon feed she really isnt fussed about then come the night one before bed she is too tired to eat it! grrr..

Thanks for the advice appreciate it!

If she's interested in food you could always try giving her whole soft cooked pieces to play with, eg carrot (known as baby led weaning/BLW, see www.babyledweaning.com for more info). Food at this stage is about learning/textures/tastes - she's interested in it because you eat it, not because she thinks it will fill her up. At this stage her nutrition is still from milk.

Waking up overnight is not because a baby requires solid food but is due to development (ie their brains have a lot more to process). Ditto naps during the day changing - they are generally becoming more active. I think most babies become more distracted around this age - they can see better and want to look around. I had to stop feeding DS when out in cafes at this point! One Mum I know used to cover her LO's head with muslin to help her focus on feed if out...

If you prefer to go the puree route, the department of health has a good weaning leaflet available online.

I agree with meandmyjoe - if she's not finishing her milk feeds then I'd say she's not hungry, certainly not that she needs more food. I also agree about them being interested in food because it's what the parents are doing, not because they specifically want the food. I've always found the theory that babies are ready for food when they show an interest in it a little weird. Babies show an interest in everything, just because they are interested in your car keys doesn't mean they're ready to learn to drive

My baby was born on the 7th Jan, so roughly the same age.

She has
8 oz at 6.00am after a 12 hour sleep.
5 oz at 11.00am
4 or 5 oz at 2.30pm
4 0r 5 oz at 5.30pm

then the 12 hour sleep.

EVERY feed I do 7oz, there has been the very rare occasion she has finished ONE of these in the day, she often pushes it out.
She is IMO no where near ready for food despite being a biggun at birth (9lbs 3oz)
she often pushes the bottle out, she is never hungry enough to finish a bottle.

she sleeps for 15-30 mins 3 times a day.

I only say this as your baby sounds VERY similar to mine

Thanks for all your advice and comments. I do think a lot of this is purely that my little madam is being cheeky now and she is so nosy, I cant feed her in public because she never finsihes the bottle.

It just concerns me that if she isnt finishing feeds how long will it be before she wakes in the night and I am going back to work soon. God help me!!

Shinyshoes - our babies are strangely similar.. sure we werent in hospital together.

I think as this is my first I havent clue what to do even now! It doeant help that my DP isnt very helpful he doesnt agree with routine etc and has no respect for anything I do.. So I am on my own with this!!