Hints and tips for weaning (merged)

jellyhead

daphne_descends wrote: »

And don't tell me I don't know what it's like to have a hungry baby - I was feeding my DS hourly at one point. But knowing that solids might cause trouble, I waited, and we saw it through and he ahppily started at around 5.5 months.

but that's before 6 months

coljacks

I had a friend who had a DD just before I did. She had heart problems and within a week of being born was put into ITC and had open heart surgery. Because she had to be drip fed and had hardly had any milk during her first week- approx 10oz, she did not gain any weight. Her consultant told her to wean at 4 weeks old. She spoke to him regarding all of the health risks, IHO it was fine.

She is now a happy and healthy girl, who shows no signs of any health problems.

I don't agree with sticking to a timetable with kids. No medical expert can tell me when my children are ready to do anything- only I can do that. I am the one who is with them 24/7. I think some people read to may baby books, and try to follow them word for word.

daphne_descends

jellyhead wrote: »

but that's before 6 months

Gold star for observation.

He was sitting unaided, holding his head, able to grab food, put in his mouth, chew, and swallow - I did baby-led weaning. (As referenced in the rest of my post)

daphne_descends

coljacks wrote: »

No medical expert can tell me when my children are ready to do anything- only I can do that. I am the one who is with them 24/7. I think some people read to may baby books, and try to follow them word for word.

What, you can see inside your childrens digestive systems to see if their gut is sealed or not?

nadnad

parenting is dificult at the best of times and being berated by others for doing what you think is best for your child doesnt help matters. I feel bad enough for feeding my baby baby rice at 17 weeks, but in my opinion he was ready. I would certainly never do anything to harm my baby, just the opposite. I quite happily feed him every 2 hours day and night, howevre I still felt he needed more. We have to remember that these are government GUIDELINES which change often, they are there as a reference point, not intended to be taken as gospel. Even the literature my health visitor gave me on weaning has a section on weaning at 4 months if you feel that is the thing to do, and that is an NHS publication.

daphne_descends

nadnad I am not out to berate anyone but I do get frustrated when people refuse to acknowledge there is a risk.

I doubt many people would put their babies down to sleep on their tummies, but the safe sleeping guidelines are no different to the weaning guidelines - they are they for the good of the babies.

I happen to think the WHO know better than an NHS publication - who funded it, who wrote it, and what was their agenda? It is sad but I don't think we can trust baby food companies with our little ones health because they are there to make money, and nothing else. They 'get away with it' because some babies are ready by 17 weeks. But we as mother's do not have any way of knowing if our babies are ready or not because it is about their gut being sealed or not.

It also makes me sad that so many people are led to believe that milk (breast OR formula) isn't enough for babies when I and thousands of others who waited to wean are proof that it is.

I don't want anyone to feel bad because you are right, it's tough enough as it is, but I can't just sit back and let incorrect statements be posted all over the place without saying anything.

milliebear00001

SarahNeedle1872 wrote: »

DS started weaning at 5 months, because bottles were'nt keeping him full!
My ex-DH was weaned at 3 days, as he point blank refused milk and that was the advice the hospital gave ex-MiL.

Each baby is different

How bizarre - mother's milk doesn't often come in before 3 days post-birth anyway so nature doesn't intend babies to drink milk before about 3 days old anyway - they are born with the reserves to manage until then.

milliebear00001

nadnad wrote: »

my little one is 19 weeks and for the last 6 weeks he has stared waking up every 2 hours at night for a feed - he used to go down at 7pm and wake at 2am and 5am only. Am I right in thinking this is because he is hungrier and therefore ready for something more than milk? I have agonised over this but I did start giving him baby rice at 17 weeks just once a day to start with and now twice a day and I make it with breast milk. I still feel bad, but he takes it without difficulty and loves it - gets really excited when he sees the bowl coming! He also has teeth (2) and seems to have lost the gag reflex. However I still feel bad like I'm doing something terrible.

Breastfed babies wake earlier for feeds when they are about to go through a growth spurt. By feeding more frequently, the increase your milk supply. It usually takes a week for your milk to adjust to the new demand and they should then begin sleeping longer again. Unfortunately, many mums are not warned about this and take it as a sign that the baby needs solids - many HV don't understand this relationship either I'm afraid.

arthur_dent_2

I wish someone had given me that fact (above) when I had my children, I was so worried that niether of mine seemed at all interested for several days!

Felicity

My baby was about 5 months when he first started having little tastes and nearly 6 months by the time he was eating proper meals 3 times a day.

I read all there was to read on the subject, took my health visitors opinion into account and then did what I felt was the best for my baby.