If your friend had introduced rusks at 12 weeks would you say anytyhing?

[chequersandchess]

I haven't said anything, don't think it's any of my business. But I'm not sure if she knows about the dangers in relation to allergies.

Would you carry on keeping schtum?

I would keep quiet. She may not take too kindly to you saying anything, she may think you are interfering. She may be doing this under doctor/health visitor supervision.

Yes, that's what I thought GG. She definitely isn't doing it under medical supervision though, she said she hasn't told the HV about it.

Even under medical supervision rusks would be an absolutely ridiculous food for a 12wk old.

Gluten and more sugar than a jam doughnut.

How close a friend is she? Can you broach the subject tactfully or will she take offence?

yes , i would, in a sensitive way . i would maybe offer a weaning leaflet..

i would perhaps ask if baby was unsettled/ hungrier than usual, mention growth spurts, that food is not the answer at this age.

if the baby was 20 weeks, i'd be less inclined to say anything, but 12 weeks is 5 weeks under the minimum age the NHS states , and 14 weeks before the suggested optimum age for waening

i would especially say something if the rusk was being put in a bottle

i have said things in RL to people who have mentioned early weaning. have not been shouted at yet!

I would try to talk to her about it without causing a confrontation. Maybe try to find out why she's doing it, and see if you can suggest anything that might work instead - if for example it's to help with sleep or something. She might just need some support, especially if she feels as if she can't speak to her HV.

Xpost Lulumama!

Any medical professional who gave the advice to give rusks at 12 weeks would be an out-of-dat, ill informed loon.

you would be interfering. but she is wrong so you get to tell her that.

nobody is going to be giving a 12wo rusks under medical supervision.

Eeek, I really don't want to butt in.

She's from my NCT group, a really nice person, but I really don't know if she knows about the risks and we're not what I would call close.

It's not my business at all, I know. I worry she doesn't know the risks though, it's very hard.

We did have a short conversation about it, she said she's researched it, decided to do it and that her Mum weaned her at 9 weeks and she was fine.

if you don't want to say anything then why are you bringing it up here?

I really feel for her, as she has a poor sleeper and I know she has difficult nights.

She's in the process of switching to formula to see if that helps with the nights, so I'm not sure what the rusk thing is about really.

Pardon fishie?

you seem to be asking for advice in how to approach your friend, but then saying you don't want to.

i've done similar things and it isn't so awful. not like you are telling them your opinion, it is a fact you are passing on.

oh, the old ' it did not do me any harm' line

i find it hard to believe anyone would have spent some time researching weaning, and still decided to wean at 12 weeks.

I didnt say that she may be weaning early under medical advice, I said supervision. If a mother decides to wean her baby earlier than recommended than a professional will give her all the information so the mother can come to an informed decision. The health visitor would be acting professionally by supporting the mother in her decision. Neither the health visitor or doctor giving such support would be a "loon" or ill informed IMO.

No fishie, I'm not asking for advice on how to approach her, I'm asking what other people would do in my situation.

why not offer her some help re the sleep? if she is hoping tha food will solve the sleep issue, she is wrong. maby point her to MN for some advice re sleep? or encourage her to perservere with just milk, tell her about growth spurts, talk about co sleeping etc..

a health visitor or GP who advocates weaning at such a young age would be wrong to do so . early weaning would usually be done under the advice of a pead if there was a genuine medical issue.

are rusks gluten free?

the NHS and DoH advises weaning at around 6 months, and never before 17 weeks unless under medical supervision, which this lady is not doing.

Advice from someone who gave her DCs rusk at 12 weeks: I would keep very, very schtum. If she's in your NCT group, she's probably middle class and reasonably well educated and aware of the potential risks. Even if she is none of the above and she hasn't asked for advice, I would not proffer it!

Lulu, that's good advice, thanks.

I think I will ask her how the sleep is going then direct her to the sleep threads on here.

Thanks

Dottor, that's exactly what I think - she hasn't asked for advice so I shouldn't offer it, I hate unsolicited advice myself.

(I didn't tell the HV either - I don't think I ever saw her after the six-week check up, and even if I had done, I wouldn't have said anything!)

I think I'd say something, not confrontational though, after all it's her child and her choice as long as she is aware of risks etc.
Could you start off by asking her advice on something and et the conversation onto a common ground.
12 weeks is very early

i think also, sometimes parents' expectations of babys are unrealistic, a 12 week old , more often than not, will wake in the night for a feed and does need frequent feeding

better understanding and knowledge of the first 6 months with a new born would most likely hlep parents avoid early weaning or switching ot formula from the breast in some cases.

On a different note, I think it's a real shame, as she managed to exclusively b/feed for the first 12 weeks, whereas I ended up mixed feeding from early on. I wonder if it's a bit of projection on my part, thinking how well she has done so far and what a shame it is to sort of ruin it, as it were. That's my issue though, not hers.