Can anyone please talk to me/advise a bit about early weaning? (17w)...?

[emeraldgirl1]

I'd really really appreciate some advice!!

DD is a bottle hater(she is ff). She is 15w old and has never been a fan, she had some reflux early on, then had some early teething pains, she has an awful lot of wind too even with anti colic bottles, she can't seem to stop sucking in air. Also I honestly think the bottle bores her these days, she would rather do anything than feed and has a good old howl when I dare to waft a bottle in her direction. The only way she will feed without much yelling these past few days is if I literally give her the bottle to hold herself and then (with as minimal as possible direction/guiding from me) she can 'control' the bottle and feed herself...

On a few occasions, when it was v hot and I was worried she would dehydrate if she kept refusing her bottle, I gave her some formula from a spoon, she has never enjoyed a feed more (though it took forever to get a small amount into her of course). She was quite easily able to take milk from the spoon after a few dribbled attempts to begin with. Honestly I was so relieved, she just seemed so thrilled for a change instead of fussy and crying :(

She has v good head control.

All in all, partly because I just worry that if we go on with these dreaded milk feeds she is going to start hating feeding too much, I am beginning to wonder about starting to wean from 17w.

I have started to research it a bit and seen that a study from 2011 suggested that the current 6 month guideline was not necessarily right for all babies. That weaning from four months, as the advice was a few years ago, might actually be ok after all.

I don't want to do anything that could harm DD, I am a rule follower rather than a rule breaker!

But I feel like I know my own baby and I feel she would be happier starting to get a few careful spoons of things along with her dreaded milk.

I would obviously stick to a little baby rice and then simple veg purée if the rice was tolerated.

If she showed no interest I would stop and wait before trying again.

Can I ask what other people's experiences of early weaning were? If anyone else knows about this recent study? If anyone has any advice at all?

I am quite anxious to do the right thing but I am also anxious to have a happy baby.

Hugely appreciated if anyone could help at all!!

[emeraldgirl1]

Sorry, should add for clarity that I know she wouldn't be dropping the milk feeds! I just feel like she would get a bit of enjoyment out of starting to try a different way of feeding, even if it barely factors from a calorie perspective. It's a bit miserable for her to have nothing but this hated bottle constantly around when I have a suspicion shed get a bit of fun from beginning to try a couple of new tastes or textures.

[Clargo55]

If you are going to wean I would avoid baby rice it has very little nutritional benefit.
Only you can decide on weaning before the recommended 6 months. There is a lot of conflicting advice out there. I would discuss with your HV, do more research, then ultimately do what you feel is best for your baby.
Have you tried any of the specially shaped teats for bottle feeds? It could be the teats that are uncomfortable or have a slow flow which can be frustrating for them.

[emeraldgirl1]

Cargo thank you for posting!
My HV is utterly useless unfortunately, she has only been in contact once since the baby was born and has cancelled a follow up visit by text... She hasn't been in contact since.
I will certainly do some more research!
Thanks for teat advice, she is on a number 2 teat at mo with dr brown bottle...

[Clargo55]

Sorry just re-read your post and seen that you have tried anti colic bottles. Are there any cups with handles on the sides with teats on? Not sure if they exist, but may be worth a look if she is happier trying to feed independently.

[emeraldgirl1]

Clargo, ooooh, no idea about that... I'll have an investigate and see!

Basically I am so conflicted because I hear some people saying it is crazy to wait til 6m if baby seems ready before and others saying it is actually dangerous to wean before 6m... I am going round in circles and starting to doubt my whole judgment about the whole thing.

[Bert2e]

Have a read of this article: milkmatters.org.uk/2011/04/15/hidden-cause-of-feeding-problems-however-you-feed-your-baby/

[emeraldgirl1]

Oh and I am also trying to filter out 'advice' from my mum who thinks I am an idiot for waiting and my best friend who thinks I am an idiot for evn considering early weaning :(

[emeraldgirl1]

Thanks for link Bert!

I would hesitate to think that she has tongue tie, when I had problems breastfeding her I hired a v v well regarded lactation consultant who said she saw no evidence at all of tongue tie... Of course she could have been wrong.

[CheeseBallsRule]

I have no medical advice but I would try giving her milk in cups/beakers with handles. You can get tommee tippee ones that can be used from four months, perhaps she would like that.

