Weaning at 9 weeks??

[susan_1981]

So I've just seen a photo of my great nephew on facebook with cream cake all over his face! He's only about 9-10 weeks old and technically he should only be 5 weeks as he was born 5 weeks early. I'm shocked!! My nephew's girlfriend said they're weaning because he's such a hungry baby and he even has teeth cutting through that she can see. Is this dangerous? My health visitor told me off for weaning at 18 weeks!

 

[sue_88]

Yes very dangerous & very irresponsible parenting.

Poor child

 

[jd83]

Yes, and I would send a private message to her if I were you. I just recently had the same thing with my cousin, she had posted that her 3-4 week old baby loves mashed potatoes. I was horrified, but took some time to collect myself before messaging her. My advice, keep it as nice as possible while showing concern, but it will most likely not be met well since criticism never is. But I feel its better to say something and at least make them aware of the danger than to ignore. I think the message I sent her asked if she meant mashed potatoes through breast milk or actual mashed potatoes, if it were actual mashed potatoes was she aware of the risks for allergy development and GI problems from introducing solids too early? I attached a few links about risks of early weaning, and ended with telling her I loved her and her son very much, and was really hoping to not come across the wrong way, just wanting to show concern. It didn't go over great, but I feel much better having at least said something, and knowing I said it in the nicest way I could. I'd feel too guilty if I had ignored something like that. If I were you,I'd think it over and try to come up with the best way you can to approach it in a private message, so its not publicly out there for her friends and family to see, but still lets her know you are concerned.

 

[susan_1981]

I'm seeing her tomorrow so I'll just mention it. I did say that my health visitor moaned at me for weaning 18 weeks, but even then it was just a teaspoon of baby rice once a day. She's only 16! She said that her health visitor is happy with everything she's been doing but then said her health visitor never bothers to come round. I said mine doesn't either, I take him to see them. I'm so shocked. Especially cream cake!

 

[special_kala]

Its not just dangerous is completly ridiculous!

 

[sue_88]

She needs more support if her parenting choices are this poor being only 16. Any HV happy with 9 week old weaning has no place in the NHS (and wouldn't actually be surprised if her HV didn't actually know the truth.)

 

[susan_1981]

I am in complete shock! I've never heard of a baby being weaned that early and I know when I was little, they used to start at about 3 months sometimes but again just with baby rice. He does also look really overweight. Like I know some babies are chubby, but he's more than that. I'm pretty sure they have a social worker so I can't understand how they aren't getting more help and advice. She said that he's teething as well.

 

[sbl]

Yes its very dangerous and even more dangerous for a preemie baby!
My lo was 5 weeks prem and I delayed the weaning process till her adjusted age met the right weaning age. Has a dietician not spoken to them about how preemie babies should do things at their adjusted age and not actual age???
My lo was very hungry too and I would never have dreamed of doing it.

 

[sue_88]

All teething 'symptoms' are developmental as well so can be mistaken. I would definitely be having a word.

 

[jd83]

I am in complete shock! I've never heard of a baby being weaned that early and I know when I was little, they used to start at about 3 months sometimes but again just with baby rice. He does also look really overweight. Like I know some babies are chubby, but he's more than that. I'm pretty sure they have a social worker so I can't understand how they aren't getting more help and advice. She said that he's teething as well.

I wonder if that could be misinterpreting extra fussiness, probably from introducing foods he isn't ready to digest at his young age.

 

[susan_1981]

She said she can see them pushing through his gums. I'm wondering if it's similar to what my eldest had. When he was born, he had this white mark on his gums and I said to the health visitor that I was sure he wasn't teething but could she have a look. And she said she saw what I meant but no, he wasn't and he wasn't because his first tooth didn't pop through until around 5 or so months I think. Possibly later.

I don't think she sees the health visitor. I think she thinks they come to you. Round here, they do the first time (and the second time with first babies) but then you have to take them. Or that's what my health visitors do. She only lives round the corner but I don't think she's under the same ones as me.

I just don't understand it. It's the cake thing as well. I still rarely give my 17 month old cake and, even then, it would only be a tiny bit.

 

[catty]

I think its in the babies best interest if you say something. Maybe just tell her veg and fruit is best first but youve had hassle off your hv for weaning early so you wouldnt want them to say something to her. My sons almost 6 months and I weaned early (about 19/20 weeks) but iv made him all homemade healthy food and reasons for that (putting on 3 pounds in 3 weeks) and going up from 25th centile to 91st.

