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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

Top Paed Doctor has advised me to wean pre 4 mths

6 replies

Oblomov · 13/01/2009 09:31

Went to see Top Paed Doctor in Surrey yesterday, privately through BUPA. I still haven't got an appointment throught he NHS and it has been over a month, but thats another story.
He said that he didn't think ds2 had reflux. and to stop the gaviscon, ranitidine and domperidone, immed, because he had been on theem a month and we had seen no improvememnt.
He thinks he is very windy. And there is nothing that can be done, thta I aren't already doing.
He suggested weaning him asap. Give it a few weeks he said. That will make 15 weeks. Less than 4 months.
He said that having somethig more substantial in his stomach might aid digestion and cut down on the wind.
He was very old school. And I know the 'guidelines', are for normal, healthy children, which mine is not. But...... having given it some thought, I just find this hard to accept.

OP posts:
belgo · 13/01/2009 09:33

May I ask, what is the health problem with your baby? Why did you go to this doctor?

Oblomov · 13/01/2009 09:45

He is awake all night. Screaming inconsolably. Very sleepy during day. Took him to A&E last month. They thought he had reflux.

OP posts:
whomovedmychocolate · 13/01/2009 09:46

That sounds odd - the intestines are not sealed till 17 weeks onwards - and that's in a healthy child, an ill child it might take much longer. Food will not be digested at all, will cause more wind, not less and may also cause allergies later on.

I agree that you can overmedicate a baby and if the treatment isn't working then perhaps it's worth discontinuing it, but to then go on to wean at 15 weeks?

Having something substantial in his stomach might knock him out because his body will be working so hard to cope with the solid food his body isn't ready for, his brain will have less oxygen and so he'll probably be quieter but I'm guessing that's not what you want?

I guess what you want is help with your child who seems unhappy?

May I suggest a few things?

(1) Some babies are a bit whingey. DD was. Very. Continually for the first five months. Then she got better. Actually she's still a bit of a complainer but that's a personality thing. DS is not a whinger. Luck of the draw.

(2) We took DD to a cranial osteopath and while I think it's generally a crock of shit, it did seem to help her and cure what we assumed was colic but was actually diagnosed by several medics as 'normal baby crying patterns'. You know babies cry for up to 10 hours a day don't you? Even if you are a fab mum and hold them and cuddle them all the time and all that, yep some babies will still cry a lot. Again, luck of the draw.

(3) What are you feeding him? If it's breastmilk, try switching position to the rugby hold - if his problem is hunger then this should get him to fill up more thoroughly more easily and satisfy him. I also found it cut down on windiness in DD and DS. If you are feeding him formula perhaps change brands. Also if you are breastfeeding, look at your diet, do you drink a lot of coffee, eat a lot of spicy food, beans or vegetables that would make you fart? These may affect him.

whomovedmychocolate · 13/01/2009 09:48

Have you tried:

(1) Neurofen for children and/or Calpol for his pain?
(2) Looking at his gums to see if he has teeth coming through?

What does soothe him? What coping strategies do you have in place? We tend to take DS for a drive if he's really fed up, give him some painkillers if we think he's hurting, sing to him and let him listen to the radio (yes I know that sounds very odd but he has a thing for listening to voices). Quite often he sits propped up for hours on the sofa just listening and watching us and popping in and out of sleep.

spinspinsugar · 13/01/2009 10:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thankyouandgoodnight · 13/01/2009 12:02

It sounds like he has his night and day mixed up? Hence the sleepy in the day and shouty at night.... He's probably shouty because he's awake but it's dark and quiet and he's feeling lonely etc?

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