My gut feeling with early weaning (I waited until 6m and did blw) is if you feel your baby needs more then maybe you need to. But if I have read your op correctly she isn't guzzling milk and wanting more within a few hours, she just isn't enjoying either the milk or way she is having it.

Have you tried a different brand of milk?

[Bumpstarter]

Tough decision. A friend weaned her baby early, I'm not sure why, but then ended up not going out at all because feeding was so difficult. He would only feed at home. I haven't seen her since, because she lives too far away for me to travel to her house. We used to meet 'out'.

It's just another consideration. Might not be relevant on your case.

[CheeseBallsRule]

She sounds like she is enjoying controlling the bottle herself. Could you put. Her in a bouncer and let her feed herself supervised?

[emeraldgirl1]

Cheese balls... Exactly right, it is not that she is a massively hungry baby, guzzling loads and then being hungry... It is much much more that I kindof feel she would benefit in a non calorific way from something on a spoon, IYSWIM. That she might find it interesting and more fun than always being offered no more than a bottle that she has never really enjoyed.

Does that make any sense?!

Is that a good or bad reason to wean at 17w?!

[absentmindeddooooodles]

I probably did it all wrong but I weaned my ds from about 3 months too. He was intolerant to milk, and just not getting enough nutrition etc. but to be honest, regardless of that I would have done it anyway. He was interested in food from a very early age, and I knew what was right for him. I did baby lead weaning, so started off on tiny tastes of quite plain things. Within weeks he was chomping away ( had 4 teeth by 20 weeks!!) and he was much better all round. I think the first food he ever ate was a tiny taste of an olive ( he grabbed it before I could get to it) and we just went from there! Little sweet potato purred and carrot purée etc is great too. I gave him a lot of finger food, cut so he was less likely to choke, and just watched him very carefully. He now loves food and is a strapping 2 yo :-) I know many people will not agree with it, but seriously do what you think is beat. When I was young the advice was 3 months. I turned out fine!

[Clargo55]

Interesting link Bert. Any chance you could change HV? If not I guess next step is GP. Does your LO have any of the other symptoms from that article?

Hope things resolve for you and DD soon, such a precious time to be spent with worries.

Also if you feel that early weaning is the option needed for you and baby please do not feel guilty. Many people have weaned at this age without future complications. You are being a great mum by doing the research and making an informed decision based on your family's experiences.

[absentmindeddooooodles]

4 months not 3! Lol

[absentmindeddooooodles]

I also think its a perfectly reasonable reason to start weaning. Some babies need more stimulation in that sense than others :-)

[lindseylou1]

Hello, i weaned my baby early. He was a big baby and never seemed to be full. He is now coming up to 7 months and eats all kinds of foods that i puree down he is a happy healthy little boy.
All i can say is you know your baby better than anyone. Just go with your baby's cues

[lindseylou1]

Could i just add when weaning,offer milk first then solid :)

[Daisytunes]

If it is just about having something from a spoon for interest, can you not just keep offering formula from a spoon? Or give her a beaker of formula?

[CreatureRetorts]

Have you tried comfort milk? Because if she has reflux she's likely to be intolerant to cows milk.

Also how will giving puréed fruit and veg really help? Not much calories really and a right faff until you can give protein and let them self feed. Saying that, a little bit won't help.

I think that weaning advice is not in step with what babies need - because they recommend things like supplements which seem odd to me. Shouldn't need them if healthy diet. Anyway, I'm no expert.

I had two reflux babies and weaning actually made things worse. Gave them terrible constipation and made reflux worse. They didn't get onto three meals until 9 months.

As for tongue tie - I had two lactation consultants and it was the one who specialised in tongue tie who diagnosed it. The other one was good on feeding positions etc but no idea about tongue tie!!

[Alexa007]

I have just started weaning my 15wo under paed advice as due to reflux she has a bottle aversion and will not take anything unless asleep (takes probably max 12-15oz a day).

However turns out she is loving eating from a spoon!! I say give it a go, might go well. If not try again later.

[SpooMoo]

Just FYI, breastfed babies also get fussy about feeding around this age, they're just more alert and distractable! You should really stick to the NHS 3 signs of readiness to ensure her gut is developed enough to handle solids.