weaning at 4 months to do or not to do???

[kissyfacelala]

Coen could sit at 4 months and weighed over 22 pounds and showed major interest. So I called my dr and they said to start him on food slowly. Us recommendations are 4-6 months. Do what you want to do. BNB is a horrible place to ask this because people make you feel like crap about it. I have done the research and actually found just as much research suggesting waiting longer to wean is bad.

thank-you! If you listen to everything that is said you will go crazy....follow your own instincts and observe what your babies like and do best with.

 

[kissyfacelala]

we started at 4 months and 2 days...with oatmeal cereal and then slowly introduced pineapple, mango and cantaloupe...they love the cereal...2 tbsp once a day along with 2 tbsp of fruit either only pineapple or cantaloupe or sometimes mixed fruits...

thinking vegetables next but until next week or so...my twins will be 20 weeks tomorrow...

key is to go slowly and introduce one thing at a time so you can catch a reaction and know what babies are allergic to....my babies started sucking on big pieces of pineapple or cantaloupe and loved it so now I puree it and they love it!

I heard four months was ok to start but now it seems 6 months is stated more...but my babies love it! and its only once a day! formula accounts for most of their nutrition!

Did you do research before you started weaning them? you said " i heard 4 months is okay" that doesnt sound like adiquate research was done to make your disician. have you told your doctor you started weaning them?unfortunatly people seem to think that " pedietriations sometimes reccomend babys to be weaned before 6 months so that means its okay" but that isnt the reality. babys who have been told to wean early are for reasons such as reflux etc and they are moniterd by there doctor during the weaning process. when a parent just wakes up and decides to wean early when noeone is monitering there babys and only have " there loving it" for proof that they think everything is okay when your really not seeing the effects on there digestive system and you wont till there maybe an adult. for people with medical reason to wean the result outways the risk, but what here outways the risk if your weaning for the sake of it?

thank-you for trying to make me feel like crap and for judging me...I have done nothing but research about 4 months vs 6 months...and my pediatrician said oatmeal or rice cereal was fine to start at 4 months and to go slowly with foods...he said I can also introduce fruits and veggies as long as I wait a few days between new foods and to introduce only one new food at a time...I dont appreciate your tone with me...I did not wake up on dec 22 when my babies turned 4 months and say lets do solids...my babies are healthy and I am not weaning for the sake of it...I want my babies to get used to other flavours and textures and practice eating from a spoon....it has been three weeks into solids and my babies have no reactions to the new foods....they have only eaten 5 things anyways...rice, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe and oatmeal...and I keep doing research on which foods to introduce next...and I know plenty of other babies starting at 4 months and they are healthy too....this feels right to me and my babies are happy....if for one second I saw my babies with a bad reaction, or constipation or puking or more poopy than usual I would stop solids and seek medical help....my pediatrician agrees and advises what I am doing

 

[pinklightbulb]

My OH pissed and cried about weaning both my BF boys at 4 months (recommended to begin weaning breastfed babies at 6 months here) because his formula-fed first son was weaned then. So I gave a few baby spoons of fruit at 4.5 months with both boys to shut him up and also to prove they weren't ready, which they weren't. They didn't start being weaned "properly" until 6 months.

 

[youngwife20]

we started at 4 months and 2 days...with oatmeal cereal and then slowly introduced pineapple, mango and cantaloupe...they love the cereal...2 tbsp once a day along with 2 tbsp of fruit either only pineapple or cantaloupe or sometimes mixed fruits...

thinking vegetables next but until next week or so...my twins will be 20 weeks tomorrow...

key is to go slowly and introduce one thing at a time so you can catch a reaction and know what babies are allergic to....my babies started sucking on big pieces of pineapple or cantaloupe and loved it so now I puree it and they love it!

I heard four months was ok to start but now it seems 6 months is stated more...but my babies love it! and its only once a day! formula accounts for most of their nutrition!

