Yes he's 4 months, yes he's a big baby and no i'm not weaning him until 6 months.

[ilovemyflipflops]

If i have to explain or justify not weaning my ds yet to one more person i am going to scream. Why does everyone assume that because he had a big birth weight and is big now that he is a 'hungry boy' who needs weaning early. He's showing no signs, yes he wakes in the night and feeds but so did my dd at this age and she always followed the 25th centile for weight.

Imo there is no need to wean a big baby early, am i wrong? Why would him being big mean he needs weaning? my milk matches his demand.

Sorry mini rant i'm just fed up of feeling like i'm justifying still 'only' giving my baby milk when i truly believe that's all he needs until 6 months.

hi flipflops,

I am in the same situation here. DS almost 5 months and he was 9lb 13oz at birth and is now off the top of the scale for height. It is annoying when people imply that I am short changing him by excl BF, but I am trying to ignore.

My NCT friend with an 11lb baby (now not at birth) is also being told to wean for the opposite reason! Proves what a minefield this "advice" is.

I meant weight not height. He is about 22lbs

just use your instinct. I had a big baby (way over 100th centile) and instinctivly wanted to wean him at about 16 weeks. so I did. Im a huge advocate for using your intuition - there's so many different theories anyway, so the right way is YOUR way.

Yes, instinct

yes. instinct. you know, how the human race has parented for THOUSANDS of years before the W.H.O laid down their guidelines.

now why on earth would instinct about the state of your baby's gut be better than research carried out on thousands and thousands of babies?

um...because its MY baby. anyway, we are covering old (and boring) ground here. Was just telling the OP that if she wants to wait until 6 months to wean then she should do just that, regardless of what other people's opinions are.

I could have written this post myself - DH keeps saying 'DS is sooo hungry, do you think we should just pop a bit of apple puree in?'

He's four months old and over twenty pounds, he's the size of an average seven month old apparently and purely breastfed, and yes he's going through the hell that is the four month growth spurt. But this does not mean I've going to make with the spoon and feed him slop.

Until he's big enough to sit up and eat at the table with the rest of us, he's staying a milky dude.

Good onya for not cracking! There are so many old wives tales and myths about weaning it really does do my head in.....particularly when I hear ill informed health visitors passing them on!

People's 'instincts' are often based on misinterpretation of their baby's behaviour.

There is actually a bit in the new Baby led Weaning book (by Gill Rapley) about what you are talking about. It explains why big babies don't need weaning any earlier than any other baby.

More info about BLW on www.baby-led.com

With DS it started at about 12 weeks from various quarters... 'ooh, he's a big boy, crack open the baby rice' etc. He was a complete butterball on my milk alone.

And the daft thing was, by the time I did offer him food at 6 months, he wasn't that interested, took until about 9 months for him really to start eating - so all that being hungry for 'real' food seemed to be rather bobbins.

Stick to your guns - when they can sit up and swipe your sarnie, they're ready

Rhinestonecowgirl - I've told DH when DS can operate the toaster and bring me a cuppa, he can have some solid food. Seems harsh but fair to me

My friend had a baby who was 10lb 10oz at birth and she is BLWing him. He still isn't eating much in terms of solid food and he is over a year old now. He is a complete boobaholic. Only wakes once in the night to feed too.

BTW I weaned my twins at 22 weeks, I think you can use your instinct. Yes it is old and boring ground and the research doesn't say NO babies are ready till 26 weeks, it just says some aren't so it is safer to wait. With two babies cluster feeding I didn't feel that was an option for me.

Ilovemyflipflops, good for you for not buckling under the pressure from well-meaning friends/family. If he is content with milk then stick with milk. He may be big and hungry, but that is why your body produces enough milk to keep him satisfied . I exclusively BFed two babies so I know the body can make a very impressive amount of milk!

My baby was 9lbs 10oz and when he was about 4 months, if people asked and I said I hadn't started weaning, they'd look shocked and tell me I was doing well. It is hard feeling like you have to explain yourself about decisions YOU make for YOUR baby. I weaned at 5 months because something inside me told me too. You'll know when it's time, some don't wean until 7 or 8 months

I'm still ebf ds2 who is 23 weeks and on 91st percentile. I weaned ds1 who was also ebf and on 98th percentile at 18 weeks and with hindsight (isn't it a wonderful thing?!) I regret doing it so early.

My in-laws especially are constantly on about how the poor mite must be starving by now (errr, no he's still gaining weight nicely thank you!)and how he's watching every scrap that they eat (yes but he'd also watch you smoking a cigarette - doesn't mean that he wants one (thank you to a fellow mn'er for that one!))

I'm holding out now until the 6 month mark and am proud of how well we're doing. You have to do what you feel is right for you and your lo having read and understood the current guidelines, and for us that is to not wean until 26 weeks. I do feel a little sad at how few babies make it to this stage though (just my opinion)