Are there circumstances to wean before 6months?

[Belfa]

Hi

I know from googling that this can be as much of a hot topic as the BF v's FF debate but I'm quite confused!

Alex had the HV today for his 5month pre-weaning check and again we went over not weaning until 6months which I totally want to do. However, he has dropped from 75th percentile in weight and height to 25th in height and under 50th in weight. He seems to have lost interest in his milk but is totally food obsessed so I'm wondering if it's in these circumstances that people decide to wean their babies? I have 4 weeks to go until the 6month mark anyway. HV said that some people do wean for these reasons but I got the impression that she couldn't recommend that I wean him specifically.

It's been suggested that I drop his dream feed as he takes loads in his dream feed to see if he will up his intake during that day...I'll see how it goes but surely if it adds a few ounces on to his day bottles it's just the same as taking a full bottle in a dream feed? x

 

[littlemonkey]

I weaned my two boys at four months. Both had reflux, my eldest being particularly bad. He got to the point where he was refusing to take more than 3oz at a time. I eventually weaned him on the advice of a HV and it was the right thing to do for us. He took to solids brilliantly and began to put on weight again. It was a massive mental relief for me as well as I was happy my baby was actually eating something and I was able to relax when feeding him again.

As soon as my youngest started showing similar signs of reflux, OH and I decided on weaning early again.

Your HV will be unlikely to advise you on weaning early unless there is a specific medical reason. If you're concerned or want to talk to someone about it, don't be afraid of speaking to your GP about it.

I really recommend doing your own research on it and making your own mind up from there. In particular, I found the information on the Who's website especially useful.

 

[H16]

I weaned my daughter at 16 weeks I'm afraid, she was hungry all the time and miserable and milk wasn't cutting it. She was a much happier baby once weaning

I really don't think 1 month is going to make a massive difference in the grand scheme of things and if your LO is showing massive interest in food he is obviously ready in my opinion. If it was me I wouldn't alter his bottles for sake of 4 weeks I would just slowly introduce food x

 

[CARNAT22]

They don't go from zero to 3 meals a day so I see no harm in starting the process earlier than 6 months.

I offered finger food from about 5 months with both (but I do BLW)..

Their main nutrition comes from milk until they are 1 and [sadly] every HV and health care professional will have a slightly different opinion on the matter.

Do what you feel is right.

X

 

[Lucyboo]

My niece who was 5 weeks prem started weaning at 17 weeks, she is now 6 months and on 3 meals a day. They were advised to start early as she was prem and showing clear signs of being ready.

 

[Belfa]

Interesting, thanks guys! I'm coming round to the idea of giving it a go next week. I guess it's only about tasting at this stage and I just want to up his interest in things.

Good point about dropping the dream feed. I bet he wakes up at midnight for it too!x

 

[Mrs CW]

I BLW both my boys and they both picked up food and took it to their mouth at 5months so we started then. It's a bit different as they didn't actually eat anything for a while but we did start before 6months x

 

[tinselcat]

A friend of mine (she's actually a senior doctor as well) took part in a medical study for families with strong allergies where they exposed the babies to allergenic food from 4 months old. What they found was actually the babies who followed this plan with its meal plans developed fewer allergies (which is different from the oft quoted "babies develop allergies if they are weaned too early" theory).

I just wanted to throw this in there in case it was a reason you were given against weaning early.

I personally weaned at 6 & half months but it worked well for us as baby has been super keen to eat anything from the start.

xx

 

[Kiagirl]

I started just after 3 months. They did it years ago and we all survived. I just started with a bit of mas, yoghurt etc and she loved it. I never told hv etc as didn't think there was any point. I didn't really give jars or the pouches as I preferred to make my own stuff and i puréed it with her milk to start with. She was on everything by 5 months and loved it. She was always tiny and struggled to fit in the amount of milk they said she should have but always ate her meals. She is still a fan eater now at 2 x

 

[Flickalicious]

If Mummy instincts are telling you he needs food then you know best hun! Depending on which way you wanna go, you could start with baby rice mixed with milk or BLW.

My son was 4 months when we started weaning. He was on 5x 7oz of hungrier baby milk a day and crying for more so we decided to start early.
My daughter although just on normal newborn milk wasn't satisfied with just a bottle so we started at 5 months with her.
My HV said we know our babies best and advice changes so often it's hard for them to keep up!

There's no harm in trying, he'll soon make you aware if he's not ready x

 

[littlemonkey]

A friend of mine (she's actually a senior doctor as well) took part in a medical study for families with strong allergies where they exposed the babies to allergenic food from 4 months old. What they found was actually the babies who followed this plan with its meal plans developed fewer allergies (which is different from the oft quoted "babies develop allergies if they are weaned too early" theory).

