why have they changed the weaning age?

[lightworker]

Hi, can't find the answer to this question. I have just had my 3rd baby who is 15 wks old. Since I had my 2nd in 2004 the guidelines for weaning have changed. My gut instinct is to do the same as I did with the other 2 children, but becasue they have changed the age from 4-6 months to 6 months I want to know why before I start introducing food to baby number 3. Anyone able to help?

oooh... can open, worms everywhere...

They've been 26 weeks for some time now. I had my daughter in 2003 and it was 26 weeks then.

Studies have concluded that it reduces the risk of various illnesses and conditions, including those later on in life.

There are increased risks of anything if you wait

LOL designerbaby!!!!

May god have mercy on you....

Seriously, I think it's to do with gut maturity. My ds was born nearly 2 years ago and according to all the HC people it had recently been made official then.

Because they know that the gut is mature enough for solids at some point between 4-6 months, but obv can't look inside each baby to find this out. As it does no harm to wait till 6 months, they changed to make sure that no baby was put at risk in their childhood and adult life

I know what you mean! My dd1 was weaned at 4 months as per the guidelines then. This time round I knew that the current guidelines are to wait until 6 months......however the midwife still advised me to wean at 4months!!!

It was 2003 when the guidelines changed. The WHO have advised 6 months for a while now, but the UK government didnt change it until 2003 (my DD1 was a small baby then, which is why it sticks in my mind)

And 6 months (or later!) is what people used to do, before everyone got obsessed with little pots of goo.

Well the change in guidelines passed me by 2nd time in 2004, there is far more hoooo haaaa about it here in 2008. Number 2 seems to be none the worse for being given some baby rice at 4.5 months. I think it's hard to keep them going on milk alone for such a long time. All 3 of mine have been excluisively breast fed and trying to keep up with hungrey babies and life is enough to make you reach for the baby rice when they get to 17 wks.
Thanks!