Weaning before 6 months

[Loz2394]

Hi All,

looking for some advice, we started weaning my little girl around 4 1/2 / 5 months not massively just the odd puréed fruit here and there for her.
Ive been hugely judged at a mums group local to me for this. I know that it is NHS recommended not to do before 6 months- but my daughter is 6 months next week, can sit, tried to take the spoon off me now and puts in her mouth and is swallowing the food. Has anyone else weaned before 6 months? Got huge mum guilt and feeling rubbish.

I think my coeliac disease is caused by being weaned early and damaging my gut lining. Personally I wouldn’t do it to my babies (x 3).

Im really sorry you're suffering with that, but genuinely I think if it was that straightforward a cause and effect then the rates of coeliac would be astronomically higher in West Africa where a traditional baby food called pap is given alongside milk between 3-6 months before they move onto standard complementary food at 6 months. Its actually corn based so appears gluten free. Nothing is simple or straightforward i suppose. Maybe the body just can't tolerate wheat gluten that early.

The research shows that introducing gluten no earlier than 4 months and no later than 6 months is associated with a lower risk of coeliac disease. But there are many factors, including genetics.

Individual experiences are pointless here, someone saying they think their coeliac disease was caused by early weaning isn’t based on anything at all. And neither is the comment from you earlier that you think early weaning is fine just based on you being a mum.

New guidance is you can start weaning from 4 months of baby is ready but recommendation is to start at 6 months as per my health visitor about a month ago. Don’t worry about it and do what suits you and your baby x

Look at the scientific research. I’d rather have a nut allergy than life long gut problems!

I have a colleague whose nut allergy is so severe she can go into fatal anaphylaxis if nuts are even on the same floor as her would beg to differ. As would the parents of the poor little two year old boy who died at nursery due to being given a documented allergen to eat.
Gastric issues are no joke i get that but neither are allergies.

Yes that’s a bit of a bizarre statement to make comparing.
OP you will always get flamed for posts like this on here. My husband is from a country that weans from four months and we did that first time round as I followed their guidance re allergens. Second time round I understood more signs of readiness and waited until 6 month old as per NHS guidance but to be honest weaning is such a nuisance I would have left it later if I could 😂
unsure how true it is but my consultant told me the UK weaning guidelines are actually under review re exposure to allergens at 4 months.
ultimately what’s done is done x

@Emma543

I loved weaning and it stopped my teething baby chewing on my boobs 247 🤣. I didnt do it just for me though I did it earlier 2nd time around based upon research. My personal opinion (yes, opinions are pointless as other pp said earlier) is around 5 months. I wouldn't do as early as 3 or 4. Of course if new baby isn't ready til 6 months then il wait.
Both of mine were breastfeeding til past 2 and past 1 respectively so don't know if that helped.

There are extremes of everything, but generally avoiding a known allergy is much simpler than life long gut problems.

Hi OP, don’t worry baby would soon let you know if she wasn’t ready for weaning , when my youngest was just over four months she was sitting on my lap as I ate Christmas dinner , her little fist went straight into the gravy and potato shoved it into her mouth!! Her little eyes lit up brighter than the Christmas tree ….her look said what have you been keeping from me ! That was it from that day on she had a taste of everything . She’s four now and will happily eat a spicy curry while munching on garlic naan ! Don’t feel a bit guilty you are a good Mum . 🌹

It's funny how advice changes - mine are nearly 24 and 21. Advice then was 4 months - if you started later than that you were warned it might cause speech delays and problems.

I mean, sure I could go and trawl pub med for some publicly available studies on optimal weaning age, but seeing as I currently have a small baby (and consequently, limited research time) in a country that recommends weaning from 4 months, I could just assume that both the NHS and the French Public Health Service have looked at all the research and come to 2 different conclusions based on slightly different weighting of the relative risks and benefits involved.

This, and OP it doesn't sound like you have been giving food from your plate anyway? What was the rush? Unless it was medically advised then I would also judge you, but you made your decision so no point stressing

I weaned both of mine before 6m. Both in the UK. one at the recommendation of paeds as baby wasn't putting on weight well enough and was deemed ready. Baby was 22 weeks.

Second was at 20 weeks. Showed all signs were in readiness and was interested in food. Had reflux and weaning helped keep everything down much better. I made this decision based on gained and researched knowledge. And speaking to a professional from America who knows my children.

Where I'm from babies are frequently weaned from 17 weeks plus if paediatrician signs off. Not sure how American babies tummies can so different from babies here.

Guidelines are just that. A guide, they aren't the be all and only rules to follow. They are mostly aimed at the developing world, where weaning early is much more dangerous. This is due to lack of sanitation and other factors. A 6 month old baby with severe stomach issues does have better outcomes than younger babies.

There's alot of research available in support of both early and 6 month weaning, as well as against. I'd do ypur research and decide what's best for you and baby based on reputable sources not a tiktoker or mumsnet.

Currently weaning my 5 month old. We were advised to wean at 20 weeks due to reflux (gaviscon and omeprozole helped but haven’t worked well enough and he stopped gaining enough weight). I managed to hang fire and hold off until this week but when we went to our last weigh in on Friday, the GP and health visitor are in agreement he needs to be weaned now. We’re giving veg off our plates plus soft foods by spoon. He’s loving it but would have been much too little a few weeks ago. He’s 2 weeks off 6 months and I’ve had judgy looks in cafes and even someone ask me how old he is. You’d think I was handing him a fag not a bit of broccoli!

Like many said before this is a personal decision and info from country to country differs. I live abroad and here we are told minimum 4 months and no later than 6 months so we went in the middle and started at 5! We also noticed that as DS was so active milk just wasn’t cutting it anymore for him. The rate of coeliac disease is also lower here than in the UK. Research is always ongoing and guidelines can change and as others have said are under review.

we always try do the best by our kids and I’m sure that’s what you have done. No matter what the decision is there is always pros and cons but you need to trust your gut and your decision. Stay strong momma you are doing great!

My DD is 30 and it was 3 months then

Many countries wean from 4 months. Latest research now favours 4 months for some babies in UK. Guidelines change every so often. Health visitors now say be guided by baby

I find it mad that people want to wean earlier than they have to. It's such a pain 😂

I’ll find my red book and post a picture-I’ve had to do it before!

I think we need some evidence here!

I have a 24 year old as well. The closer to 6 months the better for him too.

Dd 37 the advice was 3 months.. She was diagnosed with crohns disease at 32....

It's weird - checked my red books and both definitely 4 months.
My youngest didn't take to weaning at all - would definitely have been better at 6 months I think. But GP and HVs were adamant I had to persevere or she would have major speech problems!

Weaning guidelines changed to 6m in 2003 so we're in place when your second child was born.