She maybe is just very uneducated and I think she needa told

 

[AP]

I remember seeing and even asking the same on here as a FTM, I honestly seen it so often I thought there was some exception I didn't know about. I will never quite understand that. However it seems like an uneducated thing here rather than ignorance. I don't know what I'd do in your shoes, normally I feel that it's not my place to say but it sounds like she doesn't have a lot of guidance.

My lo was 5 weeks prem and I delayed the weaning process till her adjusted age met the right weaning age. Has a dietician not spoken to them about how preemie babies should do things at their adjusted age and not actual age???

The advice here is actual age for premature infants (5-7months). There is information on the Bliss website, and our neonatalogists agree with this. Worth looking into.

There's an idea OP!! Send her the link to the Bliss weaning guidelines, say you saw it and with her being a preemie it might be helpful! https://www.bliss.org.uk/help-for-families/feeding/weaning/ you could send it with a few other links on there, they are of great tips and support

 

[angel2010]

My lo is 9.5 weeks and I wouldn't dream of weaning right now! She can't even hold her head up all the way by herself! If I saw family doing that, I don't think I could not say something.

 

[sbl]

I remember seeing and even asking the same on here as a FTM, I honestly seen it so often I thought there was some exception I didn't know about. I will never quite understand that. However it seems like an uneducated thing here rather than ignorance. I don't know what I'd do in your shoes, normally I feel that it's not my place to say but it sounds like she doesn't have a lot of guidance.

My lo was 5 weeks prem and I delayed the weaning process till her adjusted age met the right weaning age. Has a dietician not spoken to them about how preemie babies should do things at their adjusted age and not actual age???

The advice here is actual age for premature infants (5-7months). There is information on the Bliss website, and our neonatalogists agree with this. Worth looking into.

There's an idea OP!! Send her the link to the Bliss weaning guidelines, say you saw it and with her being a preemie it might be helpful! https://www.bliss.org.uk/help-for-families/feeding/weaning/ you could send it with a few other links on there, they are of great tips and support

Here 16 weeks is weaning age so the dietician said to leave it till 20 weeks. I left it till 21 weeks.
All lo's peds, PHN and dietician said to do it at adjusted age.
Funny how guidelines are so different in countries right beside each other.

 

[susan_1981]

My mum saw them today and she said that they probably shouldn't be giving him food yet, especially not cake. I'll definitely mention something tomorrow. I'm not the sort of person who can keep my mouth shut anyway! x

 

[summer rain]

Please say something, my OH was slightly prem and he was weaned early (even by the standards of the 80s) and started on cows' milk at the same time. As a baby he was admitted to hospital several times with serious digestive problems and as an adult he was suffered so many problems stemming from it xx

 

[Noodlebear]

Eek! Does she realise that babies can be born with teeth so that has nothing to do with being ready for solids? It's frightening that she hasn't been given any information on weaning! That poor baby

 

[catty]

Im surprised the health visitor doesnt see her more, only being 16 I would think she would get alot more help from the healthcare team, they definately have more of a watchful eye on young mums in my area ( dont mean that nastily just for exactly these reasons really and because 16 is a child herself)

 

[susan_1981]

I didn't speak to her about it but my mum spoke to my brother (who is the grandad) and he said that they only gave him a tiny bit of cake and that my nephew had made it look worse in the picture but adding cream to his baby's face. I don't believe them but I said to him that it can be really dangerous. The baby is absolutely huge. Bearing in mind he should technically be younger than my LO, he is just as long as him but weighs so, so, so much more. I held him at Christmas and my son was 9lbs 10 when I last had him weighed just before Christmas. Their baby is a good 2-3lbs heavier, maybe more. He's so heavy that I couldn't hold him standing up for long!

I said to my brother that it can lead to untold health problems but his answer was he weaned his two at a similar age (I'm sure he didn't) and they were fine. His 11 year old son is massively overweight!

I feel like I've done as much as I can. Hopefully my brother took in what I said. Just because people did things differently when we were kids doesn't mean it's ok. There's no research, new findings. Why would you want to put your child at risk? Their baby sleeps through the night though. Not surprised. Probably so bloody full up!