Are there circumstances to wean before 6months?

[Starlight1986]

Also, the NHS now recommends an approach more in line with BLW x

 

[Belfa]

Surely people don't purée full meals though? I thought full meals would come when they're past the 6month stage anyway and by which point you don't need to purée?

 

[Starlight1986]

Surely people don't purée full meals though? I thought full meals would come when they're past the 6month stage anyway and by which point you don't need to purée?

Well you cant go from puree to solids in an instant when you do puree. It has to be done gradually over time when you choose traditional weaning so you cant just switch it up at 6 months. And a lot of people mix it like sweet potato and carrot or pasta with a sauce pureed, and all jars are mixed.

I believe Yes there are circumstances in which people have to start feeding earlier like perhaps reflux but I do wonder why people wean early when all the main organisations currently say wait until 6 months. Choking is a higher risk before 6 months on puree, and the whole hungry baby thing is a total myth as explained above by another poster, Milk is actually higher in both fat and calories volume for volume.

So I suppose the question I would ask is why would anyone wean before then?

 

[Coletteypie]

I think several posters have already pointed out why they have chosen to wean early. Doesn't really seem to be due to ignorance or defiance against nhs advice.

 

[Baby2sky]

Heybaya, there are three signs baby is ready to wean. If baby is displaying all of these signs its good to go! Its very rare these appear before 6 months.

They can stay in a sitting position and hold their head steady.
They can co-ordinate their eyes, hands and mouth so that they can look at the food, pick it up and put it in their mouth, all by themselves.
They can swallow food. Babies who are not ready will push their food back out with their tongue, so they get more round their face than they do in their mouths.

Signs mistaken for being ready are.chewing fists, increasing milk intake and no.longer sleeping through the night.

 

[Starlight1986]

I think several posters have already pointed out why they have chosen to wean early. Doesn't really seem to be due to ignorance or defiance against nhs advice.

Really?? So saying "they were hungry" or "we turned out fine" is a good reason?

Listen I think people should do as they see fit for there baby, it's not the end of the world but I stand by my beliefs as you do yours x

 

[Coletteypie]

Really?? So saying "they were hungry" or "we turned out fine" is a good reason?

Right, because all parents who choose to wean pre 6 months say and think this....

None of us could possibly have done our own research and made an informed decision. *rolls eyes*

 

[Baby2sky]

To be fair, apart from reflux, those 2 reasons ARE the reasons people have given in this thread...

 

[tinselcat]

I can't believe that a prestigious hospital would be conducting such a large study on lots of babies if there was any evidence that it might be harmful to them to do so. (For example, it is considered unethical to trial the effects of anti-depressants taken by mothers on their babies so there is little scientific data out there for certain drugs). Neither can I believe that my friend, who is a senior baby doctor, would have taken part in the trial for 4 month weaning if it might have put her children at risk of anything.

Personally I waited til after 6 months but there's a lot to be said for babies being different and people going with their instinct about what is right for their own child.

On a side note, a recent study has shown that high levels of antibiotics taken by children very early in their lives is linked to obesity as they are thought to kill useful gut bacteria.

I think the whole area is something that's going to need decades of research before they are able to come up with any 'correct' conclusions about what is/isn't best for children. In the mean time, the human race will presumably carry on multiplying..!

 

[Orion]

I think several posters have already pointed out why they have chosen to wean early. Doesn't really seem to be due to ignorance or defiance against nhs advice.

Really?? So saying "they were hungry" or "we turned out fine" is a good reason?

Listen I think people should do as they see fit for there baby, it's not the end of the world but I stand by my beliefs as you do yours x

Nobody is trying to change your beliefs, but you (and some others here) seem to be quite judgemental about what other people have said to be honest.

Firstly, my baby has shown all the signs of being ready to be weaned at around 5 months. He'll be 26 weeks in a week and a half, so I've started giving him 'first tastes' of single flavour veg puree that I make myself. It's literally a couple of baby spoonfuls of runny veg to introduce the idea of swallowing something thicker than formula, different tastes, and to check for allergies (e.g., some babies are allergic to carrots)

I wanted to make sure he was suited to eating/swallowing food before I move on to thicker foods such as porridge or cooking veg soft enough for him to eat himself.

