Thoughts from those who weaned early...

[helena handbasket]

Now robots have opinions on parenting? Fuschia I would really listen to the robot. :)-D

Too funny.

[Fuschia]

zeban Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Edited because realised the original poster said

> that she didn't want to get into a debate about

> whether it was right or wrong, just wanted to know

> what other people had done.

Which is what I replied to back at the beginning, having experience of it...

But somewhere in the middle the discussion turned as it often does to 'you know your baby'abd 'never did us any harm' which I think needs to be balanced by the evidence regarding diabetes etc later in life ... Can you rely on your own own observations when some of these decisions may have effects that aren't seen till so much later?

Anyway, to recap my post right back at the start, I found early weaning quite a hassle and never found any advantages

Child has suffered no disastrous consequences ( maybe he was destined to be fussy) but now there is research to back later weaning I feel happiest going with the updated advice

It's not something where I have strong enough personal preferences to make a decision otherwise

But it all comes down to making an informed decision

By all means make your own decisions, but preferably based on facts!

[marvellous mavis]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/jan/14/six-months-breastfeeding-babies-scientists

Fushia - I am posting this article not so much as to continue the debate but to offer a balance. And because I think this fairly recent article - January 2011 - demonstrates above all how guidelines are constantly being revised and what a confusing experience that must be for mothers.

[Fuschia]

Marvellous Mavis,. as has been dicussed endlessly.. that was not new research but rather the highlighting of those items within a large body of evidence that warrant further research. (A cynic might link it to current discussions regarding the labelling of baby food as suitable for 4m or 6m)

The important one in that was re allergy issues (though advice has already been issued by the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition restating the previous advice re gluten http://www.sacn.gov.uk/reports_position_statements/position_statements/sacncot_statement_on_the_timing_of_the_introduction_of_gluten_into_the_infant_diet_-_march_2011.html) and I believe a long term study is beginning at St Thomas's focussing on the optimal timing for families affected by atopic disease.

Despite the press reports, there is nothing significant enough to require any change to current advice.

[marvellous mavis]

Thank you Fushia - for bringing this newbie up to speed - and once again re-iterating the point I was actually making in my post that this can be a bewildering minefield for mothers and that militant mums can make forums such as this quite a daunting experience.

And to return to the original post - the op did ask for people to not get into a debate about the rights and wrongs, so I shall leave this rest of this thread to the experts.

[Knomester]

Hello Jenny

We weaned Baby Knomester at around 5 1/2 months. He was (and sti is) a dry energetic baby who ne'er sits still. He had shown a real interest in food from around 4 months but for me that was too early, especially as he was slow to sit up. After grabbing my food for the umpteenth time one day we decided to try him on baby rice with expressed breast milk. He loved it. So I took it from there - small amounts of rice for a few days in addition to all of his BFs, then I introduced fruits and vegetable purees one by one starting with the least allergenic, pear. I took my time about dropping the BFs but increased quantities, variety and textures quite swiftly because he was ready for it.

He's 10 months now, has regained the 3 centiles he dropped as a BF baby and as energetic as ever! He eats anything I give him but is currently particularly fond of blueberries!

Best of luck with whatever you decide and please feel free to PM me if there is anything at all you'd like to ask.

[jennyh]

Thank you everyone! It seems these things will always spark debate but I appreciate knowing peoples experiences. I called my mother in law for some advice as she is a GP and it turns out her colleague sits on the NICE board and specialises in Infant Diet and Allergies so she said she would do some investigation for me...she has just come back with some really interesting insider info. Sadly I can't repeat it all here as it hasn't been published but suffice to say there is soon to be a large overturning of previous recommendations re exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and weaning. It would appear that there are big question marks over the current guidelines so watch this space for the results of these new trials soon! One of the trials even includes giving peanuts to very young infants...shock horror!!! :) I am now pleased to say that my decision will definitely be based on facts!

