Weaning confusion

[IsabellaJayne]

My LO isn't even 3 months old yet, however, we bought all her weaning stuff as it was a lot cheaper in various baby events as I was planning to wean at 4 months old.

On baby rice/rusks and some jars it says 4+ months but now Im hearing you shouldnt wean until 6 months :/

So which is right?!

When did you wean your LO?

 

[Shortstuff88]

I asked this questions a couple of days ago. However I had a visit from my health visitor yesterday and we discussed weaning. She said that guidelines state not until LO is 6 months old but as all babies are different you might find they will be ready to be weaned earlier. She said they can be ready from around 17 weeks old depending on the baby. She said the main sign is that they begin putting things to their mouths more often and show an interest and watch you while you eat.

 

[IsabellaJayne]

Haha my LO does all of that already but I certainly won't be weaning her until at least 4+.

i just dont understand if thats what the guidelines are (6+) then why havent they changed the age recommendation on packaging.

So stupid hah!!

 

[Shortstuff88]

Well I do know that in some places they do recommend from 4 months so that might be why they put it on the packaging. I know some people are completely against doing it before 6 months though.
I'm just going to trust my instincts and begin when I feel that my son is ready.

 

[Sarah125]

The NHS guidelines are 6 months. The signs that they are ready are that they can sit by themselves and can bring food to their mouths by themselves and swallow it.

As far as I'm aware the 4 months plus on these foods follow the old guidelines of weaning and they havent changed the packaging. Obviously they can make more money if they sell more.

We started weaning at 5.5 months as Sophie could sit very well unassisted and was picking food up and putting it in her mouth. We did BLW so let her guide us when she was ready. She was probably ready a 5 months really but we delayed it a few weeks as wanted to get a bit closer to 6 month mark.

Oh and just to add each to their own but baby rice and rusks aren't great nutritionally. We haven't used these at all but that's just my opinion

 

[susan_1981]

We weaned my eldest early as he was constantly hungry. He was having 48oz of milk some days which seemed like far too much. Then he stopped sleeping through the night so I gave him a teaspoon of baby rice in the evenings from about 17 weeks and he started sleeping through again (and has done ever since).

I don't think we'll be weaning this one until much closer to 6 months as he's nowhere near as hungry. Plus, first time round, weaning was very exciting. Now, I'm making the most of him just drinking milk because weaning can be a pain in the bum! x

 

[xxVickyxx]

We weaned my eldest early as he was constantly hungry. He was having 48oz of milk some days which seemed like far too much. Then he stopped sleeping through the night so I gave him a teaspoon of baby rice in the evenings from about 17 weeks and he started sleeping through again (and has done ever since).

I don't think we'll be weaning this one until much closer to 6 months as he's nowhere near as hungry. Plus, first time round, weaning was very exciting. Now, I'm making the most of him just drinking milk because weaning can be a pain in the bum! x

Totally totally agree with this post. Ds1 had reflux so was weaned at 17 months and eats everything and anything. I had no problems with ds2 as he loved his milk and never vomited so i waited til 6 months (coz it is a pain in the bum esp with 2 so close) but i still dont think he was ready. Hes only just starting to enjoy his food and is quite fussy. So actually weaning early was better for us. Trust your instincts and u will b fine xx

 

[sue_88]

The NHS guidelines are 6 months. The signs that they are ready are that they can sit by themselves and can bring food to their mouths by themselves and swallow it.

As far as I'm aware the 4 months plus on these foods follow the old guidelines of weaning and they havent changed the packaging. Obviously they can make more money if they sell more.

We started weaning at 5.5 months as Sophie could sit very well unassisted and was picking food up and putting it in her mouth. We did BLW so let her guide us when she was ready. She was probably ready a 5 months really but we delayed it a few weeks as wanted to get a bit closer to 6 month mark.

Oh and just to add each to their own but baby rice and rusks aren't great nutritionally. We haven't used these at all but that's just my opinion

^^ WSS.

The NHS guidelines have remained unchanged for 10years, babies don't need anything but breastmilk or formula until 6months of age.

There is a change that happens within your babies gut BETWEEN 4-6months, meaning some babies digestive tract will be 'ready' sooner than others, but wean too early and you risk damaging the digestive tract which is very hard to correct.

Your LO watching you eat is NOT a definitive sign. Babies are naturally alert and inquisitive, if you started dancing round the room they'd watch, eating, they watch.

Sitting unassisted is a good indicator (and a necessity for BLW), they've lost their tongue thrust, food to mouth and swallow all which are more likely to occur nearer 6 months of age.

Rusk are unsuitable for under 6m due to the gluten (and they're full of shit) and baby rice is pretty nasty stuff and about as nutritionally balanced as cardboard so I would steer clear of those foods.

I began at 5.5m with homemade foods & finger foods, I think M was ready earlier but still waited until closer to 6m to make sure she was truly ready.

 

[deafgal]

It really doesn't matter unless you have to go back to work, then you will have to think about either pumping or provide formula so she can get the nutrition she need for her growing body. Solid food is not going to cut it.

 

[summer rain]

Uk guidelines are 6 months as others have mentioned, they have been this way for 10 years, before this the guideline was 4-6 months but preferably as close to 6 months as possible, but as this wasn't made clear enough many HVs and baby food companies back then misinterpreted this to mean no later than 17 weeks. The recommended weaning age has only increased in the past 40 years never decreased because there is a growing amount of evidence that 6 months is optimum. Some people claim the recommended weaning age 'is always changing' and that 'they keep putting it back to four months' but this is untrue. Xx

 

[special_kala]

The NHS guidelines are 6 months. The signs that they are ready are that they can sit by themselves and can bring food to their mouths by themselves and swallow it.

As far as I'm aware the 4 months plus on these foods follow the old guidelines of weaning and they havent changed the packaging. Obviously they can make more money if they sell more.

We started weaning at 5.5 months as Sophie could sit very well unassisted and was picking food up and putting it in her mouth. We did BLW so let her guide us when she was ready. She was probably ready a 5 months really but we delayed it a few weeks as wanted to get a bit closer to 6 month mark.

Oh and just to add each to their own but baby rice and rusks aren't great nutritionally. We haven't used these at all but that's just my opinion

^^ WSS.

The NHS guidelines have remained unchanged for 10years, babies don't need anything but breastmilk or formula until 6months of age.

There is a change that happens within your babies gut BETWEEN 4-6months, meaning some babies digestive tract will be 'ready' sooner than others, but wean too early and you risk damaging the digestive tract which is very hard to correct.

Your LO watching you eat is NOT a definitive sign. Babies are naturally alert and inquisitive, if you started dancing round the room they'd watch, eating, they watch.

Sitting unassisted is a good indicator (and a necessity for BLW), they've lost their tongue thrust, food to mouth and swallow all which are more likely to occur nearer 6 months of age.

Rusk are unsuitable for under 6m due to the gluten (and they're full of shit) and baby rice is pretty nasty stuff and about as nutritionally balanced as cardboard so I would steer clear of those foods.

I began at 5.5m with homemade foods & finger foods, I think M was ready earlier but still waited until closer to 6m to make sure she was truly ready.

WSS.

All mine have been weaned after 5.5 months. River was very hungry and 98th centile for everything , she managed fine on milk.

Weaning has never magically made mine STTN, its more of a coincidence if they do start STTN after weaning then anything.

Personally I would never wean before 5.5 months