Weaning Forum

Posted: 12 December 2005 at 11:54pm | IP Logged

Hi

Not sure if I will do this right as I never never done a poll before (I have just realised I am a Pole Virgin). Anyhow, dd2 is now 12 weeks old. Well I had definately introduced solids to dd1 by this age. When I had dd1 they told you you could begin weaning at 12 weeks. Now it is all different and apparently want you to wait until earliest 16 weeks but ideally 6 months.

dd2 is still not sleeping much at night as she wants bottles all the time. This was the main reason dd1 was weaned so young was to try and get her to go through the night(which I know is terrible but you get so tired and everyone was saying just to do it). I feel really guilty now as dd1 constantly has a runny nose all year round and I have been told this is due to allergies., of course then I read that weaning very young can cause these allergies. I was definately not going to start weaning dd2 until at least 16 weeks (hopefully longer) if me and dh can take the sleepless nights past 16 weeks (have also read that weaning does not make babies sleep any longer at night) but can't really remember if it did make a difference with dd1.

So after all that I was just wondering what age you's all started introducing solids at? If you can also remember if it helped your lo sleep through the night any better? Sorry for such a long post and I would be very greatful for any advice given. Hope my poll is ok?

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 12:06am | IP Logged

i started my lo on solids at 11 weeks as recommended by my hv as he was not wanting his milk. although he was sleeping through from 6 weeks he seemed to thrive well all round from having solids. reated better during the day and was less stroppy at meal times.

im sorry but im not much help but if she wanting lots of bottles u know her best n u know if she ready. they do recommended 6 months in a perfect world but this just isnt suitable for lots of los, and for many years ppl have weaned babies from being young without any problems. add lots of varity to avoid fussy eating later! good luck honey and iim sorry im not much help xxxxx

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 12:33am | IP Logged

i started tom on solids around 15 weeks but voted 16 because thats when i started my eldest son (whos now 2)

both were big babies with very large appetites and i breast fed both of them

i broke the rule of not mixing formula with breast feeding by giving them both a 'top up' of ff before bedtime.  we had tom sleeping thru from 4 weeks old but i quit b/f him at 3 months because i couldnt keep up.  i felt he was hungry all the time so i tried him with milk n rusk at about 15 weeks and then put him on veggie purees at about 17 weeks.  i also believe that having a good bedtime routine helps them sleep better.

i hope you get a good nights sleep soon

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 12:48am | IP Logged

I started ryan on solids at 11 weeks but he was sleeping thru at 9 weeks

But he was almost 16lb by 11 weeks more than double his birth weight so i didnt think milk was satisfying him anymore

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 10:08am | IP Logged

Louis started on solids at 5 months old

and Harry was 11 weeks as he was such a greedy baby he was on 3 meals a day by the time he was 15 weeks

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 10:25am | IP Logged

I started weaning Edward at 16 weeks and it was the biggest parenting mistake I have made so far. I wanted to wait til 6 months but a pushy hv told me I was being selfish. Edward had started waking regualy at night after a spell of sleeping though and this was her only answer.

It lead to great battles to get food into him which went on for months. Edward is only a small baby so he didnt need more than my milk (I breastfeed).

I honestly believe if I had waited we would both be much happier and enjoy mealtimes more.

Obviously all babys are different, that is just how it worked with Edward.

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 1:22pm | IP Logged

Thanks ladies. DD2 is a much bigger baby. She was 8lb 4oz at birth and dd1 was only 6lb 1oz. I think Beks constantly had a bottle in her mouth as she was trying to catch up beacause she was small. Asha likes her milk but not as much as Beks and is huge.Everyone thinks she is older than her 12 weeks and she outgrew  0-3 months clothes at about 8 weeks , she is the wee bruiser of the family which is why we call her Basha. After reading all your advice I don't feel so bad about not waiting until she is 6 months. I think I will start her over the next week or two and then by the time the New Year comes she can be into 18month to 2 year clothes

Madz-that is a shame your hv gave you bad advice. It is terrible when you feel railroaded into something, especially when it comes to your baby as you feel they are the professional (especially when it is your first).

Posted: 13 December 2005 at 3:58pm | IP Logged

Ella was exactly the same with her milk - in that she wanted it ALL the time. I hope this isn't a stupid question, but have you tried the hungry baby formula milk?

Ella was on SMA gold but from about 6 weeks, I started to give her some SMA white and some gold meals. By 12 weeks she was fully on white, and by 14 weeks, she was drinking between 40 and 50 oz a day!!! At which point my HV conceeded that maybe she was ready for solids!!

I kept it very very simple - just rice and a few fruit purees and that helped no end with her hunger.

I'm afraid I can't help on the sleeping thing as at 8 months, she's only slept through 6 times!! LOL!! She is much better now though...

At the end of the day, you know your lo best and if the milk isn't enough, then go for it. HTH xxxx