when to wean?

[hewlettsdaughter]

Hi, I?m due to go back to work when dd is around 6 months (she is 20 weeks today). So far she has been exclusively breastfed, but now she is showing signs of being interested in the food we eat, and is also cutting her first tooth. Had I not been going back to work I would be in no hurry to wean her ? however as I don?t know yet if she will take a bottle (never got on with expressing and haven?t wanted to introduce formula before I need to), I wonder if it would make sense to start introducing 'solids' now? That way if she doesn?t take to having bottles (or cups) of formula in the day, she might be able to get by on solids and water, with breastfeeds morning and evening? What do you think?

Hi, just reviving this thread to thank you all for your replies. DD is 24 weeks now and showing all the signs of being ready for weaning. I have just managed to express some milk this morning to mix with some baby rice - only 1 oz but enough for now. Still have to crack the bottle/cup thing. Thanks for your support.

Thanks for reviving this hewlettsdaughter as I am thinking about the very same issues at the moment. Ideally I would like to extend my maternity leave by one month, so that I return when DS3 is seven months, but I am not sure I can afford another month off, nor how it would go down with work...

Dinosaur, I'm going back 1 Nov, when dd will be 28 weeks (6 and a half months?). I will have had a month's accrued holiday after my maternity leave in order to do that. It's all so complicated isn't it?