Baby weaning

[tiggerblue10]

When did you start to wean your baby on to solids? The guidelines are 6 months which I take to mean 26 weeks, however my baby seems to be hungry all the time so I've started him a bit early. He completed 23 weeks Saturday just gone and I started giving him baby rice porridge on Sunday but I am worried that this is too early and that his body may not be ready yet.

[B00]

My grandson's now 5 months old, and he's been on porridge, rice and the purreed pudding things for quite a few weeks now.

The greedy little oik, loves them and smacks his lips each time he sees the spoon near his mouth and goes mental when we stop feeding him after a half dozen or so spoonfuls.

[redcrx]

if youre worried that its too early, then why did you start to wean? Im not judging you at all (my youngest started at just 18 weeks but there were reasons and recomendations)

is it just that he seems hungry? were his centiles altering?

Though i have to say that i wouldnt think baby rice at 23 weeks would be a problem

[ummmm]

When daughter was born the guidelines use to be 3 months.

I don't think weaning early will do any harm...just make sure he/she still has the same about of milk..

[tiggerblue10]

Mine too Boo, he wants more and more porridge. I make him 1 1/2 tbsp and he still wants more. Maybe I should just stop worrying and give him more as he likes it and stuff the guidelines! Lol

[B00]

Yeah, just don't go too nuts shoveling those spoonfuls in Tiggs, like we did at first. He threw the lot back up again about half an hour later, lol.

[annie0000]

Guilelines change over time - advice when mine were little was 4 months, so both mine started on rice etc at 12 weeks (and a friend had started her baby on weetabix even earlier!) They are both healthy kids.

[tiggerblue10]

He is just hungry all the time Redcrx and although I give him some formula as well as breastfeeding he is hungry after about an hour.

[tiggerblue10]

I won't do Boo. Lol

Thanks everyone, I'll stop worrying now :o)

[redcrx]

as long as hes happy then go with it. :)

[tigwig]

My 1st was weaned at 15 weeks and more recently my 2nd at 13 weeks. He hated milk (still does) and just wanted food. He was on 3 meals a day by the 2nd week of weaning and is now 10mths and happy and healthy.

[tiggerblue10]

My cousin didn't like breast milk and the doctors advised his parents that they should give him small amounts of cows milk. He's a strapping teenager now!

Thanks again everyone :o)

[I.Don No]

all babies are different so you should proceed as your baby dictates.

My middle child was demolishing a full bottle of milk at each four hour feed then he would only wait for three hours. My health visitor advised introducing solids. He was only 8 weeks old.....you should see him now..........as tall as a tree but much more huggable!!

[anneasquith]

when i had my children the guidelines were 4 months......................

[tiggerblue10]

Seems as though anything goes. I guess its a case of let the baby dictate like I.Don No says.

[Ice.Maiden]

Hi Tigger.
In 2003 the Department of Health issued guidelines (based on recommendations by the World Health Organisation and UNICEF) that weaning should start at 6 months.

It is now thought that, in general, babies under 6 months have kidneys and guts that are not mature enough to cope with a more diverse diet and that early weaning can increase the risk of infections and the development of allergies like eczema and asthma.

Babies born pre-term (before 37 weeks of gestation) may not quite be ready to wean at 6 months and therefore it may be best to speak with a health visitor before solid foods are introduced.

Our first started weaning at 6 months old, but the second at about four and a half months, so it just depends on the child, but my midwives all suggested giving milk as well until they're about 2.

Send me your new email address F. xxx

[aims1202]

as icemaiden has just said there are good reasons for the age being changed to 6mths, they now know more than they did before!
Being hungry is not actually a sign to start weaning, you can just increase the milk if what you are giving is not enough.
Weaning is a learning process, to discover the tastes and textures of food, its not just to fill your baby up, the signs that your baby is ready to start weaning are that they can sit up well enough to be able to grab food themselves and attempt to put it in their mouth, that way there is no need for any purees, which makes it a lot easier for you, as you can give your baby small pieces of soft food to feed themselves and make a mess with! that way they can discover the different tastes and textures and they learn hand eye coordination as well as developing their tongue muscles for speech.plus they love it and are less fussy later on! i'm sure the baby rice you have given will do no harm but your baby probably doesnt need it yet. i hope that helps.

[Ashley77]

I was only brestfeeding till my daughter was 11months. So I was questioned many times if she is ok with it :). Well, she was. And she is perfect now.
I think you as a mum can feel what your baby want and need. I don't think that baby rice porridge can hurt him.

[tiggerblue10]

Thank you Aims and Ashley :o)