Would you wean nearly 5 month old...

[Gingerspice]

If they are capable of grabbing food off our plates and nibbling it, and sitting up unaided?

They're not a big eater still though so they're not showing any indication from their milk intake of needing more, and they've never slept through so there's no knowing if they're waking more from no longer being satisfied as they've not consistently slept all night.

 

[Cheryl xx]

I'm a firm believer in waiting until 6 months. You say they are showing no indication of needing more milk, so i'd say baby isn't unsatisfied. Try and leave it a couple more weeks and see how it goes. The interest in food is good and means baby is getting ready to move onto solids xx

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

I wouldn't bother in those circumstances, no. Especially given that they are not a big milk drinker. (not that this is a problem in itself, but you presumably don't want them to drink even less.)

Just because a baby does show some signs of readiness, it does not mean they NEED to be weaned.

 

[ellie27]

My Anna was the same- we held off til 5.5months and things are going well now.

Its really up to you when you start. Its best to leave it til 6 months as then you can give LO pretty much what you are having and you can pretty much avoid purees or be off them quickly anyway.

The sleep thing - I dont know - Anna has slept through since 9 wks and still does thankfully!

 

[pinktaffy]

im still waiting till 6 months. although my little girl is prob ready i would sooner wait till her body is ready fully not just her. if that makes sence it did in my head.

 

[Gingerspice]

Thanks. I think I will wait - I just have several people pressing me to think about it (relatives and friends) and I keep trying to justify they're presumably not fussed about it as they're not fussing with wanting more milk. Having said that I'm pretty sure they wouldn't fuss over milk if I didn't feed them all day - they really just don't demand it at all. My MIL says the reason they've never slept at night is because although they don't appear to demand more milk they aren't satisfied and never have been. I doubt though that weaning would suddenly make them sleep better.

 

[littleblonde]

If they are not showing signs of needing it then i would probably wait myself . If there not ready it will make things very stressful for you.

 

[Seity]

I let Gabriel play with food on occasion because he can sit well enough and grabs at the food on the plate and sometimes he'll eat a little of it, but I don't sit him for regular meals. So I don't consider it weaning, so much as letting him practice his skills IYKWIM?

 

[marie-louise]

Matthew is 17 weeks and I started him on solids on monday as advised by his paediatric dietician because of his cows milk allergy and reflux and he was more than ready, he has not spat it out once and takes it really well, no mess on the bib. He still takes the same amount of milk as before but has less wind, surprisingly. However, you have to do what you think is right for your lo, if he is not any more hungry there is no need to rush it because people say to. However, if you do want to wean I wouldn't let anyone put you off or worry about it too much x

 

[emsiee]

Personally, I would. If your LO is showing signs of taking food from your plate and wanting to nibble it, then I would introduce solids to Jessica at this stage. I know a lot of people wouldnt, but its your call.

 

[bump_wanted]

i wouldnt until they were showing signs of not being filled up enough on milk...if LO was draining all bottles and looking for more and had all the other signs your LO does then i would xx

 

[LIZZY55]

I started my LO on solids yesterday, she's 5.1 months. I'm going for the traditional weaning. She really seemed to enjoy the baby rice. My mum has been trying to get me to start weaning for ages. I decided to start early because I'm going back to work next week and wanted to start this off myself. Carrott tomorrow !
It's up to you, you know your baby better than anyone else.

 

[Natasha2605]

I wouldn't. I'm waiting until milk is no longer satisfying her xx

 

[karenm28]

Are you wanting to do BLW?
If you are I personally would let baby continue grabbing off your plate and putting to mouth but keep only safer foods at baby's side of the plate (veg or potatoes -
and not potential allergy problems like dairy, wheat or citrus) as sitting up and grabbing and putting food to mouth are a good indication baby is ready for BLW.
I doubt if letting baby have a play/nibble would affect milk intake at all at this stage. Don't cut down on milk. Only offer foods after baby is full on milk.
The motto of BLW is that food is for fun until they are 1 and milk should continue to be the main source of calories until they gradually switch to solids
That is what I did at about 5 months 1 week (my baby was 16 days late so I always thought of him as 2 weeks older anyway) and it worked really well.
I added chunks of bread, cheese, meat etc at 6 months.
He didn't start to cut his milk down for about 2 months when he started swallowing more foods (breastfed on demand). He dropped a feed every week or two until he was down to only 3 milk feeds a day when he was 9 or 10 months.
My son never slept through until 6 months either, he always woke up for a milk feed every 2 hours up to then, I think his tum got big enough to sleep through after his night milk feed at 6 months and not that it was anything to do with weaning.
Hope this helps
Love Karen
x

 

[SKATERBUN]

I'm a firm believer in waiting until 6 months. You say they are showing no indication of needing more milk, so i'd say baby isn't unsatisfied. Try and leave it a couple more weeks and see how it goes. The interest in food is good and means baby is getting ready to move onto solids xx

I agree with this. Apparantly their little stomachs are not ready enough to cope with digesting particles until they're 6 months at least, I wouldnt rush it personally.