April Mummies 2011

[lilgemsy]

Im planning on introducing a spoonful of baby rice to Ollie each when he turns exactly 4 months old... Mainly just to get him used to the spoon and different tastes and stuff.
It took him 3 weeks to even get started taking milk at first so I think food will also be a bit of a challenge hence why I want to try and get him used to it as early as possible.
He'll still have his milk as he does now though so he doesnt lose weight.
Dont think theres much chance of him becoming obese as hes only just got off the 0.4th centile xD

Mrs C, Ollie actually takes the same amount of milk as your LO (5 x 6oz bottles / day)

4 months is going to be a big milestone for my little olliebob! Im going to move him into his cot aswell as putting him on baby rice (He still fits very snuggly into his moses basket lol)
Im quite excited about it all!

 

[Mrs-C]

Im planning on introducing a spoonful of baby rice to Ollie each when he turns exactly 4 months old... Mainly just to get him used to the spoon and different tastes and stuff.
It took him 3 weeks to even get started taking milk at first so I think food will also be a bit of a challenge hence why I want to try and get him used to it as early as possible.
He'll still have his milk as he does now though so he doesnt lose weight.
Dont think theres much chance of him becoming obese as hes only just got off the 0.4th centile xD

Mrs C, Ollie actually takes the same amount of milk as your LO (5 x 6oz bottles / day)

4 months is going to be a big milestone for my little olliebob! Im going to move him into his cot aswell as putting him on baby rice (He still fits very snuggly into his moses basket lol)
Im quite excited about it all!

My LO took ages to get the hang of feeding too. Weeks in fact. I like your reasoning. As you say, it may take them a while to get used to it all.

We actually had to move her out of her basket at 6 weeks - she sleeps with her arms spread out so she kept knocking the sides and waking herself up!

 

[cheese lover]

I'm BFing so it's likely that I'll wait until 6 months. If she is showing all the developmental signs that she's ready for solids I might start a little early, like a couple weeks but that's unlikely. There really is no reason for me to start her early and DH's family has food allergies and GI issues, I have asthma. I'm trying to do what I can to help her avoid those as much as possible.

 

[Lilly12]

It is very important to wait until 6 months to start (even if they meet the signs of readiness earlier). The baby’s digestive system will be able to handle solids at this point. When your child reaches 6 months of age, you have to decide if they meet the signs of readiness:

*Sitting up with little or no support
*Reaching out to grab things and taking them to their mouth quickly and accurately
*Gnawing on toys and making chewing movements
*Starting to put food in their mouth ….if given the opportunity

Here are some FALSE signs of readiness that do not determine if your child is ready for solids:

*Waking at night
*Weight gain slowing slightly
*Watching their parents eat
*Making lip-smacking noises
*Not going straight to sleep after milk feeds
*Small baby
*Big baby



We are going to start baby led weaning around 6 months, maybe a couple weeks before that, if she shows signs of being ready.

"Solids before one is just for fun".
All your baby really needs the first year is breastmilk/formula, those have way more calories in them than solids.
Even if you do introduce solids, your baby will still be on milk until age 1.
I personally think a lot of parents start early because giving solids is new and fun and exciting.. but giving solids before 6 months increases the risk of childhood obesity, increases the risk of having food allergies, and their digestive system might not be ready yet.. which can result in IBS later in life.
I know some babies start early cause of medical reasons (severe acid reflux, preemies etc), I'm not talking about those here.

 

[Mrs-C]

It is very important to wait until 6 months to start (even if they meet the signs of readiness earlier). The baby’s digestive system will be able to handle solids at this point. When your child reaches 6 months of age, you have to decide if they meet the signs of readiness:

*Sitting up with little or no support
*Reaching out to grab things and taking them to their mouth quickly and accurately
*Gnawing on toys and making chewing movements
*Starting to put food in their mouth ….if given the opportunity

Here are some FALSE signs of readiness that do not determine if your child is ready for solids:

*Waking at night
*Weight gain slowing slightly
*Watching their parents eat
*Making lip-smacking noises
*Not going straight to sleep after milk feeds
*Small baby
*Big baby



We are going to start baby led weaning around 6 months, maybe a couple weeks before that, if she shows signs of being ready.

"Solids before one is just for fun".
All your baby really needs the first year is breastmilk/formula, those have way more calories in them than solids.
Even if you do introduce solids, your baby will still be on milk until age 1.
I personally think a lot of parents start early because giving solids is new and fun and exciting.. but giving solids before 6 months increases the risk of childhood obesity, increases the risk of having food allergies, and their digestive system might not be ready yet.. which can result in IBS later in life.
I know some babies start early cause of medical reasons (severe acid reflux, preemies etc), I'm not talking about those here.

Here guidelines are 4-6 months and WHO says BY 6 months, not after 6 months. I have read studies today stating the same reasons you have as a reason to start earlier. I understand allergies, asthma and obesity in children has increased here since the guidelines were changed from 4 months to 6.

I look at it as every baby is different, as every adult is different. My DD actually does 2 of the 4 things you stated and is trying to sit up. She doesn't do the last - as I haven't tried her yet!

