Weaning ages?

[KayleighF]

Hello, my daughter is 10weeks old, I don't want to wean her yet but what age did you wean your babies? Thanks

[kerry1607]

Do you mean wean onto solids or wean off milk ? The new recommendation is to wean onto solids at 6 months due to babies immature gut. However there are other factors to consider such as sitting up unaided. Have a read of gill rapley baby led weaning. Most libraries have it. It explains all the when and how.

If you mean wean off milk the recommendation is that milk should be a substantial part of the babies diet until 1. My lg is 18 months and still breastfeeding morning and night xxx

[SilkeP]

Best to wait until they are 6 months for the reasons Kerry mentioned. Because of the gut not being developed properly beforehand it reduces the risks of the baby developing allergies or things like eczema. I started introducing things like cooked carrots, potatoes etc to my son at that age and we did baby-led weaning, which worked at treat! He's now almost two and eating very well. My daughter is 4 months and we'll wait another two months to introduce her. I've got terrible eczema and lots of allergies, so far my son is fine!

[AS-32]

I've read that you can't until 17 weeks as their digestive system doesn't work properly for anything other than milk. I'm waiting until 6 months as that's what guidelines say. But I know friends have started as early as 4 months. Hope that helps x

[claire16c]

6 months as recommended by the WHO and NHS. Anything before that has health risks. And definitely nothing before 17 weeks as it can put a strain on their kidneys.

We did baby led weaning too so no need for making messy purées either! X

[LottyB]

Between four and six months (17 - 26 weeks), depending on whether baby can sit up without too much help. A good test I have been told is if baby spits it out consistently with every mouthful then she's not quite ready. We are going to be starting shortly as Niamh has started trying to pinch food of our plates at 21 weeks! 🙈 little monkey.

You start at one snack type amount at a good time of day to suit you when she isn't too hungry, as milk will still be her main part of her diet. Once she starts eating a bit, she'll naturally reduce how much milk she wants. Purred food or baby led, its up to you, I'll be doing a combination. Starting with baby rice and purrees and then introduce more finger food. 😊

You've got a while yet. Don't wish it away! I'm already missing my tiny baby. 😘

Xxx

[tazmania]

Hiya, I started introducing solid food at nearly 7 months, until then just breastmilk. She was only just sitting up with support at 7 months which is why I waited (important for not choking and an indicator that their gut/core muscles are ready for solids). I did 'Baby-Led Weaning' - basically no purees, just straight to finger foods. At 15 months she still has breastmilk after breakfast and before bed. However my sister-in-law used the more 'traditional' weaning for her little one. She started her on veggie purees at 17 weeks exactly (she just couldn't wait), then moved onto lumpier things as the months progressed and started introducing finger foods at about 10 months. Both ways are fine. There is some evidence that waiting until they are older reduces the risk of allergies, eczema and asthma. However my daughter is quite a fussy eater and suddenly funny with textures, whereas my little niece who was weaned early and with purees, is a fantastic eater and never wants to stop. Funny thing is that the Baby-Led Approach is supposed to create a 'better eater' . So we just don't have as much control over these things as we think!! they are all different. Good luck with it when you decide to start.

[Hanhan]

When your LO can sit up, pick up food and put it in her mouth and swallow, she is ready for food! You'll know when she is ready, she will start by watching you eat and drink and then start grabbing at food from your plate. Our LO is currently 9 months, we sat her at the table with us from around 6 months and put food in front of her (we're doing baby led), she started eating with gusto at 6 1/2 months. Definately recommend baby led, trust in nature, nature really does know best. She still has plenty of milk (BF) but is slowing reducing the amount and eating more food. They need to learn that food fills them up, at first food is play time. Under one food is for fun! x

[Hanhan]

Article in this weeks New Scientist on whether babies should be weaned before 6 months! Pretty interesting read.