To sum it up as she did 'a little bit of everything mixed with a bit of dirt is probably best'

[Fuschia]

Yes jennyh, that's the st thomas trial isn't it? Though I think it's not going to end for quite a while yet

They were recruiting from atopic families not so long ago And I guess from families who have a peanut allergy

[Fuschia]

Here you go:http://www.kcl.ac.uk/newsevents/news/newsrecords/2011/01Jan/Familiesneededforchildhoodallergiesstudy.aspx

It's only started, it's going to run till 2014 I believe

There won't be any results until the first children enrolled reach the age of 3

This is a properly thought out and substantial research project

Will be very interesting to see the results

I had a cows milk protein allergy as a child ... Grown out of

Did delay introduction of dairy ESP for child no 1 who seemed to escape it And has never had eczema despite strong family history ...

[sophiechristophy]

This is a problem with the subject of baby feeding, there is such limited current research available.

[Fuschia]

I think your 'insider' might be jumping the gun a bit to say there is 'soon to be a wholesale overturning of the guidelines re weaning' given that the study is still recruiting!

Shame that results in 3 years or so are too far away to be much help to us now

I don't think, personally I would take a punt on the peanuts, just yet! ( though I must confess I ate some sate sauce when I was pregnant with the twins... I just couldn't help myself!! No ill effects seen, if you exclude a proclivity for naked serenading of a radiator ( I kid you not!)

[Fuschia]

I wonder whether there may be a trend for other allergens similar to gluten in the Swedish study ... Which actually recommended not that it be introduced early so much as it should be introduced while breastmilk wAs still the milk being taken

http://www.celiac.ca/Articles/PAB%20breast%20feeding.html

[jennyh]

Yes it may well be the same survey but they referred to the British Dietetic Association I think, perhaps it is somethine else and we have crossed wires. I'd hope that sitting on the board of NICE would mean that it was based on something and not porky pies, watch this space I guess. Then again I had a terrible day being stuck in the west end in the rain for a non-existent meeting and a screaming baby, i was ready for bed by 8pm so maybe I wasn't listening properly!

Either way I have terrible psoriasis so will be taking tentative steps with her whatever!

[Sally81]

Hi all,

Can I hijack this thread please for some weaning advice?

My son is 5 months and one week. He's big, probably around 20lbs now. He can sit up and seems very interested in whatever I put near my mouth and is always grabbing for things.

I tried him on some baby rice/porridge when he was about 4 months and he seemed to quite like it but then one day he really didn't and I suddenly thought 'what on earth am I doing? It's way too early' and I stopped.

A couple of weeks ago he was grabbing at a slice of pineapple I was eating from a fork. I let him suck and nibble at it (he also has bottom teeth). He loved it, same with bits of banana off my finger and with any other fruit, if I offer it to him to suck whilst I'm holding it. But he refuses any of the same stuff pureed/mashed from a spoon.

This week I've tried again with the puree and he won't have any of it. He keeps his mouth shut and just turns his head at the spoon. He definitely wasn't doing this before.

Does it sound like he's just not ready? If he was hungrier and really very ready, would he lap it up?

I should also add he's still pretty much exclusively bf (he has the odd bottle of formula) on demand. He's always been a two hourly feeder and I'm not sure when to try the food for that reason.

Does anyone have any advice? Should I persevere or just wait a bit longer. Also, I sort of wonder if he might do better with blw but it scares me a bit. I'm not sure how to start and can't imagine how it'll work at first.....help!

[Ruth_Baldock]

Sally, if he is happy to eat fruits but refuses purees, then he may be ready for solids BLW style. My son was the same, we had such battles getting him to eat purees but he ate 'food' really well, so we followed his lead really.

There are lots of good books on BLW, I know it's a bit daunting; unchartered territory and all; have heard excellent things about Gill Rapely's book- which I believe is available from the library, but am sure someone on here would be happy to lend you a copy if you asked?

From doing a search, this thread seems quite useful too: http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,655935,655935#msg-655935

There is absolutely no harm in waiting to offer solids- remember the saying 'under 1, just for fun'. It's so true, really. I don't think my son started PROPERLY eating until he was at least 11mo. Happy as larry, albeit small (genetics).

