Do I do this the right way?

[KatyMac]

As a childminder I am often asked about weaning

My reply is that I started weaning DD (now nearly 11) at 16 weeks but if I knew then what I know now I would have tried my hardest to wait until 26 weeks. Obviously they (as mums) will decide when and how the wean their child based on information which they can get from a variety of sources (then I suggest sources)

I always feel a bit like I am passing the buck and giving a non answer - but also that I have no formal training and no right to tell anyone anything

So should I change it?

I do think that it's for parents to make the decision when to wean, but if you can give them information to make a reasonably informed choice then all well and good.

Your responses sound reasoned and informed. You can't do it for them and you also don't want to tell them how to do it as it will be your fault if it all goes wrong (in their eyes).

I think you're saying the right thing what you wrote in your post.

really bad grammar in my last post, sorry! i sound like vicky off little britain

Well, I was going round in circles too Ilike!

Thanks both you (however you wrote it )

It is a worry

DD has asthma & there is always that thought 'If only I had waited' - but 6m was practically unheard of then

Sounds like a good reply to me, its clear what your decision was and clear that you won't make THEIR minds up for them too.

out of interest, if a parent decided to wean early, would you have to go along with that? or would you wait to wean at your house until six months?

You have to do what the parent wants or refuse to care for the child

I wouldn't (happily) feed a child under 16weeks without a medical reason why - this might mean I am not the childminder for that parent

I do (tend) go out on a limb for children in my care (eg I refuse to have a child without a settling in period so a phone call on Wed would not get 10 hrs of care on friday unless in a major emergency - which I have been asked to do Mummy & bab were too busy to visit me & wold do paperwork on Fri at 7:30am )