Early weaning causing unsettled baby?

[memoo]

We have just been to visit a friend this afternoon who has a 4 month old.

I was surprised to find that she has started weaning her already but friend stated that her DD is really hungry and is "loving" her food.

Her baby was very unsettled while we were there and my friend said she has been like this for a few weeks now.

I just wondered if early weaning means her baby might be getting a bit of tummy ache or something that is causing her to be unsettled.

Wanted to see what people think before talking to my friend about it. Don't want her to think I'm interfering!

Is it your child? No. Then it's not really anything to do with you, is it? You perceived her child to be "unsettled". It could have been for a million and one reasons. Get off your high horse.

Ask your friend what she thinks has more calories pureed veg or full fat milk?

Yes, if the digestive system isn't ready food can cause constipation and upset. If she absolutely insists on solids then she needs to make sure the baby is getting enough liquid, particularly at meal time.

If you are too chicken nervous to talk to her about it then perhaps suggest that there could be a cause to the unsettledness and for her to talk to her HV.

She may well love her food, but I bet she also loves her milk. I also bet she'd love chocolate and coffee but there you go!

Eviltwin I perceived no high horse but a friend trying to help!

Weaned DD2 at 4 months (big baby) and we had no problems. I wouldn't tell her how to bring up her baby - its a very precious subject and could be the end of your friendship.

no need for that eviltiwns!!

it is quite possible that weaning before 6 months, especially if the LO is being given gluten or other things taht are definitely not suitable for under 6 months, then it is quite possible that she has got tummy ache some such or that she is hungry and needs more milk, rather than a bit of food

when did she start weaning?

it is very early if she has been weaning for a few weeks and is 4 months now

i would mention something, but i can't keep my gob shut !

she might not be aware of the guideliens, might not be aware of what she can and can't give her baby

the baby might be unsettled as a coincidence, but it is possible weaning is a factor

Bloody hell eviltwins! Actually she told me she had been unsettled for weeks. She was also asking for advice as its her first and I have 3 DC already so she thought I might have a few ideas!

I am not on my high horse, just trying to find a way to help and advise a friend who is having a rough few weeks with her baby

Thanks for the advice everyone else!

She started at 3 months lulu. She has a 12 year gap between this baby and her first DD so it is very possible that she is going off what she did with her first child.

Don't want to upset her but there is nothing worse than a baby that is unsettled day after day.

Actually, I don't think my comment was uncalled for. The OP didn't say my child is unsettled, can I have some advice please, and neither did she say that her friend had asked her what she thought the problem might be.

OP, you've also contradicted yourself - saying that this child is your friend's first, and then saying that she's had a 12 year gap between this child and her first.

I just know that when I was weaning my children, I really really wouldn't have appreciated the advice of a friend, particularly if it wasn't asked for, and even more so if the advice was going to be along the smug lines of "well, you have ignored the guidlines, you know..." OP states that her friend said the baby is "loving her food".

There's a fine line between friendly advice and smug interfering.

Eviltwin, I have an almost 6 month old who I am just about to start weaning and I welcome all the advice I can get!!! And my friend did ask for advice re unsettled baby!

You're right about me contradicting myself but the whole story re her DC is complicated. Her first DD is actually her neice. Her sister couldn't cope when she was born and SS stepped in. The baby was placed with my friend when she was about 5 months old. She calls my friend mum and basically, biology aside, she is her daughter.