Weaning?!

My little one is 5 months at the end of this month shes been showing signs of being ready for a while now so I just took the leap an I've started her this week on just porridge for now to slowly introduce her to food. I know cow an gate, ellas kitchen and mamia all do stuff for 4months +

maybe it’s a jan baby thing then as I looked at your profile cause why not and Lilith said daughter in question was born 30/01/23 ahaha how funny xx

It's not due to obesity it's because their digestive system isn't mature enough to digest food until the are 6m old. My boy has been showing all the signs of readiness, trying to steal our food for weeks. But, he isn't old enough, so we don't let him have any.
Yes back in the day weaning was done at 4m but we have come a long way with knowledge regarding the matter. So many people going against the recommended weaning age. I just think that if we know better, we should do better. Why risk potentially causing long term issues for our babies?

6months is a ‘guide line’ babies mature at all different rates. I wouldn’t say baby being interested is the one sign you should follow though as babies like to mimic , sitting up is a good sign. Cutting teeth is another. My LG has been interested in food for over a month I started on some purée and baby rice she’s 5.5 months and isn’t overly interested in it.

Research is still on going and there is new research that babies should be trying peanut butter before the 6month mark to help avoid allergies (this was on TV a few months ago)

She’s your baby so I would trust your gut but keep things simple and plain. 6months seem to be the sweet spot as babies digestion is ready for most by this mark but leaving it later babies can become more fussy as not introduced to textures and tastes enough. That’s why until 9 months babies rely on milk before food for their nutrition and food is more for exploring x

I’m aware of this hense I wrote a lot of etc…. That’s why I said about people’s experiences with it over like why I shouldn’t
I don’t want to but I’m also like conflicted cause she gets so worked up about it and we can’t exactly stop eating around her kind of thing.
But she is advanced for a baby of her age and as far as when you read up on weaning at 6 months and it lists criteria she should be meeting etc… she has met those for a while now. Hense although her age is one thing her physical capabilities are more. Hense the confliction hense the asking for advice and experiences people have had. This also isn’t just a me coming on here and not reading up etc… I’ve spoken to health visitors and my local nurse on the subject and again it wasn’t exactly a no you shouldn’t it was more or less a grey area as babies all develop at different rates.

this is the thing she can sit up unsupported has done for a while, has 4 teeth. She picks things up and guides them to her mouth. And like only when food is present is she this loud banshee trying to grab at you like if I have a biscuit and lean close to her to do whatever that biscuit is gone and in her mouth sucking on it. So it’s hard to ignore that and be like I must not do this as it is a grey area as a whole x

Then if it was me I’d probably start weaning personally. I would avoid stuff like wotsits and biscuits and opt for the baby style ones as lower in sugar and salt. Or better still fruits and cooked veg sticks (I’m not against baby crisps I have some peppa pig style ones waiting till LG is older)

But yeah I would pop little one in a high chair with some food bits infront of them when your eating a meal and see how they get on.

With my oldest I got told off by HV for weaning at 4 months but she had reflux and was advanced and so hungry all the time (she’s not over weight and has no allergies or issues she’s 8) this time round when spoke about in the early days of having baby the HV said it’s up to mum when baby is weaned and HV should never of been hard on me with my eldest.

6months is a guid line, babies arnt all the same I’m sure some are ready at 4M and some arnt even ready at 6m x

yea no the wotsit was a one off of my toddler trying to be involved and was like wotsit she literally sucked it for a couple seconds and then I ate it kinda thing but her face lit up bless her 😂. And I was thinking of like just the baby porridge that’s made by her formula brand etc.. and the purées that are designed for her age as such like I’m not ready to go all out that’s why I wanted people’s experiences on it. As such so thank you x

Also have you seen them mesh feeders? I’ve been using those, takes baby a little while to suck and chew the soft fruit through them. Keeps them entertained for a little while.

I started with a bit of baby rice or purée veg once a day. Now I give LG couple of strawberries or soft mango in the mesh thing at around 11. I thought it would of been pointless when I bought it but I think they are good x

I started at 4 months with my boy, he turns 6 months next week and is now having 3 meals a day plus snacks of solid food 🙂 He still has 4 bottles in the day and 1 overnight and is doing amazingly x

The 3 signs of being ready are sitting unaided with head steady, no longer having the tongue thrust reflex and being able to push food to the back of the mouth, and having good hand eye coordination so can grab food and put it straight to mouth without missing. Without baby showing these signs, there’s a much higher risk of choking.
The 6months guideline isn’t due to obesity, it’s due to the digestive system not being ready until around this age. At 4 months it’s still not mature enough and can lead to digestive issues in future such as IBS. It’s not a given this will happen, just a risk.

I would contact your local children’s centre and ask if they have a starting solids class you can attend either online or in person. I found it so informative and helpful! X