Weaning before 6 months

[Kylie1007]

My MIL is doing my HEAD IN! She keeps telling us that Finn should be having a bit of baby rice now he's 4 months old and we keep telling her that he's too little still!!! Apparently she weaned my OH a 3 months ... 30 years ago I'm not adverse to weaning him from around 5 1/2 months or when he ready but I'd love to find some info with reasons NOT to wean at 4 months or to wait until 6 months.

Does anyone know of anywhere I can get info like this - I haven't been able to find anything on the internet.

 

[Krystal]

There are plenty of good reasons to wait until your baby reaches six months of age. Breast milk and formula milk are easy for your baby to digest and provide all the calories and nutrients your baby needs for healthy growth and development. Also, it is thought that the chances of developing allergies are greatest during infancy, so feeding your baby a diet of breast milk or formula until this time helps reduce the risk of introducing allergens. As your baby's digestive system matures, he or she will be better able to handle different foods without an allergic reaction. Breast or formula milk will continue to be a very important source of nutrition whilst your baby adjusts to a mixed diet and for the first year or so of life.

I know how you feel, my family were exactly the same The thing is i'm not against weaning early if your baby is showing signs I think you should wean them but if they are happy/sleeping through and generally seem satisfied then wait till they are 6 months. My family did not understand this, they still go on like i'm some new age momma Bugger them though, my baby, my decision

 

[amzhunny]

I dont know any reason hun off the top of me head...

but just want to say about in laws....mine do my head in too....!!!!

 

[rachie29]

the World Health Organisation state that 26 weeks is the earliest you should begin to wean a baby....

why do MIL think they know best?

 

[Kylie1007]

the World Health Organisation state that 26 weeks is the earliest you should begin to wean a baby....

why do MIL think they know best?

I know - and I can't find the reasons why!!

 

[rachie29]

i believe its because their digestive system is not thought to be developed enough until then.

 

[leckershell]

Early weaning also encourages obesity in later life my HV said.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/4337450.stm

Can't find any better links but that's what I heard.

 

[valentine]

I am researching this Kylie and will get back to you! This is something I feel really strongly about! Hang in there and stick to your guns!

Xxx

 

[Kylie1007]

I am researching this Kylie and will get back to you! This is something I feel really strongly about! Hang in there and stick to your guns!

Xxx

Thanks everyone. Just feel that 4 mths is v young to wean him (and I know it doesn't make any diff but he was 3 weeks early so he should only really be 15 weeks old). My MIL thinks it will make him happier but I think that his grizzliness at the mo is maybe teething.

 

[OopsyDaisy]

Reasons are (taken from the Bounty website):
* They cannot make all the right enzymes to digest foods.
* They have not yet developed enough co-ordination to cope with the foods put into their mouths, and can’t maintain the posture needed to swallow.
* Their kidneys may not be mature enough to cope with anything more than milk.
* If solid foods are introduced early, babies may be more at risk of developing allergies.
* The early introduction of foods may be linked to an increased risk of respiratory illness, coeliac disease, and wheezing in childhood.
* The early introduction of solid foods is associated with an increased percentage of body fat and may contribute to a child being overweight.

It really f**ks me off that my MIL interferes about everything, she also wanted me to wean as early as possible. I resisted as LO was showing no signs of wanting to be weaned at all! Even now at 6 months old (well, she turns 6 months tomorrow - GOSH!), LO doesn't seem that bothered, but have started to wean with a little baby rice.

 

[Kylie1007]

Reasons are (taken from the Bounty website):
* They cannot make all the right enzymes to digest foods.
* They have not yet developed enough co-ordination to cope with the foods put into their mouths, and can’t maintain the posture needed to swallow.
* Their kidneys may not be mature enough to cope with anything more than milk.
* If solid foods are introduced early, babies may be more at risk of developing allergies.
* The early introduction of foods may be linked to an increased risk of respiratory illness, coeliac disease, and wheezing in childhood.
* The early introduction of solid foods is associated with an increased percentage of body fat and may contribute to a child being overweight.

It really f**ks me off that my MIL interferes about everything, she also wanted me to wean as early as possible. I resisted as LO was showing no signs of wanting to be weaned at all! Even now at 6 months old (well, she turns 6 months tomorrow - GOSH!), LO doesn't seem that bothered, but have started to wean with a little baby rice.

thanks

 

[valentine]

I found some more info for you and this page also has links to WHO/Unicef etc.

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solid ... olids.html

Stick to your guns hon!

Valentine Xxx

 

[Kylie1007]

Hi Valentine

Thanks for the info...I have to say that I have begun him on a little solid now and not for the reason that I have a vile MIL!

He was watching us eating, he'd stopped gaining weight at a good rate, he was very discontented etc. So on Tuesday I tried him with a little Fruity Breakfast and he's gobbling it down & seems a little happier in himself. I just didn't want to start weaning him because my MIL did it at 3 months 30 years ago!

 

[madam bully]

My MIL is now telling me Henry should be on 3 meals a day and having finger food He is only just getting used to solids so no way am I going to give him finger food and to top it all off my SIL and MIL gave him chocolate the other day without asking me!!

All because its what she did to her kids! Over 30 years ago stupid *%$^!!!!

 

[Kylie1007]

My MIL is now telling me Henry should be on 3 meals a day and having finger food He is only just getting used to solids so no way am I going to give him finger food and to top it all off my SIL and MIL gave him chocolate the other day without asking me!!

All because its what she did to her kids! Over 30 years ago stupid *%$^!!!!

Tell me about it! My MIL is keen to spout on about what Finn should be doing but she wont look up things on the internet to find out what she is saying is a load of rubbish or not. She says to my husband "At 3 months you were on baby rice" = this was nearly 30 years ago. It also doesn't help that she has got a friend whose daughter's baby started being weaned quite early - so of course what they're doing is gospel...