Weaning!!

mum2twinsx2

Im in a slight dilemma, i went to the childrens centre yesterday to check the weight they both are 11LB 12oz
they were 25 weeks yesterday. The health vistor
(she is a dragon) was encouraging me to start weaning. Personally i don`t think they are ready they were small birth weights and were delivered 4 weeks early due to pre eclampsia.
There on five bottles of 6oz a day in a nice routine sleeping from 8pm until 7am. Also not on hungry baby milk.
I really wanted to put it off until after christmas as we going away to family and it would be just a ton more stuff to pack.
Would it cause much damage delaying it by 3 weeks??
I did not wean my daughters until nine months as they were 3 months early and really struggled as i was advised by paed dr to start and they were not ready. it ended up being a very stressful tearful process, i think my health vistor assumes i feel it will happen again thats why im putting it off!!

msb5262

Hello OP,

I don't much like the sound of your health visitor!

If you don't feel the babies are ready, forget it.

To me, the time to start giving solid food is when the baby is trying to grab it from you...with my DS1, the advice at the time said you could give solids from 16 weeks and I was such a ninny that I thought this meant you HAD to give solids from 16 weeks. My son wasn't ready and wasn't remotely interested. He is still quite a picky eater.

With DD and DS2, I waited until they were clearly quite keen and then let them grab whatever I was having - twists of pasta, potato wedges, bits of chicken, toast soldiers, mashed up shepherd's pie, etc etc. There was no messing about making purees of everything and both children still love their food.

I know what I'd do another time...wait until you feel your babies are ready. Don't let your health visitor push you against your instinct.

Thassorl.

Don't worry and enjoy your babies.

Best wishes
MsB

delain

I didn't feel that my twins were ready but their Dad insisted they be started on solids at 4 months, they got horribly constipated.

They were born early too. It won't harm them at all to wait until they're ready.

building_with_lego

If they're not ready don't do it! You know your children far better than the HV, and you will do the best thing for them. Does she recommend weaning because they're small? If so she should know that they would take less of their calorie- rich milk as they'd be full of solids. Weaning too early can lead to weight loss.
When you thing they're ready let them have a play around with banana or pear or something- they'll pick it up and eat when they are physically ready to eat solid food. Please don't be rushed into doing anything against your own judgement!

Personally I'd wave a couple of cheery fingers at the HV's advice...:D

bexta

A lot of HV are stuck in the past. You know your own babies better than anyone, and if they're happy and you're happy keeping them on milk for the time being, keep them on milk. They certainly seem happy with what you are doing.

Have you thought about what type of weaning you are going to do, the more 'traditional' method with purees, or baby led weaning, with the baby essentially feeding themselves? It's an exciting (slightly scary thing) to begin doing isn't it? We've just reached that stage, where we're dipping our toes into it.

Good luck with whatever you do, but don't get bullied by dragon lady

clw1

I agree with the others don't do it ! I weaned my LO at 26 wks and he really wan't ready so it was a bit of a nightmare plus v. stressful. I'd say wait until they are ready and also with christmas coming in 3 weeks it will be much easier to do it when the house is calmer and you aren't so busy.

tiamai_d

If you don't feel they are ready then don't do it.

It is a pain in the bum and unless they were stealing the food from my plate (my DD did this) then I would leave it till after Christmas.

If your HV asks just nod and smile. I find a crafty flip of the finger behind my back helps too.

pinkclouds

building_with_lego wrote: »

If they're not ready don't do it! You know your children far better than the HV, and you will do the best thing for them. Does she recommend weaning because they're small? If so she should know that they would take less of their calorie- rich milk as they'd be full of solids. Weaning too early can lead to weight loss.
When you thing they're ready let them have a play around with banana or pear or something- they'll pick it up and eat when they are physically ready to eat solid food. Please don't be rushed into doing anything against your own judgement!

Personally I'd wave a couple of cheery fingers at the HV's advice...:D

Agree with this and the others - you're the mom so you know what is best for your kids. I believe in the "until one, food is for fun" saying. I can't see the harm in keeping them on (standard) formula milk for as long as seems right to you and I certainly wouldn't worry at all until at least 12 months.

clairec79

Also with premature babies you are meant to go by gestational age, rather than birth date age - therefore your twins are only 5 months so waiting till after Christmas just brings them in line withcurrent guidance about weaning

mum2twinsx2

bexta wrote: »

Have you thought about what type of weaning you are going to do, the more 'traditional' method with purees, or baby led weaning, with the baby essentially feeding themselves? It's an exciting (slightly scary thing) to begin doing isn't it? We've just reached that stage, where we're dipping our toes into it.

Good luck with whatever you do, but don't get bullied by dragon lady

Thanks for advice, she made me feel like i was going to cause them considerable damage by not starting them now.
Im unsure what route to take yet, with the girls i did purees and enjoyed making new things batching it up and freezing. Just going to see which way they want to go. Santa is bringing them highchairs for xmas, and have asked my mum for bowls spoons etc. rather than noisy useless toy.

Luciferswench

In a lot of other countries weaning doesnt happen until much later on anyways, sometimes the western world is a bit backwards in coming forwards. Always trying to rush childhood, weaning is much more fun and less stressful if you waint for your baby to show signs of wanting to eat solids. Its so much easier to feed them when they are willing. You know your babies best and if they are content then i'd leave them until the new year. This time of year is stressful enough without starting weaning because guidelines/HV say so.
Sounds to me that you are doing an excellent job so far