Secondly, when your baby is grabbing the spoon because he wants more, I'm guessing it's pretty easy to also tell when baby doesn't want more. If they don't want it, they won't eat it. You can't force feed a baby - that's why they don't empty a bottle every time or why breast feeding works so well - they take what they need. It's also recommended that you let baby feed themselves with the spoon as soon as possible, so they are actually controlling what they eat. So the link of spoon feeding to obesity seems unlikely.

Thirdly, I dont know anyone (other than the companies that make those hideous baby jars of odd combinations) who purees a whole meal. Everything I've read recommends you keep the tastes separate.

The whole idea is to give them different tastes to start with - literally a couple of spoonfuls to taste. A new taste a day for a few weeks. Then to introduce meals, starting with breakfast (usually runny porridge). He'll be over 26 weeks by then.

Finally, many countries actually say weaning 4m+, as do many baby foods you can buy in the supermarket. My little one has not only eaten everything I've fed him rather enthusiastically, but he's obviously digested it as his nappy offerings haven't had anything identifiable as food in them, and after a week he's grabbing the spoon trying to feed himself and not doing a bad job of it to be honest.

I don't understand why people wean babies who aren't showing the signs of being ready - sitting up, hand eye coordination and being able to swallow etc. but I waited for all the signs, then waited a few weeks more! Babies aren't on a timer. They don't follow the rules. I spoke to my HV and GP and both said he was ready to start. There's no magical 6 month transition. It's around that age, but it's not set in stone. Every baby is slightly different.

 

[Coletteypie]

Orion, I couldn't have said it better myself

 

[Starlight1986]

I think several posters have already pointed out why they have chosen to wean early. Doesn't really seem to be due to ignorance or defiance against nhs advice.

Really?? So saying "they were hungry" or "we turned out fine" is a good reason?

Listen I think people should do as they see fit for there baby, it's not the end of the world but I stand by my beliefs as you do yours x

Nobody is trying to change your beliefs, but you (and some others here) seem to be quite judgemental about what other people have said to be honest.

Firstly, my baby has shown all the signs of being ready to be weaned at around 5 months. He'll be 26 weeks in a week and a half, so I've started giving him 'first tastes' of single flavour veg puree that I make myself. It's literally a couple of baby spoonfuls of runny veg to introduce the idea of swallowing something thicker than formula, different tastes, and to check for allergies (e.g., some babies are allergic to carrots)

I wanted to make sure he was suited to eating/swallowing food before I move on to thicker foods such as porridge or cooking veg soft enough for him to eat himself.

Secondly, when your baby is grabbing the spoon because he wants more, I'm guessing it's pretty easy to also tell when baby doesn't want more. If they don't want it, they won't eat it. You can't force feed a baby - that's why they don't empty a bottle every time or why breast feeding works so well - they take what they need. It's also recommended that you let baby feed themselves with the spoon as soon as possible, so they are actually controlling what they eat. So the link of spoon feeding to obesity seems unlikely.

Thirdly, I dont know anyone (other than the companies that make those hideous baby jars of odd combinations) who purees a whole meal. Everything I've read recommends you keep the tastes separate.

The whole idea is to give them different tastes to start with - literally a couple of spoonfuls to taste. A new taste a day for a few weeks. Then to introduce meals, starting with breakfast (usually runny porridge). He'll be over 26 weeks by then.

Finally, many countries actually say weaning 4m+, as do many baby foods you can buy in the supermarket. My little one has not only eaten everything I've fed him rather enthusiastically, but he's obviously digested it as his nappy offerings haven't had anything identifiable as food in them, and after a week he's grabbing the spoon trying to feed himself and not doing a bad job of it to be honest.

I don't understand why people wean babies who aren't showing the signs of being ready - sitting up, hand eye coordination and being able to swallow etc. but I waited for all the signs, then waited a few weeks more! Babies aren't on a timer. They don't follow the rules. I spoke to my HV and GP and both said he was ready to start. There's no magical 6 month transition. It's around that age, but it's not set in stone. Every baby is slightly different.

I'm all for people like yourself that have researched and decided what's best for them and their baby. I just feel that comments like "we turned out OK" etc are really unhelpful to mums that arnt sure what way to go.

I would recommend everyone to read all the pros and cons then come to your own conclusion and be confident about it. We follow guidelines about smoking, drinking when pregnant. How the baby should sleep and room temperature. Weaning is something that we should follow based on the most up to date and accurate information we have now.

