Weaning Forum

Posted: 23 June 2005 at 7:58pm | IP Logged

I don't know about anyone else but I have heard and been given so much conflicting advice on weaning in the last few weeks I wanted to track down the evidence for myself.

I confronted my hv today and try to get her to give me a straight answer but she couldn't.  Hv's have been given an NHS directive from the World Health Organisation (WHO) that states babies should not been weaned until they are 26wks old which is at the end of the 6mnths.  However, should it be felt the infant needs more food before then 16-17wks is acceptable to start weaning.  Exclusive Breast or Bottle feeding is adequate nutrition until then.

I asked what this assumption was based on and neither the Nursery Nurse or hv could tell me, they had just been given the NHS directive and were following it blindly.  So this afternoon I have spent ages trying to track down the research behind this and the authority behind it.  I found a report after hours of searching, the full report is here: http://www.who.dk/document/WS_115_2000FE.pdf I will try and summarise.

There is still no clear answer in this report whether you should wait until 6mnths or start at 4mnths it swings between the 2 ages.  The one thing it does state is weaning should not take place before 4mnths.  Studies have shown that babies do not increase greatly in weight if they are mixed fed before 6mnths ie bottle/breast and solid food.  All nutrients and trace elements they need before 6mnths can be found in breast/formula milk.  The biggest reason for not weaning before the 6mnths is intestinal upsets or belly ache to us normal people.  As we all know you have to sterilise babies stuff, food can not be sterilised, therefore carries bacterias.  Babies are susceptable to infections and bacterias found in foods, can make a baby very poorly.  Baby food is served mostly at room temperature which is the optimal temperature for bacteria to grow.

Having said that, the study shows that in 1996 at least 2% of babies in the UK had had some solid food by the age of 8wks.  What I have come to realise is that we are on our own when it comes to weaning.  The powers that be can not agree.  After having told me 4mnths at the earliest my hv said Ollie is quite a big boy he might benefit from weaning early, when pushed though she wouldn't say to do it before 4mnths, more than her job is worth....

We come under pressure from our parents and other mothers to wean early as that is what they did and certainly in the past it was acceptable to wean at 8wks.

Sorry this is a bit of an essay but I feel strongly that we should be given an informed choice and I don't believe we are being given that from health professionals at the moment.

Posted: 24 June 2005 at 10:30am | IP Logged

Why should we have to lie to keep the hv happy they are meant to help us it annoys me so much, I know they have a job to do and some of them do it well but giving conflicting advice all the time just isn't helpful.  I will get off my hobby horse now

Posted: 24 June 2005 at 10:38am | IP Logged

I was very confused about weaning, my hv said not to do it before leo was 6months but yet everyone else says they weaned at 12 weeks i feel leo is ready for some baby rusk (if you have seen my post) hes 13 weeks and he had his 1st 1/4 yesterday!! Im going to give him a 1/4 every other day to start with and see how we get on!

each to there own i say your baby will let you know if she/he dont like it, and also in my opinion stuff you hv!!!!

Posted: 24 June 2005 at 1:14pm | IP Logged

I DISCUSSED THIS TOPIC WITH MY NCT MUMS YESTERDAY. LILY IS THE YOUNGEST AND SMALLEST OF THE 7 LO'S. IT APPEARED THAT THE BOTTLE FEEDING MUMS(3 OF US) WERE THINKING ABOUT WEANING ASAP-AS SOON AS 16WKS; BUT THE BF MUMS (4 OF US) WEREN'T AS KEEN.

AS I'VE SAID BEFORE LILY IS ACTUALLY STARING LONGINGLY AT US EATING NOW!-MAKES ME FEEL INCREDIBLY GUILTY! I WAS GIVEN A 'LEAFLET' FROM THE HV ON WEANING, AND ONE OF THE OTHER MUMS IS BEING VISITED BY HER TO DISCUSS WEANING (EVEN THOUGH SHE AGREES WITH ME THAT THE HV IS PANTS-WE SHARE THE SAME ONE!) SO I'LL KEEP YOU POSTED ON THAT ONE! 

I MAY DO IT A TAD B4 16WEEKS AS IT COINCIDES WITH SCHOOL SUMMER HOLS-AND I'D LIKE TO EXPERIMENT WHILST OFF WORK!

THANKS FOR DOING ALL THAT MUMSAM 

Posted: 24 June 2005 at 2:24pm | IP Logged

agree!! i also asked my hv for advice and she said they are told to advice from between 4-6 months i explained to her that the other 2 were on solids by time they were 12 weeks dale was only 8 weeks she said tbh go with what u feel great help!! lol

she always says ahh ur a 3rd time mum do what u feel.. but so much has changed since i last had a lo i mean even wheels on prams are round now they were square when i last did it

anyways im fed up of asking for advise and not getting any so think i will just do it when daisy seems ready

Posted: 24 June 2005 at 4:07pm | IP Logged

missy square wheels! lol

fred flintstone!