weaning and sleep problems

[yellowmum84]

I need some help! Health visitor told me to start feeding solids to our 4.5 month baby girl as she was falling off growth curve - she went from waking every 3 hours at night to every hour! Stopped solids for a while. Then started only baby rice mornings and sometimes lunch at 5.5 months....same problem with sleep so stopped again. Now she is 6 months and just tried again baby rice mornings only and she still wakes every hour at night (from previous 3-hour waking). Anyone else had this problem? Any advice? I'm worried I will never get any sleep and supposed to wean quickly at 6 months .

I might be talking absolute nonsense here but have you considered Baby Led Weaning (there is loads about it on here). My not so scientific theory being that the idea behind BLW is that they pick up/chew/swallow what they are ready for and it could be that your DD's system is just not ready. BLW will give her the control and she will take what she needs.

Feel free to completely ignore this advice as it sounds a bit crazy to me but it could be worth a shot.

whichever route you go, I think you should offer a variety of foods and not just baby-rice. Babies (and adults) need carbohydrates, fruit and vegetables, protein and some fat. If you are on one meal a day, I suggest you rotate each day, including a bit of carb as well or mix everything together. I think that's the only way food can make a difference to their sleep (but don't expect it to happen overnight).

Probably this document can help you to get an idea.