The benefits of weaning at around 6 months far outweigh weaning at 4 months for example X

 

[Lilmisshopeful]

I got a question tho. My babies beyond the weaning stage and wasn't an issue for me but curious as to the whole must be able to sit unaided before weaning. What about if they can't do that till 10 months. Just curious lol

 

[Starlight1986]

I got a question tho. My babies beyond the weaning stage and wasn't an issue for me but curious as to the whole must be able to sit unaided before weaning. What about if they can't do that till 10 months. Just curious lol

With BLW as long as they sit in their high chair well (not slumped over) and can lean forward then they are OK to feed. My DD didn't sit up unaided till about 7 months , we didn't wean till 6.5 months and she was ok x

 

[Aimee84]

Hiya we weaned early due to hv saying it would help her awful reflux and it has. Even at 19 weeks she had great head control and hand eye coordination. I gave her the spoon with food on it and she put it straight in her mouth so think she was ready. I've found weaning the scariest most stressful part of having a baby as there is so much conflicting information. Loads of websites are sure that their way is the only way e.g blw. We have found our own way and so far all going well at seven months. I think as all babies are different the weaning journey is different and each parent should wean depending on their baby and ignore completely what other people have done. Good luck with weaning I've found it fun.

 

[Karenb]

Babies develop at different rates so I don't see why you'd goby a calendar over your own baby and instincts. I intended to wait but my girl was ready, so I went by her, not the government guidelines who have never met my baby. She swallows fine and always has done, and is thriving. There is no rush, but at the same time I'd rather start when she is really enthusiastic and fascinated by food

 

[kumber]

In hindsight, Riley was ready at 5 months but I held off to make sure the 3 signs were all well and truly there. He had bits of fruit at 5.5 months and we started weaning the day he turned 6 months.

Probably a controversial opinion but I don't see the point in baby rice. It has no real nutritional value, although I can understand from a texture POV.

I never used purée and very rarely used jars. I went straight onto mashed - I batch cooked, smushed everything together and froze. I defrosted and warmed up with milk and spoon fed. That was lunch and dinner. Breakfast has always been Weetabix or porridge, with a recent introduction of toast. He always fed himself his snacks, so it's a mixture of spoon and BLW. I've always followed his cues wih how much to give and I firmly believe waiting until 6 months meant that he was clearly able to indicate when he was full. He wouldn't have been able to do this at 4 months.

I agree that comments such as "it never did me any harm" are quite dangerous as research, nutrition and healthcare have all changed in the last 20, 30 or 40 years. Doing your own research and making an informed decision is a much safer option as you are armed with real facts rather than anecdotal experience.

Unless there is a real health reason like reflux, I genuinely do not understand the need to wean pre-6 months. Babies technically don't need food until 12 months, give or take, as someone else mentioned food is complimentary so it doesn't make sense to me to give them something they don't need. Just up their milk. I recognise this is easy for me to say and every mother knows their child best but, like Starlight, I don't really understand it.

 

[Orion]

I wonder if there's a difference in what people are counting as weaning that's causing the misunderstanding.

I think if you're feeding pre 6 months, it's just first tastes. Literally a few baby spoonfuls of cooked veg that you mash with boiled water or their milk to make easier to swallow (which is usually runny enough to be called puree) This is just to test their swallowing and to give them an idea of different flavours.

I am not feeding breakfast or any other foods until after 6 months because there are so many restrictions of what they shouldn't have.

I am not giving food to replace bottles, or started giving food because I thought baby was 'hungry'. If that were the case I'd have just upped his milk.

I don't consider first tastes to really be weaning. It's like practice for weaning, if that makes any sense. A lot of weaning plans suggest doing this step first for a couple of weeks.

Babies don't NEED food, but isn't that the point of the whole weaning process? Practice for when they're over a year old, won't be relying on milk and do need food?? It's a phased transition you go through before they need it.

 

[kumber]

I think you might be right Orion in what people mean when they say weaning. To me, it's when they're eating things as opposed to having tastes. We went straight into eating things, he's always been a big eater so was ready for and wanting full sized portions as opposed to tastes. I would imagine had we started at 4 months, it would have started with little tastes.

 

[babyscotcher]

I think people also need to understand though that there is not a magic switch when a baby reaches 6 months old. The 3 signs being present and Lo's interest/ willingness is far more important that the date I think. X