Did you do research before you started weaning them? you said " i heard 4 months is okay" that doesnt sound like adiquate research was done to make your disician. have you told your doctor you started weaning them?unfortunatly people seem to think that " pedietriations sometimes reccomend babys to be weaned before 6 months so that means its okay" but that isnt the reality. babys who have been told to wean early are for reasons such as reflux etc and they are moniterd by there doctor during the weaning process. when a parent just wakes up and decides to wean early when noeone is monitering there babys and only have " there loving it" for proof that they think everything is okay when your really not seeing the effects on there digestive system and you wont till there maybe an adult. for people with medical reason to wean the result outways the risk, but what here outways the risk if your weaning for the sake of it?

thank-you for trying to make me feel like crap and for judging me...I have done nothing but research about 4 months vs 6 months...and my pediatrician said oatmeal or rice cereal was fine to start at 4 months and to go slowly with foods...he said I can also introduce fruits and veggies as long as I wait a few days between new foods and to introduce only one new food at a time...I dont appreciate your tone with me...I did not wake up on dec 22 when my babies turned 4 months and say lets do solids...my babies are healthy and I am not weaning for the sake of it...I want my babies to get used to other flavours and textures and practice eating from a spoon....it has been three weeks into solids and my babies have no reactions to the new foods....they have only eaten 5 things anyways...rice, pineapple, mango, cantaloupe and oatmeal...and I keep doing research on which foods to introduce next...and I know plenty of other babies starting at 4 months and they are healthy too....this feels right to me and my babies are happy....if for one second I saw my babies with a bad reaction, or constipation or puking or more poopy than usual I would stop solids and seek medical help....my pediatrician agrees and advises what I am doing

I heard four months was ok to startn

- I was not judging you I was responding to you based onn what you said. You said " You heard" that isnt the same as saying " i consultanted my ped about it" , so you can have an issue with my tone but from what you said i responded accordingly, and to repeat

if for one second I saw my babies with a bad reaction, or constipation or puking or more poopy than usual I would stop solids and seek medical help

- YOU STILL DONT GET IT if a babys digestive system is not mature enough to tolerate the food it doesnt nessersly show in constipation or vommiting . it could show when they are in there 20s thats what you dont understand .

and I know plenty of other babies starting at 4 months and they are healthy too.

Oh wow now thats scientific proof what was i talking about.. Oh no actualy the same rules apply. they may be fine, but you dont know how they will be in 30 years so that means nothing.

And I don't see how telling you the facts means I am trying to make you feel crap. I am telling you the facts simple as that. If you dont like that I don't agree with you fine. But I am not just 'telling you my opinion' this is proven fact , you responding with " my friends babys fine so shutup" is hardly a plausable responce.

Your reasons still make no sence " I want them to get used to textures" why cant they get used to it at 6 months? why must it be now? also i understand why people wean due to poor weight gain reflux etc. but its like why bother? at 4 months old there not even that active so there not even able to work of the food your giving them. were as at 6 months they will need that food for the activity there doing.

 

[Jennbear]

Ideally babies should be milk fed exclusively until six months but if you choose to wean earlier, solid foods should not be introduced before 17 weeks or only after baby is four months old as a baby's digestive system is not mature enough. Further to this, he will extrude most of the food out of his mouth with his tongue until the tongue-thrust reflex is lost which happens after baby turns 4 months old.

That is medical advice which is readily available and is FACT. So if you want to start thinking about weaning your baby at 4 months then go for it!

I'm considering starting my LO soon (in the next 2 months) as he's starting to show signs. Do what you feel is right, you know your baby like no one else.

You can't compare what will happen in later life to anyone else. Our bodies are all different, some cope with things better than others, some mature quicker than others. There are many many factors into some digestive related illnesses and I've never been told my IBS is because I was weaned at 4 months. Infact in my day, our parents were told to wean us then...

 

[JMB1992]

Im not sure why people are saying the guidelines are 6 months because they are actually 17 weeks (in the UK). So id say not before 17 weeks, thats when i weaned. I asked my lg's consultant and he said it is absolutely fine at 17 weeks x

 

[mommy0629]

Ideally babies should be milk fed exclusively until six months but if you choose to wean earlier, solid foods should not be introduced before 17 weeks or only after baby is four months old as a baby's digestive system is not mature enough. Further to this, he will extrude most of the food out of his mouth with his tongue until the tongue-thrust reflex is lost which happens after baby turns 4 months old.