It is a topic I think many have strong opinions on and I don't want this thread to turn into a debate about wrong or right, just each individuals plans for their baby

 

[gertrude]

I desperatley wanted to BF but she wouldn't suck so after attempts to combi feed we had to switch to FF. Weaning is more in my control so I really would like to get it right.

you are me aren't you

I see weaning as another chance to do the best by my LO - I tried BFing, and we did it exclusively for 2 weeks, then combi fed until 3 months, now I express one feed a day but will be stopping this in the next couple of weeks


wrt weaning I will wean (intend to do BLW) when she is ready which can be at 4 months, at 6 months or anything in between I have done lots of reading around this subject and I'm happy with my decisions - certainly I have no concerns about allergies (there is research to suggest weaning before 6 months is bad for allergies and there is research to suggest weaning after 6 months is bad)

I will be doing BLW though, I have the highchair already, I'm about to repaint my dining room walls with washable paint and I have charged the camera


in other news, she no longer will be put to bed by me she will by her dad but not mummy

 

[gertrude]

shit my oh fed pickle some milk from a bottle that was from earlier today by accident it really was an accident but now I'm shit scared she's going to get sick

 

[MissFox]

aww gertrude! I've been worried about that before. Luckily Rosie never got sick. I hope pickle doesn't either!!!

Of the guidelines listed Rosie does a lot of them
*Sitting up with little or no support for short periods. Also in a bumbo she sits for quite a while and generally isn't happy unless she is sitting or standing

*Reaching out to grab things and taking them to their mouth quickly and accurately
The last couple weeks she has been doing this very well.
*Gnawing on toys and making chewing movements ALL THE TIME
*Starting to put food in their mouth ….if given the opportunity 2 days ago she was giving me the stare down and i let her hold a piece of apple (I cut it to a good size to hold and shape too... and peeled it). She put it in her mouth and chewed and sucked on it and was very happy. She didn't bite any off but MAN WAS SHE HAPPY!

Here are some FALSE signs of readiness that do not determine if your child is ready for solids:

*Waking at night She has been sleeping 8-10 hrs wake for a feed then back down for 4-5 hrs.
*Weight gain slowing slightly
*Watching their parents eat She does this. And screams sometimes until I let her hold something that I'm eating... Which I have only do so far with the apple. Not gonna give her the french fries that she wants lol
*Making lip-smacking noises
*Not going straight to sleep after milk feeds
*Small baby
*Big baby

IDK. I'm not gonna go crazy with it but so far if she wants an apple wedge to play with then I'm gonna give it to her. Not gonna drop any feeds or anything but just let her play so far.

 

[RiRi]

Poppy has starting sleeping through to from about 8pm til 7:30 am yeeeey !!!
Tasha your wedding pic is beautiful

 

[SazzleR]

I've spent the past few weeks reading a lot of research about weaning and I've decided that I'm going to wean Rex at 4 months. Starting off very slowly & he'll have nothing but rice, veg & fruit until 6 months plus he'll have his BF before each 'meal' so he'll only have solids as tasters. I don't want a debate or argument over it. I am happy with my decision for my LO and that's what matters.

 

[MissFox]

That's so far what I'm thinking Sazzle. I just don't see myself waiting to olong because of the fits LO throws over food. I figure I'll start rice in a couple weeks. Although if she wants my apple slice to chew on then I'll continue to let her have it (unless she figures out how to bite chunks off... then we may have to figure something else out)

 

[Mrs-C]

Thanks ladies. My gut is telling me she is ready. I am feeling more positive about it now. She too is happiest sitting up and is fine in her bimbo, no flopping. She is very strong in the back. She just needs to learn not to flap her arms & legs around - then she might sit on her own!

Last night was bad for teething. She has four showing now & two look ready to break through. I'm hoping tonight is better!

 

[Tasha360]

I started weaning a few days agp they have had a spoonful of baby rice once a day so far and love it x

 

[AmethystDream]

According to my MWs and HV they are now changing the UK guidelines back down to nearer 4 months than 6. To be honest, I just wish that they would make their minds up and leave people the chuff alone.

Gabe will let me know when he is ready.

 

[DanaBump]

i'm sticking to 6. abby seems very "young" as far as the milestones. she loves things in her mouth but is very content with her bottle.
honestly? i don't want her growing up any sooner then she already is so the later the better as far as i'm concerned.
stick with your guts ladies, they're usually pretty right on.

 

[JakesMummy]

Yeah I'm pretty relaxed This time round comparedto my first. It is so funny watching them try rice (for example) off a spoon, Jake face was a picture! Definitely one for te camera I was thinking to myself earlier, regardless of whether you blw or puree, whatever, they all end up Being fussy imps at a certain toddler age! We are going through a stubborn phase, but my 2.5 year old is still teething bless him. 5 teeth are pushing through at once an now Amelia
Has one under her gum. 2 teething children. Nice (!)

 

[chocojen]

wow didnt realise weaning caused such srong opinions, my HV recommends 6 months and gave me a load of reassons behind it. I am aiming to wait til 6 months but we will see what happens. George is no where near eady for it yet!


Ugh its raining!

other news....OH was on night feed duty last night....George slept from 7pm til 7am....why wont he do it for me!!!

 

[AmethystDream]

Jen, the arguments I've seen over weaning are just ridiculous. I actually stopped going to a group with my eldest because one woman there was so utterly militant about her views on pretty much everything that she alienated everyone. I think we all left en masse half way through one week because someone had the audacity to suggest that they would be led by cues from their own child as to the timing of weaning.... Oh the explosion THAT caused

Gabriel is the same as George, not ready at all yet. I will confess that we bought his highchair before he was born though. Although admittedly it was a very very good deal on the chair we wanted at the time and also it was to get him used to sitting at the table with us, even if he wasn't eating himself. Pity it's still in the box really

 

[SazzleR]

Right, we are off to Wales on our first family holiday! The car is very full! Doubt we'll have Internet signal out in the sticks where we're staying so I'll see you all in a week! Bye!

 

[Lilly12]

Have fun