6 months - am I the only one waiting?!

[exBrightonBell]

Although the guidance is very clear to wait till 6 months, nearly everyone I know with a small baby has started weaning sometime soon after 4 months. I don't understand why people are so keen to go against the advice being given to them. My ds is 5 months, but it feels like I am the only one who isn't giving solids. It's not just me, is it? I'm planning on trying BLW if that makes a difference.

[NuzzleandScratch]

Nope, I'm waiting! Dd2 is nearly 5 months, and ebf. With dd1, I started a few spoons of mushed fruit at 5 and a half months, not really sure why, I'll definitely start at 6 months this time. Apart from the obvious health guidelines, why make life difficult for yourself by weaning early, a baby just on milk is so easy to look after!

[exBrightonBell]

Glad I'm not on my own

The people I know in rl who are doing it before 6 months don't seem to have much in the way of coherent reasons why.

[Pommes]

I waited, started weaning DS (now nine months) on the day he turned 26 weeks - he was clearly ready and made weaning very easy!

Weaning really doesn't help with sleep at all

[Lawabidingmama]

I waited with both my DDs DD2 is now 9 month has been easy to wean as self fed very well from day1!

[rednellie]

DD I weaned early. Tbh I think due to a combination of: being excited about the next stage, thinking that solids would help with sleep and MIL/.DM going on about it. I justified it all at the time, but I think those were the honest reasons.

This time, with my twins, I waited till 6 minutes! They were much readier, able to accept proper food quicker and much less faffing about.

[BouncyPenguin]

My DS2 will be 6 months on Saturday and I have waited. I weaned DS1 about a week before 6 months last time. I feel under less pressure to wean early this time. I agree that the main reason babies are weaned earlier is that mothers are excited by the next stage. I think second time around it's more a case of being a little more reluctant for the next stage as you know what's coming next! Filthy floors, taking food as well as milk out with you, worrying about nutrition. It can wait! Also just generally second time around feel more relaxed about baby developing at his own rate. I can enjoy him while he's little and not be constantly looking to the next milestone.

[karatekimmi]

I weaned at 4.5 months as I was absolutely exhausted and as I was bf never got a break! The little tinker wakes every 2 hours at night, and isn't a fan of bottles, so weaning meant I could have a break, someone else could feed him, and I could have longer than an hour away. (I hoped it would help him sleep but it hasn't! :(

[Impatientwino]

Another one waiting here! DS is 5 months and a big boy - I'm bf every 2 hours and up a lot in the night but I want to wait blearily until 26 weeks.

I need to take it slow as he has had a lot of digestive system issues including a pretty nasty hernia and the norovirus in his short life the poor thing

Looking forward to it - aiming to do BLW so am preparing for mess!

Both grandmothers have been on at me for ages about getting some food into him but I don't see why as breast milk has so many more calories than the small amount of food he would eat. I'm going to be watching them like hawks at Xmas dinner because they both think it would be nice for that to be his first meal! My mum would think nothing of slipping him a sprout the ratbag!

I am hoping that the intro of food will help with his sleeping because he is rubbish!! Knowing my luck though it won't make a jot of difference!

[Aloha31]

I think the guidelines are that there is a window of readiness between 4 and 6 months. If you are in tune with your baby, you just know when they are ready within that window, guided by your individual baby rather than waiting for an external "one size fits all" rule.
Mums are given instinct for a reason, and are judged enough without this too!

[Teds77]

Another one (two) waiting here! Bf-ing my DTs has been a labour of love but at least it feels like we've coping now they are 5 months. The thought of adding food into the mix fills me with horror!

[exBrightonBell]

Aloha31, so what you're implying is that waiting till 6 months plus means that I lack the correct mothering instinct and am not "in tune" with my baby??

[rednellie]

If anyone tries to tell you weaning will help them sleep through I'll happily come and give them a slap!

There's meant to be a massive developmental leap at 4 months which means babies often start waking up loads. Food wont help, just time. And my twins eat like horses and still wake up!

[MacaroniAndWalnut]

Weaning is a faff and makes their poos horrid

Leave it as long as possible I say

Then you can just bung them the food and leave them to get on with it

[SwivelHips]

I waited. Gave DS a carrot baton at 26wks, he looked so disappointed

[ShowOfHands]

What the guidelines actually say Aloha is that babies are ready somewhere around 26 weeks. They list the actual signs of readiness as opposed to the myths and encourage you to watch your baby for these signs. They encourage going slowly and following your baby and are clear about when this roughly happens. They explicitly state not before 17 weeks too.

I followed my instincts and the signs that they were ready (sitting up, able to reach out and pick up food, chew and swallow, tongue thrust reflex gone) and they were ready at 28 and 25 weeks respectively.

Official guidelines for info.

[fairydustallover]

I weaned both my DDs at 6 months. I have no idea why some people want to do it sooner. DD1 was a breeze. DD2 is now 9 months old and eats nothing! I'm sure she will get it in her own time though.

[notcitrus]

I think people are desperate to try anything that might help sleep, and think solid food will feel more filling than a pure liquid diet, regardless of calories.

I waited until 6 months with both mine but helped by the fact they really weren't interested beforehand. And the jars imply 4 months is fine - I'd expect them to say 'from 6 months ...or from 4 months if advised by a medical professional', not 'from 4-6 months' which implies you ought to start at 4 and move on to lumps by 6mo.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

I weaned DS at 4 months back in the old days and tried to wait until 6 months with dd but she stole a sandwich at 23 weeks ate it and then screamed if we didnt give her anything, so your loo might have other ideas

As for the sleep thing, introducing solids made both of my Dcs sleep worse, not better.

[Tweedledeedum]

You're not alone. I waited till 6 months too. Yes so many in such a rush but what Macaroni said, too much faff and by god that poo stinks! My PFB DS is now 7 months and we're doing BLW. It is going well I think, doesn't eat an awful lot but he enjoys each new thing I present on his highchair tray.

[Aloha31]

I was implying let's not judge either way, all mums are just doing their best. After becoming a mum I'm not so quick to ever judge another one. Waiting to wean in no way makes you a better mum, it just means maybe you've followed YOUR instinct and that's right for you and your baby.

I'm not in the UK, and so the official guidelines are not the same.

[Aloha31]

Oooh, just found this from the uk, which seems to give the common sense approach. The email comments at the bottom are interesting too.

[exBrightonBell]

Aloha31, I don't see where I said that waiting till 6 months makes me a better mum?

I just find it hard to believe that lots of 4 month olds are showing actual signs of being ready to wean. My baby reaches for what we're eating. But he also reaches for the tv remote, my phone, envelopes, newspapers, pens, etc etc. I don't think it means he is ready for solid food.

[CabbageLooking]

I'm waiting! It's absolutely killing me because I'm sooo excited about it but DS is quite happy and healthy on milk and is developing his coordination and strength so I'm not feeling the pressure too much. January 6th is going to be so much fun (and mess).