That is medical advice which is readily available and is FACT. So if you want to start thinking about weaning your baby at 4 months then go for it!

I'm considering starting my LO soon (in the next 2 months) as he's starting to show signs. Do what you feel is right, you know your baby like no one else.

You can't compare what will happen in later life to anyone else. Our bodies are all different, some cope with things better than others, some mature quicker than others. There are many many factors into some digestive related illnesses and I've never been told my IBS is because I was weaned at 4 months. Infact in my day, our parents were told to wean us then...

This is exactly how I feel. When my ds was born the recommendation was start at 4 months, there was NO talk about waiting until 6 months, so I'm supposed to be concerned now that he'll have digestive issues in his 20s+ because the new "studies" weren't done yet? They really, truly did a study on adults with digestive issues and looked into when they were weaned? really? I highly doubt it. Not to mention everyone was weaned earlier, so how could you even prove that? When this generation of kids is grown (the ones who's parents waiting until 6 months to wean) and there's this HUGE decrease in the percentage of people who have digestive issues, allergies etc., then I'll believe it.

Bottom line, if you feel like your lo is ready to very slowly introduce solids after 17 weeks, then just do it, asking about it on BnB is just going start an argument over two sides of the fence.

 

[kissyfacelala]

thanks ladies...totally agree with what you are saying about the guidelines and the studies concerning early weaning and future problems....I made my decision based on a lot of things (research, instincts, doctor advice, etc etc) and it is sad how we come on BnB for support and advice and end up being judged and disrespected...I didn't mean to start an argument and apologize for that...

being a mom is hard enough without the aggravation from other moms...

anyways wishing our babies and each other luck and health with weaning!

 

[Twister]

Im not sure why people are saying the guidelines are 6 months because they are actually 17 weeks (in the UK). So id say not before 17 weeks, thats when i weaned. I asked my lg's consultant and he said it is absolutely fine at 17 weeks x

I think you'll find the guidelines are 'around 6months', but if you must introduce solids early to do so no earlier than 17 weeks.

https://www.dh.gov.uk/prod_consum_dh/groups/dh_digitalassets/documents/digitalasset/dh_084164.pdf

https://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/Pages/solid-foods-weaning.aspx

 

[summer rain]

Im not sure why people are saying the guidelines are 6 months because they are actually 17 weeks (in the UK). So id say not before 17 weeks, thats when i weaned. I asked my lg's consultant and he said it is absolutely fine at 17 weeks x

The official department of health/NHS guidelines haven't been 17 weeks since 2003, so 10 years. The government are not looking to change them back from 6 months either and only reviewed them again (for about the 5th time since the 2003 change) about a year and a half ago and not only decided to keep the age at 6 months but they have started to move away from saying 17 weeks is the minimum because some parents took that to mean 17 weeks is preferable but as long as you wean by 6 months at the latest, its ok. Hence the article twister posted not stating 4 months or 17 weeks as the earliest you can start (the leaflet posted is a lot older, from 2008). A lot of consultants are either a)not up to date with training when it comes to weaning as unless they are a dietician it is not their area of expertise or b)just prefer to ignore the latest guidelines because they are old-school. You must remember that NHS guidelines are based on hundreds if not thousands of pieces of research and studies, not just the personal opinion of one doctor or consultant. Therefore unless there is a strong medical reason to wean early I would take their opinion with a pinch of salt xx

 

[overcomer79]

Coen could sit at 4 months and weighed over 22 pounds and showed major interest. So I called my dr and they said to start him on food slowly. Us recommendations are 4-6 months. Do what you want to do. BNB is a horrible place to ask this because people make you feel like crap about it. I have done the research and actually found just as much research suggesting waiting longer to wean is bad.

thank-you! If you listen to everything that is said you will go crazy....follow your own instincts and observe what your babies like and do best with.

My pediatrician actually suggests that we start feeding at four months. I'm not sure if that is because they were both ff at that point. James plunged right in to it. Ginny wasn't interested so we tried again the following week. My pediatrician would rather it done this way so we can introduce one thing at a time. That is perfectly ok with me that way I will know what is causing allergies. Ginny didn't get real interested in foods until a few weeks ago. Now she throws a fit if she sees you eating . Plus BLW (never heard of it until bnb) isn't heard of around here and my daycare providers have more to do then to have to learn a new weaning technique.

