have I missed something

[jodiex]

With the weaning guidelines? !

I take Emily to baby massage , shes one of the oldest there. 15 weeks.
I got talking to a few of the mothers there and ALL of them were giving their baby rusk in their bottle, feeding them porridge baby rice amd jars etc. These babies were 10, 12, 13, 14 weeks amd then a couple of them were 4months.
When I asked them why their answer was "to make them sleep longer" ! None of the babies were prem.
They were quite shocked when I told them I wasnt giving Emily anything but milk. And told me I should start. And the funny thing is , None of the babies sleep as good as Emily. (We had 4nightd last week where she woke up once and twice) but apart from that she sleeps 11hours without a feed.
Im sure more people should be more informed about weaning.

 

[special_kala]

People are informed...but whether they choose to listen to the well researched backed up information is up to them.

Sometimes people put their own needs (sleep) over what is best i guess.

 

[jodiex]

People are informed...but whether they choose to listen to the well researched backed up information is up to them.

Sometimes people put their own needs (sleep) over what is best i guess.

Yea true. But ive heard that weaning can make sleep worse in some cases.
I just think people need to think that having a baby means a lack of sleep at some point. :/.

 

[Kanichen34]

I think it's the grandmothers that cause this early weaning. My LO is 4 months today and both my mum and MIL have 'advised' me I should start weaning. All because there were 3 days last week where she had me up hourly for feeds. Apparently this means breast milk is no longer enough for her *rolls eyes*. Luckily I know it was just a growth spurt and last night we were back to 3 hourly wake ups. I'm also confident enough to ignore MiL and tell my mum she's wrong. Of course I then get 'it didn't do you or your sister any harm....'

 

[Pielette]

I think a lot of people mistakenly believe that solids are more filling. They don't realise how many calories there are in breastmilk and formula. A friend of mine assumed my baby was beginning to sleep better purely because we've started weaning, but given that he's really not actually eating much I highly doubt it (BLW).

I also wonder how truly informed they are. Health visitors in my area aren't the best for giving info about weaning (or much really). I know a lot but it's mainly because I do a lot of research and because of this forum.

 

[d_b]

I have a friend who started her DD on rice cereal when she just turned 4 months because she was 'so hungry' and she said her doctor said it was fine to start at 4 months, her baby wasn't prem, no reflux, etc. My doctor said i should definately wait til 6 months which is what I had planned.

 

[sue_88]

One of the babies in our baby group is 3m and already being filled full of rusk and god knows what else 'to make him sleep'.

Makes me seriously angry! It's so f**king selfish, early weaning makes my blood boil. I keep my opinions to myself and judge silently from afar but it's so dumb.

People should be clued up about real expectations before having a baby instead of jumping in head first without a care in the world.

 

[MumMumMum]

That is early imo. We weaned both girls a little early due to reflux (on docs advice). But it was only little amounts of baby cereal. We held off until the 6 months for three meals a day.

 

[Sarah125]

I wish solids would make my baby sleep

Seriously though don't feel pressured into giving solids because they are all telling you too. They are weaning far too early.

 

[Mummy Bean]

I have to say if it wasn't for this site then I wouldn't know that weaning was nt recommended until 6 months. I haven't had any contact with a health visitor or such since day 10, and only see a medical professional for his injections.

I think I may have got a leaflet in my bounty pack with my first son, but didn't get a pack with my second.

So maybe it case people simply don't know and are following the example of there parents/grandparents??

 

[Meg26]

Its definitely the "I did it " syndrome. All the elders in my family told me to add rice cereal to a bottle when I would talk about my little guy sleeping terribly (sttn first time three months ago lol)
They all were shocked when I refused to listen to them. I ebf so bottles werent an option (my lo wouldnt take one) and they were more shocked when I refused to formula feed . My family and I had alot of heated debates about these things and I heard "well I did it with you, and grandma did it with all four of us so it cant be that bad. We all turned out fine" and "well maybe he isnt getting enough to eat and thats why he doesnt sleep well". My sis listened and I didnt and I sure got to hear about it. Turns out my little guy just isnt a sleeper as he eats a ton and still wakes at least once a night normally....they have nothing to say now.

 

[Noodlebear]

I think people are informed but there's almost a dangerous and arrogant 'mother knows best' belief surrounding all things and it simply isn't true. Unless you're a trained healthcare professional who does their own research you're likely to make big errors in judgement if you point blank refuse to listen to anyone else.
People just get impatient and want the 'excitement' of weaning (even though the reality is that it's a complete pain in the ass). Definitely a pet peeve of mine.

 

[catty]

i did wean early at 4.5 months but would never have done it any earlier. I was encouraged by health professionals to do it and i honestly think even reading all the research that he was ready, i certainly didnt do it for more sleept though! he sleeps bad no matter how much he eats.
But 10, 12 weeks etc is just scary to me, imagine they choked at that age ( i no they can at any age) but im sure it would be much more likely and putting food in bottles scares me aswell.

 

[Sarahdisco]

I weaned slightly early, at 5 months due to a "loose stool" issue. On doctors advice mind, once we'd ruled out allergies and intolerances.

I'd had MILs and older generations getting on at me to wean from 15 weeks but I told them I was waiting as long as I could. If it wasn't for the doctor, I probably would have stuck it out till 6 months. The doctor said it might help with sleep but in reality it's made it worse (or its a coincidence!).

10, 12 weeks etc is far too young and I would never but anything in her bottle, much to MILs annoyance but I don't fancy having a choking baby on my hands!

I think it is a bit harsh though to automatically say they are selfish for weaning early! Not everyone is educated well enough on all baby topics, there are certainly a few things I've learned since coming on here and the biggest thing I've learned is that just because a GUIDELINE says a baby should be doing this or that, in reality babies are unique and develop at different rates.

But that's a whole other topic