Solid Food

[sherrardk]

Does anyone know what the latest thinking is on when to introduce solids?

[chazza]

The latest thinking is 6 months, it used to be 4 months

[kick3m0n]

my wee guy turned 2 at the end of Sept, and we introduced him to solids at 16 weeks. Several of my friends have younger babies and they have all recently introduced their babies to solids at 16 weeks too. So, this recent thinking has not yet reached central scotland mums and health visitors, if indeed it's correct. 16 weeks is too early for some little ones, but they let you know when they are ready. There is no way my wee guy could have gone on until 24 weeks/6months without solids....I simply wouldn't have been able to produce enough milk and he'd have been on the breast 24/7.

[OBonio]

Between 4 and 6 months. Each child is different, but definitely not before 4 months! Their digestive systems aren't mature enough.

When they start mimicking your chewing actions or take an interest in your food is a good indicator.

[enigma]

I bottlefed my eldest child and was told to wean her on to solids at four months but not before as her digestive system could not cope with anything other than milk prior to this age. I then breastfed my other two children (my youngest is 1) and I was told by my health visitor that the recommendation for breastfed babies is that they do not begin weaning until six months old because they get everything they need (immunity and vitamins) from breast milk until this age but weaning should not commence any later than six months because the baby's stores of iron start to deplete. To sum up , bottle fed babies generally start weaning at four months and breastfed babies are recommended to start at six months.

[beetucks]

I am with the six monthers

Macrobiotic child care suggests that children's diets should change from 6 months to one year from milk to solids in an even progression so weaning should be complete at 12 months

[zingara]

As already suggested weaning is now around 6 months.It was 4 months when I had my 1st two children, which was 19 + 13 yrs ago. Having recently had my 3rd child, I was informed only today of weaning at 6mths. apparantly it is because studies have shown that there was a higher risk of obesity + allergies with children that were weaned at 3-4 mths. I am currently breast feeding my daughter, who is 3mths old, I cannot imagine that my milk alone will be enough to satisfy her after her four months. some feeds now seem to go on for ever.

[Sausagegirl]

I think the answer is that your baby will tell you when it's time. Because the Gvt guidelines are now 6 months, that's what midwives and health visitors have to preach but there are going to be cases when a baby needs solids before that. My little one was showing signs when she was 5 months and we tried to hold off but it got to a point where she was waking up hungry in the night and her usual bottles weren't enough in the day.

I have a friend who has just weaned her son at 17 weeks. Before that he was a grumpy grizzly little boy. Now, he's a changed baby. He sleeps at night and is nicer in the day.

By all means listen to the guidelines but you can't beeat listening to your baby.

[Hamish]

I Go with sausagegirl. We had many problems over feeding our son. By 6 weeks he was taking 36floz of milk per day in 9-10 feeds, very windy (rec amt for 4mths). He was very unhappy feeding. We added a little (1-2spoons) of baby rice to his feed to thicken it, much happier feeds. weaning onto proper solids started at 3.5mths. I spent a lot of time looking into the issue - the doc wanted to prescribe infant gaviscon for him, but my reading (medical journal literature) made me think twice about this. The guidelines on weaning come from the WHO. The world wide study was conducted over concerns that in developing countries mothers were weaning early in the belief that their milk was poor quality as thier diet was poor. In fact the milk was fine and the quality of the weaning foods were poor so the babies suffered heath wise. I have found it very interesting that the health profession here has agressively promoted the 6mth issue even trying arguments that have no basis in fact (it was suggested that there is a link between SIDS and early weaning, this is not backed up by the medical literature.) I hope this helps. I would echo the fact that your baby will tell you when to wean. They need to be able to hold their head up from a safty point of view, but you know your baby best.

[dmj]

with my first baby I didnt introduce solids until dead on the six month mark did everything by the book and suffered endless sleepless nights because my daughter was screaming and constantly hungry!! with my second baby as soon as the signs started to show at about 3 and a half months I gave him the tiniest bit of baby rice, he lapped it up and was a very content baby, if you are in any doubt talk to your health visitor

[saulsmum]

Hamish, my boy is 14 wks old and has been a terrible feeder for the last 10. he used to cough and gag and scream during feeds. the doctor has put him on a concoction of medication including gaviscon and thixo-d to thicken the feeds fter they have entered the stomach. he has improved slightly and still feeds quite often and not always very happy. ive considered cutting out the meds and trying baby rice but was worried because of all the early weaning warnings. how much rice would you add to a 5oz bottle?and did it make a ahughe difference to the way your little one fed?