5 month old appears very hungry for solid food!!

[Mrbump83]

My 5 month old has suddenly developed an apparent want for solid food, whenever we are feeding his sister he leans forward and opens his mouth. When we don't give him the spoon he screams, he stops screaming when he sees the spoon again.

We let him try a spoon of mushed pear of his sisters and he devoured the spoon almost.
His not drinking much milk, refusing any more after 100ml but cries like his hungry. I offer bottle again and he refuses.
He stares at any food, like his going to jump up and eat it.

The HV said don't give him Solids till 6 months.

I blw my girl at 5 months due to hospital saying to start because of severe reflux , cma and soya allergy.
But we haven't been instructed to do this with him so I'm nervous.

His 5 months old in 4 days.

What would you do? I'm worried his not getting enough, he has also started waking at 12 and 3 ( staying awake at 3 fir 2 hours!!!) through the night for a bottle after sleeping 12 hours straight from 8 weeks.

Any advice? On the food and sleeping?

X x

 

[Mummybexee]

Ignore your HV

if he wants solids start him on the basics - root veg, pear/Apple and other fruit puree! I weaned my son at 5 months as he showed all signs! They 'advise' 6 months but actually it's +17 weeks as a minimum

I hate HVs that don't have any flexibility and enforce these silly strict rules

If yea showing signs of wanting food - at 5 months - go for it - just remember to dairy or gluten untill 6 months x

 

[Mummybexee]

Food may solve the sleeping! They have a growth spurt and leap at 4-5 months!

 

[Mrbump83]

Ohh thanks mummybexee, how many meals would you let him eat? Just once a day or more? And would you let him finish a whole pot? Baby storage pot?

It's home made as I make puddings for my lg.

 

[Mrbump83]

The HV said to ignore him and eventually he would get so hungry he will have to drink the milk x x

 

[littlemonkey]

Ignore the HV and give your son some food!!

I weaned my eldest at four months due to reflux. He was similar to yours, wouldn't drink any more than 2-3 ounces and then would be screaming in pain! Weaning him was the best thing we ever did. He took to it straight away, was on three meals a day by six months and he was staring to pinch food off us at five months!

I was told similar about a hungry baby will drink their milk, but I can tell you for a fact now it's not true!!

We will also be weaning our youngest as soon as he hits 17 weeks.

 

[Mrbump83]

Thanks little monkey.

His just eaten half a tub of mushed apple and parsnip and loved it ... He then fell asleep!!!

Should I let him have other half at dinner?

I feel so guilty now as I've made him wait for some time now due to HV saying not to do it.
X

 

[MissyAK]

I can't believe HVs say this to mothers!!
I really do not like this one HV at my local health centre

We've started weaning our LO now and he's 5 and half months. I attended a weaning class two weeks ago, the lady who took it read off of cards the whole way through, she wasn't very helpful at all!

 

[Mrbump83]

I think they are too scared to offer options or opinions and just quote what their books say.

 

[Toni.C]

MissyAK we had exactly the same at our weaning talk, they were useless! As long as we don't feed him dairy, anything containing wheat/gluten, and meat/fish until 6 months then do as we please.

MrBump definitely trust your instincts and start the weaning. He will soon tell you when he's had enough
Alfie is 5 and a half months and we started weaning at 17 weaning weeks and it's been a huge success. He now has baby porridge for breakfast and either fruit or veg at lunch. He was such a sicky baby but it's really helped with that and he's hardly sick at all

 

[Kiagirl]

I started at 4 months as she just kept opening her mouth. I alternated between sweet and savoury and kept offering milk but by 7 months she was only having a few ounces but I gave her cereal with her milk and used to add a drop when blending stuff. My mum said babies used to be weaned from 3 months and it never hurt them and I think my mum has 4 kids all survived lol x

 

[Mummybexee]

Try giving at a certain time a day but if he's hungrh for food follow his cues!

I home made ALL my sons food. Highly reccomend te Annabel Karmel app to give you great ideas on recipes and all that!

 

[hellywelly]

I weaned at 5 months as my baby was ready - stuck to fruit and veg til she was 6 months then slowly introduced everything else. Children aren't text books! Hv need to learn this. As long as he isn't ridiculously young and you aren't giving him steak and chips I'm sure he'll be fine! Lol