[sophiechristophy]

Hi Sally81 - it sounds from your post as though your son would really enjoy baby-led weaning. It essentially means just allowing him to explore his curiosity in the food that you are already eating yourself, like the pineapple and banana that he has already tried. You would allow him to hold himself and chew on pieces of food big enough for him to grip easily in his hand. It is likely that he probably won't actually eat all that much, and the focus isn't on what he is eating, but more on him playing with and exploring the food. This will naturally lead into him feeding himself more and more over time, and building a healthy relationship with food. This website is useful: http://www.baby-led.com/

I followed BLW with my daughter who is now just over a year - please feel free to PM me if you want any tips. Sophie x

[sophiechristophy]

Ruth! Snap!

[mima08]

Hi Sally - I am currently working my way through the BLW book by Gill Rapley (my LO is the same age) and it is hugely inspiring (ok, a little preachy sometimes). By the sounds of it, your LO seems to be textbook potential - and I have to say, one aspect that makes me so interested in BLW (other than the potential health aspects) is that it sounds so much fun! I, too, feel sometimes it sounds scary - but then, not more scary than going down the puree route (I don't think I would be able to remember the stages, timings etc). I will need my copy of the book in general (need something to hold on to ;-)), but am happy to lend it for a read, if you are interested - pm me!

[JDR]

I'm retracting slightly but (sorry fuschia- we know each other in real world) there was actually change in guidance several years ago about nut related allergies insofar that previously people had been told that families with immediate allergies/hayfever etc should avoid nuts but they then rejected this saying it 'MAY' have actually increased allergies!!!

Interestingly it was found that nut allergies increased in coutries that made children avoid nuts...

I would though like to see the results after they've been analysed..

[Fuschia]

I pored over the info about coeliac disease because I have it in my family and came to the conclusion that the Swedish study (big increase in the disease when introduction of gluten was delayed) wS about the protective effect of introducing gluten while still being bf rather than having started on other milks first (or I think that's what it said, I didn't tSke notes) so went for 7m or so for later children after delaying to nearly a year for child 1

The timing of these foods really is a minefield if you are An allergic family

I wouldn't wish on anybody the cows milk allergy Nd eczem I had as a baby (I wAs prem and on an old fashioned formula) but all we can do is the best we can with the available evidence

At least then we know we did our best!

[Sally81]

Thank you Ruth, Sophie and Mima. You are all saying what I'm thinking really. He does sound like a good candidate for BLW. The thing is I'm usually a pretty laid back mum....he's a very chilled baby so I've no need to worry about much but this has got me a bit stressed and that's the last thing I want because I know it's not good for him. Right, I'm taking a deep breath and relaxing about it all!

But, the two things that concern me most about baby-led weaning are; choking - what do you give as first steps when all they've ever had before, really, is milk?

What things can't they have?

Also, do they get much nutrition from eating blw style? If they need to weaned because they are no longer getting it from milk, how do we relax about what they are/aren't getting from food?

I'm sure I will PM for tips Sophie, thanks for that and I'm going to look for a copy of the Rapely book in the library or online. I'll give you a shout if I struggle, Mima.

[Fuschia]

Sally continue with the milk as usual (I demand feed do just give small snacks if solids at our own meAl times)

Make first foods long chunky sticks ... They Cant eat whats actually in their fist just the sticky out bits

Cucumber lightly cooked carrot peel and quarter length ways

Pear peel core cut in

Long quarters

Large apple ditto and cook

Lightly

Rice cakes

I delayed breaded jd

[Fuschia]

Sorry on phone

Breadsticks

Porridge (he can self feed with baby bjorn

Plate/spoon or his hands)

Toast fingers

All Till 7m

Tried tomato last night ( his skin went bright red, think will delay that further along with citrus)

He has had chicken and salmon and lamb ( just sucked the latter, he has only two teeth)

Likes watermelon

Mango

Nectarine

[Sally81]

Thanks Fuscia. Can they try toast fingers and rice cakes before 6 months?

What shouldn't I give him, do you think?

[Fuschia]

Personally I didn't do gluten or dairy at the start

If below 6m I would concentrate on veg, fruit, ricecakes at first