When did you start weaning?

[mummy2benji]

Okay, I know this is a bit of a controversial subject. The recommendation is 6 months, and definitely not before 16 weeks in order for the kidneys to be sufficiently mature. Some people hold off till 6 months regardless, others have a starving baby who won't sleep on their hands and I can understand weaning early. I was just wondering what peoples actual reality is? Do most hold off until 6 months, or is the reality that people start earlier?

Dd is 15 weeks and now exclusively formula fed after issues with my supply following retained placenta, a d&c and infection. I am putting 210mls water / 7 scoops formula in her bottles and she drains the lot! We are managing okay and she is probably having a bit of a growth spurt, but given that she has reflux I am looking forward to when she can eat a bit of baby rice and the volumes can decrease a little. I never had all this with ds as he had severe feeding difficulties and didn't start weaning until 15 months.

What are your experiences please, ladies?! (and gents, if any dads out there - don't wish to discriminate)

[Iggly]

Not before 17, not 16 weeks is the guidance?

Both of mine had reflux and I waited until they showed the signs (sitting, hand to mouth coordination, tongue thrust reflex disappearing etc). I'm glad I did as both didn't agree with solids at first which is common with reflux babies. Some reflux babies do better but some don't.

Be careful - your baby could be drinking for comfort too hence the large volumes, not just for hunger.

Also if they have reflux - it could be the formula causing it (cows milk protein intolerance).

[TheTiger]

How often is she drinking her bottles, and how big is she? According to the milk box, by 4 months they 'should' be on 7 ounces anyway so that seems ok to me. My DS is 17 weeks and just started taking 7 ounces most feeds, sometimes 6 ounces and that is 4-5 hourly (6 feeds a day).

I'm intending to wait to wean until he is 6 months, because I can't be bothered with purées so I want to BLW. He has started watching me when I eat, and everything goes in his mouth, but I think this is development and being interested rather than being ready for food.

My grandma thinks its terrible that I don't give him 'a bit of something' at his grand old age!

[mummy2benji]

Ah yes the older generations seem all for giving solids at a young age! The old "well you ate porridge at 3 months and look at you" chestnut. Sorry Iggly you're right - 17 weeks. I'm not planning on giving dd solids early, although I'd probably consider a bit of baby rice at 5 months if she was drinking her body volume in milk and wailing for more. Interested to know what the reality with most babies is - whether their first baby rice crosses their lips at 6 months, or if a lot of mums have given them some a little earlier and are starting with flavours at that time? When are most babies on 3 little meals a day?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I weaned DS on the advice if my HV at 16 weeks and it made his sleep worse nit better, and it was a huge faff. It was a few years ago though. I intended to wait until 6 months with dd but she stole a sandwich and ate it at 23weeks, so was obviously keen to display all the signs of readiness that iggly mentioned

I think there is also some confusion with some parents, you see it on here a lot. Yes we weaned at 26 weeks but Lo was having baby rice from 20 weeks. Offering anything other than milk is weaning is it not?

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

And to answer your last question, dd was on 3 meals a day by 26 weeks.

[MortifiedAdams]

We never gave baby rice. Waited til dd was about 24/25 weeks and started her straight on finger foods.

I really dont understand the purpose of baby rice, and dont think a tea spoon or two of it will keep them fuller for longer than a bottle of milk.

Try hungry baby formula. How regularly is he having bottles? Dd was on three hourly feeds (7am-7pm) til she was six.months old.

[MortifiedAdams]

Oops she not he

[MarianForrester]

I was advised to wean early-ish, 16/17 weeks?

Dc was huuuge and going through bottles at an alarming rate!

But he was not interested in solids, so after trying baby rice, lovingly prepared purees etc, so we just quit and stuck with his milk habit.

He then started wanting our toast and stuff when a bit older, suppose was really blw. And when he took that he could eat it fine, but still had loads of milk. Food was really just a bit of an extra for many months.

[Caitycat]

We weaned (onto mashed mango and avocado at first) last week, dd was 24 weeks old. Could sit up and hold the spoon although I had to held her get the right bit of the spoon in her mouth. She is now having two meals a day. Baby cereal and fruit breakfast and vegetables and fruit at six o'clock. I have read no books and had no hv advice so no idea if it is right but works for us!

[TheOneAndOnlyAlpha]

5.5 months (whatever that is in weeks). I think I took it slower than most I know. He wasn't on 3 'meals' until 7 months. I do know several parents who weaned earlier than 5 months and went at it full throttle. They are all in the same place now (though if anything, DS is the least fussy eater I know. He'll literally eat anything).

[Flisspaps]

At about 23/24 weeks with both. BLW both times. DS was EBF until then, DD was FF - they were just offered more milk until then.

But then I CBA with purée or spoon feeding, lazy mother.

[WhichIsBest]

I weaned premature DD at six months actual, and looking back, she wasn't ready at all. She only started to eat at about 9 months actual.
If I could go back, I would wait until 6 months corrected, or until she was showing signs of being ready.
Don't know if that's relevant to you or not OP!

[PlateSpinningAtAllTimes]

DS was 25 weeks- grabbed a segment of the satsuma I was eating and started eating it. Did BLW and will definitely do the same with DD when she's old enough. TBH the vast majority of babies I know were weaned at around 4 months but I've never understood the rush- seems to be creating more work for yourself, not less . Lots of HVs still seem to advise early weaning whilst handing out a 'don't rush to mush' leaflet. It's very confusing, particularly for new parents.

[MirandaWest]

DS was about 20 weeks (later than most of his friends. He's 9).
DD was about 22 weeks maybe. She's 7.

[Fillyjonk75]

DD1 - 5 months, wish I'd started earlier and not bothered with baby rice.

DD2 - 17 weeks, started with pureed veg and she took to it like a duck to water. She'd eat so much I never needed to bother with ice cube amounts.

[Iggly]

We were on three meals by 9 months (reflux babies so went slowly).

With dd, as she was our second, she sat with us for every meal so grabbed whatever if she wanted it. But didn't give her her own meal until a few months.

We started a bit before 6 months I think.

[Iggly]

Oh and we did a mix of self feeding and spoon feeding (well I'd give dd the spoon).

[stargirl1701]

DD is 23 weeks and still on formula milk exclusively. I don't want to faff about with purées so I'm waiting till 6 months.

[ShowOfHands]

I just did it when they were ready (able to sit up, no tongue thrust reflex, able to pick up food, put in mouth, chew, swallow).

DD- 27 weeks and she just started helping herself to our roast dinner. Ate with us/same food as us from the beginning.

DS- showed the signs at around 24 weeks but was ill with pneumonia at the same time so didn't actually want any food until about 26 weeks. Again, just ate with us from the beginning.

[Pascha]

DS1 was about 22 weeks when he was playing with food off my plate, not that much went in. I delayed anything proper til after our holiday a month later though to make life easier for us.

[Tolly81]

I tried at 5 m as dd tried to grab something I was eating but she wasn't really ready despite this and she didn't really get the hang of it until 6m (but I only offered food at one mealtime a day anyway at first and did BLW so never fed her anything). I honestly don't see the rush it's loads more work and mess (purées or BLW). Hunger is not a sign of readiness to wean (just need to give more milk) nor is not sleeping - in fact dd used to sleep much better at 5m than she does now at 9m and she eats a lot. I was still BFing at that age but 7oz feeds doesn't seem excessive for a 15week old.

[mummy2benji]

Thanks guys, that was really interesting reading about all your different experiences. After ds's feeding difficulties I am so hoping for a good eater with dd! Thanks for sharing your stories and tips.