Weaning

Babies gut and digestive systems are not developed at 4 months for solids. They will reach for food, its what babies do reach for anything. My son was reaching at 3 months but i waited until he was 6 months.

Personally no, I just think it’s too early. Risk of choking is increased before 6 months, it’s even still a massive massive risk at 6 months + I personally do go off NHS advice. There are quite a few studies at the moment that are looking at an increased number of children with food allergies, and how it’s potentially linked to early weaning (due to babies digestive tract not being fully developed at 4 months old. Some babies are, some are not. That’s why they recommend 6 months) But, it’s up to you. Good luck either way x

I’ll also be waiting until 6 months. Their gut isn’t developed enough to even process food. I’d only even consider it at 4 months if I had horrendous issues with milk and the GP was pushing me to start and even then I’d be hesitant.

I am also planning to wait until 6 months, just so you know! Im aware of the NHS guidelines 💜 I’ve just heard lots of different things. I specifically hate the scare mongering on this app from people without sources.

Not gonna lie I started weaning at 4 months for all those reasons and I really regret it! She definitely found food really overwhelming towards the end and it was hard to manage more regular meal times. She then went through a phase of total meal refusal but we'd already dropped bottles because as soon as she started eating she didn't want milk so she was just hungry and stressed. I stopped all together for a bit and started again at 5.5 months and she took to it SO much better and I will definitely wait in future!

However, I definitely think if I did it again I'd give little tastes here and there rather than framing it as full on weaning tbh xx

I did with my girl. She could sit up at 4 months, she'd been interested in food at about 3 months. She had amazing hand eye coordination, I'd given her an empty spoon to nom on when we ate so she could practice. She had chewing motions and lost her tongue reflex. I did singular purees every so often so she got the taste, wasn't everyday to begin with. She didn't have meals until closer to 6m. You know your baby, if they're ready they're ready. My little man wasn't ready at 6m so each is different.

At 4 months, my daughters pediatrician gave us the ok to start her on solid foods. Just ask them for advice

Nope

Unless there are any medical reasons, I would definitely wait. Even until like 5ish months. My youngest had reflux, and by looking things up & checking, it says you can start solids from 4 months. She was ebf as well. Didn't sit there and feed her loads anyway, just a bit here and there. It was good to see that she at least kept that down. I wouldn't have started otherwise, until 6 months it was just taste testing really

If you smoked a cigarette in front of a baby they’d probably be fascinated and want to stick it in their mouth too. Doesn’t mean they should! As everyone else has said, their digestive systems are not ready til 6 months

There's really no rush!

@Kayla I am in the UK, so no paediatrician :(

Please watch these; they are TikTok’s you don’t have to download the app they will open. The woman is a health visitor https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdhhxAhT/ https://vm.tiktok.com/ZGdhhCD2Q/ Wait till 6 months cx

@kelly thank you!!!!

Hope they help, honestly it really is best to wait till 6 months x

Yep I started at 4.5 months for the exact same reasons, my boy is now 7.5 months weighs 21.9 lb eats 3 meals a day 1/2 snacks and dessert and still has 3 8oz bottles. Nothing wrong with starting early, every baby is different there may be some babies not ready till 6 months or even 8 months but some will be ready earlier x

I started weaning my LO from 17 weeks, just the odd bites of purées to start her off to get her used to food. Midwife said it was fine from then on 🥰

I researched this with my first daughter & ultimately decided based on what I read to wait until 6 months just to be safe… I read an article that linked early eating to higher risk of obesity & since obesity runs in my family I waited till 6 months. Honestly, milk is so much easier that I don’t think you need to be in a rush !

I weaned my first baby at 4 months and we’ve had no issues at all. She’s a brilliant eater and eats a variety of different foods. Zero allergies, zero digestion issues. I’ll be weaning at 4 months again with my next baby

I would take advantage of their curiosity and at least let them taste small bites or play with the food. He won’t eat much at this point but he is most likely ready to start exploring.

I would defiantly wait till 6 months unless you have been advised by a health professional to do it early!

My son was showing readiness signs at 4 months and we started at 5 and it went horribly. My daughter is showing signs at 5 months (so determined to sit and just needs a little support) and we are starting the process but waiting for actual food till 6 months.

Out of curiosity- The people who are saying they weaned early and it went wrong - how?? If you do it slowly and don’t rush to introduce new foods and you monitor to make sure there are no lumps - what goes wrong?

@Sophie this isn’t what these folk are talking about I’m sure but research now shows it can lead to long term digestive issues

@Sophie for us it was too much to soon and definitely affected my little one being receptive to new foods as they were on small portions and first tastes for so long due to weaning early that when it came to introductions to textures, meals etc. she became so overwhelmed she just refused to eat anything at all and would just cry and cry at meal times. If we went back to singular pureed fruit or veg she would eat it but anything else took forever for her to overcome.