I just wanted to throw this in there in case it was a reason you were given against weaning early.

I personally weaned at 6 & half months but it worked well for us as baby has been super keen to eat anything from the start.

xx

I'm really glad you've mentioned this.

When I actually looked at the WHO website, it actually doesn't mention allergies in relation to early weaning. Which I found quite amusing because this is what HVs usually come out with when advising to wait until six months. The WHO advice to wait until six months is actually based on encouraging mothers to BF for longer, after it was recognised that the majority of mothers stop BF when starting solids. Which was usually at the four month mark. Obviously it's better for baby to BF for longer, and to continue to BF while weaning, so the advice was given to hold off weaning as long as physically possible.

 

[babyslog]

I weaned from 4 months. Like others have said, they literally start with 1-2 spoonfuls of some type of puteed fruit or veg a day and built it up.
I didnt start dropping bottles for a good while! It was just for him to try new flavours and tastes xx

 

[El1en]

I was weaned at 3 months no problems. I started my little girl at 5.5 months. I mentioned in a different post in my area they say to start at just over 5 months but when I went to a weaning class at 5 months I was the only one who hadn't started and even the health visitors were like "so we know you'll all have started..." Which confused me a little as I'd read to wait until 6 months.

Go with your instinct. Take it slowly and just follow the guidelines on no dairy or gluten for now. Have fun!

 

[Rooster30]

I weaned my son at 5 months. My daughter has just turned 6 months and we're only just starting the weaning process. I have only waited this time purely because she has been happy on her milk and sleeping through the night etc that I just didn't feel the need to.

In a nutshell, I don't think there is a problem with weaning at 5 months, you are just slightly limited to what you can offer baby.

 

[Lilmisshopeful]

I weaned my little boy at 16 weeks he has cmpa and hated the milk he was prescribed so bad that he didn't drink only an ounce or 2. He was grumpy and not sleeping. I just gave him puree as he was so young tho. Now he is 14 months and will eat anything except cauliflower he cries if you put it in his mouth lol and weirdly he now loves the same milk and gets so excited when he sees it. All babies are different and mum knows best xxx

 

[Toni.C]

We weaned Alfie at 17 weeks and just started slowly. He hated baby rice so after a few tries we just went straight onto cooked veg for 2-3 weeks, then introduce fruit too which resulted in different combinations. He got so bored of his milk so I felt was ready, he was also a very sicky baby but completely changed when we started weaning. He is now nearly 9 months old and has dropped to 3 bottles a day, from 5. He eats pretty much everything we eat and is thriving.

We never saw our HV. We only saw her twice when he was born so we just got in with our own thing. My mum put me on cows milk at 4 months because I hated formula. I just avoided wheat and dairy until the 6 month mark, which was fine as he has grown to have a real love of veg and likes a huge variety of food. I actual fact the only thing he won't eat is bubble and squeak (I hate it anyway!) and cauliflower. Follow your instincts Hun.

 

[JD.Deedee]

Here's a good guide

http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/health-professionals/clinical-guidelines/infant-feeding-weaning

People who decide to give their children food before 17 weeks. Yes I am going to judge, I think it's irresponsible causing a choking hazard.. Which is also why formula shouldn't be thickened...

 

[CARNAT22]

Depending on what you read (obviously you have to accept that there will be contrary information) there is a revival in the school of thought that weaning should commence at 4 months, specifically related to allergies. As touched upon by previous posters.

I'd do some independent reading and see what conclusions you draw.

X

 

[lisastevo]

My son was under a pediactric doctor at the hospital for an unrelated issue and when I went for an appointment at 5 months she asked me if I had started weaning him yet? Just before his appointment id seen my HV and she said under no circumstances wean before 6 months so I was a little confused to say the least with the conflicting advice. Basically my boy was draining 6 9oz bottles a day and wasn't satisfied so the doctor said to try weaning. I left it until 5.5 months but he was fine. As long as it's not before 4 months, it's fine according to the doctor. The specialist also said HV advice varies so so much and basically to take it with a pinch of salt as they have to follow guidelines!! I was a little shocked to be honest but hey. My boy is 11 months now and loves his food!!x

 

[Iwant3]

I weaned all mine from 4 months! all were fine and have no allergies

I'm sure I read an article the other day that they (whoever they are) are now saying 4 months to wean instead of 6 months again to reduce the number of allergies!