to wean or not to wean? That is the question... input please!!

[moominsmummy]

DS2 is 5 months old tomorrow and I cannot believe I am actually contemplating weaning him as I was determined to wait until 6 months like I did with DS1. However.......

DS2 is now feeding (bf) every 90 minutes and is REALLY hungry each time - I know he must be getting between 5 and 7oz each time. Also feeding 3 times at night. He is a big healthy lad (98th %ile weight and totally off the scale on the length - is in 9-12 month clothes already) everyone I meet thinks he is already about 7 months old as he has good motor control etc

I am REALLY nervous about weaning early but don't honestly know if he needs it? (No point asking HV as they will just give me the party line on waiting til 6 months)

can anyone offer any advice? Until now I was a only-wean-at-six-months fanatic....

His size has nothing to do with the permeability of his intestines, and his production of digestive enzymes I'm afraid. He needs nothing else but milk, and may just be having a growth spurt and will settle again.

You know what the right thing to do is - its only 4 weeks, but its possible that it will make a difference for the rest of your sons life

DD did this too - was just ravenous at times, and was on 99.6th centile. She was Just Fine on milk until 6 months, despite my HV, saying "ooh, she's big, she'll need early weaning". There's no evidence that larger babies need solid food earlier. They may well need more milk, but that you can give them! Save the mess for one more month.

thanks folks - exactly the sort of info I needed - I will just resort to eating more chocolate and cake so there's plenty of fat and calories in the milk!

I will now contentedly resume the wait for 6 months weaning

If you really think he's ready then put him in front of some steamed carrot sticks and see if he feeds himself - if he does then perhaps he is ready? I would not "feed" a child before 6 months though as you do not know whether his gut is ready.