Did early weaning (21 weeks) help settle your very unsettled baby?

[Babyisaac]

DS has been very very tricky since birth. It wasn't an easy decision to make and I have desperately tried to hold off until 26 weeks, but this morning I started him on baby rice.

I'm aware weaning might not help his behaviour one iota and I'm also aware of the controversial decision to start weaning early, but have any of you out there experienced a change, i.e. a more settled baby and better sleeping at night as a result of weaning?

Success stories please!

There is a lot of research into this field, I just did a quick search on Pubmed, a medical/science search engine (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/). Far too much for me to read it all and work out my own conclusions (and I am a scientist). I trust the professionals who continue to review the literature and try to advise us as best as they can.

weaned dd1 at about 4 1/2 months. She was a terrible sleeper and w?aning didn't make any difference.

I weaned at six months as I thought it was worth waiting for the excellent reasons posted above. I do not have the magic ability to see into my ds's gut. There is no such thing as a baby who can't or won't wait to wean until six months, only a parent who can't or won't wait.

Incidentally, my ds was an appallingly bad sleeper, that did not change a bit once he was weaned.

A 2001 Cochrane Systematic Review [2] concluded:

?We found no objective evidence of a 'weanling's dilemma'. Infants who are exclusively breastfed for six months experience less morbidity from gastrointestinal infection than those who are mixed breastfed as of three or four months, and no deficits have been demonstrated in growth among infants from either developing or developed countries who are exclusively breastfed for six months or longer. Moreover, the mothers of such infants have more prolonged lactational amenorrhea. Although infants should still be managed individually so that insufficient growth or other adverse outcomes are not ignored and appropriate interventions are provided, the available evidence demonstrates no apparent risks in recommending, as a general policy, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life in both developing and developed-country settings. Large randomized trials are recommended in both types of setting to rule out small effects on growth and to confirm the reported health benefits of exclusive breastfeeding for six months or beyond.?

Cochrane Reviews generally well respected.

Out of curiosity, why are people so emotive about this subject wrt guidelines, but don't have a similar reaction (or at least not one that I've seen on the pregnancy forums) to drinking (within moderation) during pregnancy?

Similar guidelines, similar potential outcome, yet differing views?

Don't know, Naetha - good question, really. I didn't drink during pregnancy, but don't tend to drink much anyone, so it was hardly a sacrifice. I got the impression when pregnant that there wasn't clear evidence that complete teetotalism was essential, but didn't really look into it much.

anymore! not anyone...

Habbibu - while interesting, the article you refer to is indicating that exclusive breastfeeding (as opposed to introduction of non-breast milk or solids) is sufficient until 6 months. It doesn't indicate any risks directly caused by introducing solids.

Also there's no indication of the trial size, other than there were 11 trials in developing countries, and 11 in developed countries.

Sorry I know I'm pissing a lot of people off by pursuing this, but I want to find this evidence.

Interesting question Naetha, when in principle we are talking about the same thing, surely? Risking babies health and futhermore risking unborn babies is worse than those that are into this world at 4-6 months?

Can't quite understand the hoo haa related to weaning early, in contrast to other topical issues such as drinking during pregnancy..seems people are getting very bogged down with it all.

Umm, how has the human race survived this long when we've only had "experts" to tell us when to wean our babies in the last few decades? How have mothers known when to start babies on solids in the pre-expert days? Instinct maybe?

My dd became incredibly unsettled in her feeding and sleeping at around 5 months. I held off any solids for a few weeks and then out of desperation to try and change something I started solids at 24 weeks I think. By the time she was having about two meals a day her bfing had really settled down and improved. Her sleep was more of a gradual thing to settle down though, don't think that was food related.

Also at least two of the mums in my NCT group said their babies' sleep really improved once they started solids.

I had the understanding (and sorry I can't back this up, so very happy to be proved wrong!) that drinking while pg had been shown to be amount-related, ie the harm done was directly proportionate to the amount consumed, and also that significant amounts were cited in the cases of foetal alcohol abuse/damage. In other words, one half glass of wine every couple of months (my personal intake) would be relatively harmless.

I would guess that with weaning it is also amount-related, and babies tend to eat more and more as time goes on, so between eg 4-6mths they could have consumed an awful lot?

My dd has sooked on my apple - she may have ingested a teeny bit - I'm not worried due to the tiny amount, but I wouldn't have her on 3 meals a day as I think it would pose a risk.

zulu - to be fair, the human race has survived, but there has been very high infant mortality in that survival.
Naetha - This is a wider review, which includes the Cochrane review I posted above, and it suggests a reduced risk of morbidity from gastrointestinal infection for children exclusively breastfed for 6 months. It includes introduction of solid food as part of its definition of mixed feeding.

bloody hell, 21 weeks isnt THAT early, she's not talking about weaning him at 11 weeks with roast dinner and a mcflurry. If you want to give it a try babyisaac then do.

But it does also say that

"Large randomized trials are recommended in both developed and developing countries to ensure that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months does not increase the risk of undernutrition (growth faltering), to confirm the health benefits reported thus far, and to investigate other potential effects on health and development, especially over the long term."

god, yes, can you imagine if they were actually WRONG.

Lol dragonseye, couldn't agree more are we not being a bit too harsh, isn't it the individual parent's decision?

