Started weaning too early and don't know what to do :-(

[Hopeful H]

Hi ladies,

I really really need some advice as I started weaning my little boy too early and now he won't take his milk...

My son was 7lb 9oz when he was born and he is now over 16lb at 16 weeks. My Mum and sister were constantly telling me that he was an unhappy baby and would be much better if I started him on a bit of baby rice. I refused for a few weeks and then my friend got in on it saying she had started putting rusk in her baby's bottle at less than 12 weeks (which I don't agree with).

My baby got to 14 weeks and they had me convinced that he would be happier so I started him with a couple of spoonfuls of baby rice once a day. He seemed to love it and had no trouble taking it from the spoon etc. that's he happiest I've ever seen him. He was still taking the majority of milk in his usual bottles every 3 hours and his nappies were the same.

My mum said I should build up the texture and frequency of the rice before anything else so he now has it twice a day and he's had a couple of spoonfuls of banana mixed in.

He has now started to refuse most of his milk and we're lucky if we get more than 2- 4oz down him each time (he has 6 or 7 usually).

Should I stop everything but the milk until 6 months? I know I can't cut down his bottles this early. I'm too scared to talk to my health visitor as I know I'll get the disapproving look and lecture...

Please help

 

[Mrs HM]

Firstly, don't panic. Secondly, you must talk to your health visitor or doctor. Don't be afraid or ashamed, but it would be good for you and your son to get a little bit of help to make sure everything is going well. Don't put up with anyone lecturing you either, you are a mum and you are only doing your best but you must speak to someone trained to help with your baby's diet.

I think your mum is telling you to do what was done in her day, which did you and me no harm, but we know that it's best to wean babies later these days. It sounds like you could do with some advice from a professional, so personally I'd thank your mum and sister for their opinions but I'd ask them to butt out while you get this sorted. You're the mum now and as scary as it is, you have to get the best advice for your son and I'm sure that will come from your health visitor or doctor.

Good luck

 

[Hopeful H]

Thank you for your advice - I will speak to the health visitor then. He's more important after all!! I don't know about you but I constantly feel like in chasing my tail trying to keep up with everything I should or shouldn't be doing!

 

[Mrs HM]

You're right! It's very hard to know what is right and what is wrong sometimes isn't it. Especially when mums and other well-meaning people start giving advice! My MIL is the worst for telling me what I should be doing but her youngest child is almost 24, so things have changed and she just won't leave off!

You'll be fine but I'm honestly not sure what I'd do - it sounds like your son is loving his solids, which is the aim of weaning you just want to be sure he's still getting enough milk so I think the health visitor would be able to help you best.

Let me know how you get on.

 

[AP]

Don't be afraid to stop everything and go back to the milk hun, if that's what you feel is the right thing.
I think the best idea is to speak to your health visitor but she too might have her own ideas.

 

[MummyMana]

How long had he been fussy with his milk? Sometimes babies have a few days where they hardly take any - I had that a while ago in the really hot days, she hardly wanted any bottle and I was so worried about her fluids but she picked up again after a few days

 

[Mrs_Bump]

Agree with op, I'd head to the health visitors. It's stupid and annoying how pushy people are, my little guy is 22 weeks and I'm sick of people pushing me. The hv won't judge you and should be able to give you the best advice.

 

[aug95est]

It's best to talk to your hv, even if you get the disapproving looks .... lol. They will have the right advice for you. We had a good exp with our hv yesterday. Her recommendation really put us at ease, abt questions I had for my lo. Sometimes, we panic when there are few simple things we have to do, and we are right back on track.

 

[Hispirits]

my baby dropped 10oz a day which is why i started to wean him. i think babys no what they need, i've been getting my son weighed every 2 weeks just to make sure he's still gaining weight despite the drop in milk, and he is. if hes alert acitve and happy and not lethargic i wouldn't worry to much. baby rice is very bulky, i started with homemade puree. not a fan of baby rice. perhaps try stoppig the rice and started on puree?

 

[Beccaboop]

My mum is just as bad she kept telling me to put rusk in his bottle before he was 6 months old but all health professionals told me to never do that cos its a choking hazard! She still tells me to do it now to get him to sttn!! He cant even have rusk as he has a milk allergy amd they contain milk!! Grrr!
My younger brother is 25 years old things have changed so much since he was a baby!!

 

[SarahBear]

Well, I would start by cutting out the rice. There was a point at 9 months when I felt Violet was taking too much food and not enough milk and I cut way back on the solids for a bit to encourage the milk. Of course at 9 months I didn't cut the food out completely, but with your baby, I probably would. So after you cut out the rice, get the milk sorted and then when you're comfortable with how much your baby is taking, you can re-consider solids.