When to start weening

[ramasus]

My 5 month old son has started to become more grouchy than before and fussy when being fed (by breast). He is still sleeping through the night, but sometimes wakes up early (5.00am) and other times at 6.30am.

We know the guidance is for weening at 6 month, but how can you tell if you child needs weening earlier? or do should we expect him to be grouchy until we do.

Thanks

[boobesque]

in this kind of situation it is recommended you speak to your health visitor and tell them about the change in your baby and they can advise you to start weaning or to wait
good luck!

[Ms.Hijinx]

when my kids were babies the recommendation was 3 months to start weaning, i didn't listen to that but used my maternal instincts and i advise you to do what feels best for your son and you my sister went by the book and health visitor etc and had hell with her kids making them wait for food til 6 months lots of luck

[tradey]

dont speak to your health visitor they will tell you its too early, i know,i started weening my baby at 4mths i asked advice and was told not too,well i thought shes my baby and i know what best for her,you know what it was the best thing i did,unlike your son mine didnt sleep but as soon as i started she slept so much better,you do what you feel, just try abit of rusk or porrige good luck x

[yummymummy]

I guess it might depend on whether there could be any other reason he is waking up apart from hunger. If you don't think there is, then either speak to HV or just try tiny amounts of baby rice in the last meal before bed. My son was only 4 months when I started weaning, he was sleeping through the night but then started waking every hour so I knew it was time! He was a big baby though!

I wouldn't worry too much about guidelines, go to 6 months if you think you can, but if you start early you're not doing anything wrong. All babies are individual.

[Carrissa5118]

I just brought my 2 month in for his check up and the Dr had said that the "experts" are now saying not to feed any solids until 6 months. Then she added to me that since I am breast feeding and I want to feed him solids earlier, it won't hurt anything and I know my baby best.

Hope this helps and best of luck to you.

[kelsmels]

My son is 5 months tomorrow and he is already on 3 meals a day. He is not satisfied with a full bottle and won't go more than 3 hours without a feed so it was definately the right thing. Did the same with my daughter who is 3 now and had no problems. I think that nowadays we are told the 'rules' of parenting and this has taken away our ability to parent by instinct. So my advice is to sit down away from all the books etc and really think whether you child is satisfied after a feed and go with you instincts. To be honest weaning is quite a slow process over which you are in control so a bit of extra baby rice for the next few weeks will take you up to six months anyway. Best of Luck! - remember that this is just one of many decisions we have to make as parents and it will all soon seem like a distant memory!

[havinmysay]

i started givin my son baby rice at 4-5 months 3 times a day because he wasnt satisfied with just milk plus it got him into a routine of eating meals.plus your little 1 might be teething now could be y the early mornings

[gwenbennett]

I breast fed all my four children, eldest is now 23 and youngest is 14. I started them all off on a baby cereal when they were between 4 and 5 months old but carried on with the breast feeding until they were fully weaned. They have all grown up very healthy and well adjusted. Hope that helps. Well done on the breast feeding!