Habbibu, like I said interesting article, but it's more about promoting exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months rather than delaying the introduction of solids.

And yes it is the individual parent's decision, but some people on these boards do not believe that parents are suitably qualified to make them.

Naetha, I don't get the distinction you're making - if the evidence in this review (which is wider than the one I posted earlier) says that babies fed nothing but breastmilk until 6 mo have lower risks of morbidity from GI infection, then that's equivalent to saying that introducing mixed feeding of any sort (ie including solids) raises those risks. I've no idea who's qualified to say what on these boards - you asked for science, so I went looking.
zulu - yes, there should be more studies. Of course there should. Research into child health shouldn't just stop. But they publish their latest results and interpretations so that people have something to work from. It's my personal choice to work from large-scale scientific reports than random anecdote. I'm not calling the police on anyone who doesn't...

Sorry Habibu, what I meant was that in my situation (and many other peoples' too) as I am feeding formula, and no longer breastfeeding (was feeding EBM until 18 weeks when bizarrely my milk practically turned to water), then that lack of differentiation between solids and non-maternal milk doesn't affect me.

What I'm looking for is the evidence that indicates that it affects gut absorption relative to maturity, and causes allergies/intolerances. (sorry to be picky, and thank you for trying to get me the info!). The only relevant study on pubmed (other than ones linking and dissociating early weaning with type 2 diabetes) was a very small study of the absorption of a certain type of protein in rats guts that were weaned far earlier than would be naturally. I guess I'm just looking in the wrong places!

Oh, ok - I see what you mean. That is an interesting point, and I wonder if Tiktok would be better informed. I'm all for approaching everything in a spirit of rational inquiry, and checking the science for yourself. However, I am more cautious about personal instinct - for example, I had no instinct that I'd need to take lots of folic acid, but found out the hard way that I did...

Have just logged on this morning to read 46 messages on this subject! The words "worms" and "opening a can of" spring to mind! I thought the bf message board was crazily militant but this is bizarre!

Whilst I respect the evidence behind the subject of not weaning before 26 weeks (although according to Naetha it isn't very substantial), it is surely down to the individual mother to decide how to bring up his or her baby. Just as it is with deciding whether to bf or ff. Or whether to use organic food or not. Or whether to sterilise everything or just wash in hot water and air dry. Or whether to use a dummy or not. Or whether to drink alcohol during pregnancy or not (thanks Naetha). I could go on.

What I'm trying to say is that there is evidence coming to light every single day about not doing this that or the other, such as different foods being carcinogenic for example. Women being shouted down for making something that is clearly highly controversial is just plain wrong. There are far too many judgemental people out there and quite frankly it puts me off MN as women who are trying to do their best are being made to feel like they're doing a bad job. It is a hard enough job being a parent and carrying endless guilt with us throughout our lives without this carry on.

It just makes me sad that we can't have frank discussions without people being downright rude. I wanted advice. I asked a question. I didn't ask to be judged but that is what has happened here. My question was about settling an unsettled baby not my decision to wean at 21 weeks.

For all of those out there who have weaned before 26 weeks - I'm sure you're trying to do the best for your baby and your family. For those who are waiting - well done. But for those out there who are judging, I just hope you make the right decisions for your child throughout their life and that nobody ever judges you for not doing the right thing.

(ducks for cover and now leaving the weaning board for good)

Babyisaac - What a fantastic response. I urge others to respond to that. I just wanted to offer my arm of support to you.

Please don't feel like you have done anything wrong you haven't at all. you asked a perfectly valid question, and particularly relevant in my eyes given the huge controversy surrounding weaning. Your're right it does put you off MN and it's a shame.

Your question was not actually answered, you seemed to have got shot in the fact for mentioning the possibility of weaning early to alleviate the unsettledness of your baby.

It seems that too many are willing to shout people down for the questions they ask and the decisions they make in regards to bringing up their babies. In my eyes there is no excuse for rudeness, I certainly do not tolerate it, we are all humans and should be treated as we wish to be treated!

The thing is, it is weaning at the moment that everyone is so quick to judge on and have their say, what will it be next week, the issue surrounding weaning early will be old news!! The image of a school playground springs to mind and I am sorry you didnt get the advice/support you deserved

Please do not feel bad you sound like a wonderful person who is merely trying to do the right thing for their baby. It is so hard to be a parent I find it difficult every day!

I hope the problems with DS resolve somewhat.. Have you seeked advice from HV at all can't quite remember what you said..

babyissac....

'Whilst I respect the evidence behind the subject of not weaning before 26 weeks (although according to Naetha it isn't very substantial), it is surely down to the individual mother to decide how to bring up his or her baby.'

so them why ask the question? with the best will in the world, if you feel it is your own choice, why ask ?

also, i mentioned cranial osteopathy for an unsettled baby, i don;t know if you saw that..that can be helpful

no-one who is against early weaning is saying that they did everything perfectly. or that they are perfect mothers

but they have weighed up the research and on balance have decided not to wean before a certain point

i think parenting is about making decisions each day.
but there is a difference between making a decision and making an informed decision

weaning is not some magic panacea whihc will trasnform your baby, especially if your baby has been , as you say, tricky since birth.

people do feel strongly about this issue, because it can be crucial to a person's health in later life, especially if there is a family history of excema and allergies and intolerances.