weaning early

[JFG]

I started weaning my dd at 20 weeks as she suffers silent reflux and I am having to rock her to sleep to feed her as she only feeds when relaxed ie half asleep and feeds great in night but then wont eat in day! When feeding awake she will take 2-3 oz every 4 hours and isnt at all interested in her bottle! Spoke to my hv and dr both said to still wait til 6 months as she is gaining weight! But my family and friends all said to start asap she will be better on solids their kids were fine at 17 weeks, so I did and although doing it very slow just a couple of teaspoons in a morning I feel guilty like im a bad mom doing something wrong and my poor dd will suffer when shes older ie allergies, bowel probs sorry for long post just not sure what to do stick with just once a day now til 6 months, carry on weaning up to 3 meals or just stop?!

 

[Dream.dream]

Your doctors correct in delaying until 6 months as that is usually when they are read but it can be later or earlier . Does your baby show the signs for being ready for solids?

Baby can sit up well without support.
Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
Baby is ready and willing to chew.
Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.

 

[Pink Flowers]

We are having to wean due to reflux. We started at 18/19 weeks and that was at the advise of 2 doctors.

H has taken to it really well. I would ask advise of doctor as both my hhv's said no.

 

[JFG]

She does all those things except sit up - she can sit up just not for long. Not sure whether to continue as I am now but she does enjoy it and gets excited when she sees the bowl.

 

[JFG]

We are having to wean due to reflux. We started at 18/19 weeks and that was at the advise of 2 doctors.

H has taken to it really well. I would ask advise of doctor as both my hhv's said no.

My doctor also said to wait as she is still gaining weight but ive started now so should I stop and start again at 6 months or would that just confuse her?

 

[Pink Flowers]

If you have started continue. H is gaining but they sick was getting out of control

 

[tristansmum]

The when to wean is such a mine field! Everyone has a different opinion and different advise.
There are many studies on the pros and cons of weaning at 4 or 6mmonths.
I believe 6 months is advised for a number of reasons, firstly many babies can sit up/feed themselves/accept food until closer to 6 months. Also until 6 months they can only really have fruit and veg. Plus its a world health organisation recommendation so in a poorer country with less sanitary conditions milk is safer.
I started my first son at 19 weeks and my second at 20.5 weeks. Both were advamced in many milestones including sitting unaided and picking things up. Both accepted and loved food immediately. The bowel problems would only come from starting earlier than 17 weeks. Allergies well depends what you read. Neither of mine have any but our family as a whole has no allergies at all.
I think if you have started and she is enjoying it then continue. Take it slow and build up gradually. Everyone will have an opinion but as her mum you should do what you feel is right for you both.

 

[Dollybird]

I started ds early for same reasons and he absolutely loves it, so though I too have had my doubts I know I couldn't stop now. He loves food, to the extent when I'm feeding him he pulls the spoon from my hand into his own mouth. So far we've taken it slow only a small amount once a day, and have stuck to simple veg or baby porridge. When he hits 6 months then I will begin proper weaning. I found his milk intake increased massively in starting solids and he seems much more comfortable and settled. He was ready for it, but every baby different. U will know your own baby xxx

Edit-- ds also dropped a centile, from 75th to 50th and that's the other reason we began early. His weight has improved now we've started a little solid.

 

[JFG]

Thank you ladies oh gosh it definitely is such a mine field of conflicting advise! I just panic that im doing the wrong thing but as her mom I just try and do whats best for her in every decision I make but did feel pressured from family to start perhaps earlier than I would of! She is advanced for her age can sit up unaided for a few seconds/minutes before getting fed up, she also grabs the spoon and bowl haha! Funny you say that too Dollybird because she is taking her bottles better since having solids - she just has 2 teaspoons of rice/porridge/fruit and veg in a morning.

 

[Fliss]

All I can say is that we weaned Nathan from 18 weeks and he's a good eater with no known allergies.

We stuck to gluten free cereals and fruit and vegetables only until 6 months then introduced meat, poultry, fish and dairy and have never looked back.

We tried one thing at a time and stuck to the 3-day rule and there were only two things he didn't like and he eats those fine now too xxxx

 

[JFG]

Thank you fliss, do you know what cereal you used? I have the cow and gate baby rice and hipp organic porridge cant see gluten as an ingredient? I am making my own purees. So did you stick with one food for 3 days? X

 

[tristansmum]

I believe all 4-6 month baby cereals are gluten free. The 3 day rule is a bit outdated advise now. Unless you have severe allergies in the family you really don't need to do this.
Sorry to jump in an answer before!

 

[Dollybird]

Not all 4-6month cereals are gluten free!!! I thought they would be and was using Heinz baby porridge, read the ingredients on a whim one day and low and behold bloody contains gluten! So beware anyone who buys it as it does say 4-6months on the front! I'm using cow and gate baby porridge now 4-6months and sometimes I Mix it with some fruit purée or mashed up banana. He also likes veg purée combos. I don't follow the three day rule really.. Naughty. But so far, "touch wood", so good. Xxx

 

[sillysapling]

In the US- all baby cereals are NOT gluten free. The only definitely gluten free, widely available baby cereal around here is rice cereal. Which you shouldn't give your babies. Go figure. In the US, gluten doesn't have to be listed as an ingredient- you have to know which ingredients contain gluten.

 

[Fliss]

The three day rule is used to see if they have 'sensitivity' as well as allergy - after all it's a shock to their guts.

I used the Plum 4-grain Organic baby porridge - because I could feel like it was healthier because of the 4 grains in it and I hoped it was tastier than baby rice which to me looked and tasted like wallpaper paste.

I used it up as a thickener for the thin purees - pear, spinach etc.

But then I hit upon mixing it with fruit puree and some milk for his overall breakfast - at least 2 of his 5 a day plus cereals and in the first meal