 

[CeeDee]

Instinctual waiting till 6 months is better because children at that age can feed themselves. This allows them the ability to "get used" to new textures by themselves without someone spooning food in their mouths. They are also able to eat real food in any combination, so there is no need to buy baby food and wait days between foods. Unassisted feeding should also be a readiness sign IMO.

 

[overcomer79]

Instinctual waiting till 6 months is better because children at that age can feed themselves. This allows them the ability to "get used" to new textures by themselves without someone spooning food in their mouths. They are also able to eat real food in any combination, so there is no need to buy baby food and wait days between foods. Unassisted feeding should also be a readiness sign IMO.

I don't understand the concept of that. Neither of my kids had any teeth at six months so to me them being able to eat "real food" seems a bit off to me. Just my opinion. I'm sure I'll get hammered.

 

[Twister]

They can chew 'real food' without teeth, their gums are tougher than we think. Most babies don't get the teeth we actually chew with until a bit later on anyway.

 

[CeeDee]

Instinctual waiting till 6 months is better because children at that age can feed themselves. This allows them the ability to "get used" to new textures by themselves without someone spooning food in their mouths. They are also able to eat real food in any combination, so there is no need to buy baby food and wait days between foods. Unassisted feeding should also be a readiness sign IMO.

I don't understand the concept of that. Neither of my kids had any teeth at six months so to me them being able to eat "real food" seems a bit off to me. Just my opinion. I'm sure I'll get hammered.

You don't need to teeth to eat real food. Ask adults with dentures... My daughter has two bottom teeth, so she chews with her gums.

 

[summer rain]

My youngest didn't have any teeth come through properly until 11 months should he then have not had anything but purées until then? If anything he was better at chewing with his gums than when he first got teeth, with his gums he managed to 'chew' so well that nothing was recognisable in his nappies at the other end (sorry if TMI) whereas when he got teeth at first he did accidentally bite off larger chunks and swallow them. As he was used to eating finger foods for a long time then he didn't gag or choke on these larger pieces but a baby where finger foods have been held off until they have all their teeth may well gag or choke if they bit off a large chunk of something as they are not used to it xx

 

[Dk1234]

I just don't understand how apparently before six months they can't tolerate anything and then all of a sudden at 6 months you can ble and they can have anything. It doesn't make sense to me. It's just a personal thing for me I guess but I'd rather start him off on one thing at a time And know exactly what he is getting.

 

[overcomer79]

Ok well then that's just a concept I'm not comfortable with..

 

[summer rain]

I just don't understand how apparently before six months they can't tolerate anything and then all of a sudden at 6 months you can ble and they can have anything. It doesn't make sense to me. It's just a personal thing for me I guess but I'd rather start him off on one thing at a time And know exactly what he is getting.

It's not that at 6 months they can miraculously and suddenly tolerate everything and before this point could tolerate nothing, but by 6 months almost all babies will be able to tolerate pretty much anything (except those with food intolerances or allergies) but before this point a variable number of babies will be able to tolerate solids at all and there is really no way of knowing if a baby's digestive system is physically ready or not. Its like a sliding scale. At 15 weeks studies have shown no babies can tolerate any solid foods hence there being various studies showing an increase in various health problems when solids are introduced at this age or before. At 17 weeks maybe a handful of babies will be able to tolerate solids but there is no proof that the majority will be able to, at 5 months a few more will be able to, but at 6 months all babies will be able to. Why not wait until you don't have to worry about introducing one thing at a time or watching like a hawk for allergies and so on? Xx

 

[overcomer79]

I guess what I don't understand is apparently magically at six months supposedly you can introduce anything you want no matter time frame and they magically don't have allergies. That is my understanding about all this "wean at 6 months, they won't have allergies" etc etc :shrugs:

I think what DK and I both like is that if there is an intolerance/allergy that we can pinpoint what is causing it w/o trying to sort through every thing else LO has had during the past few days. That's just how I feel.