Thinking about weaning a bit early - what do you think?

[Lu Lu]

My baby is 5 months old tomorrow (21 weeks now) and I'm thinking he may well be ready for weaning.

He is still waking at night and downing an 8oz bottle and sometimes wanting more. He has hungry baby milk at bedtime (7pm) and in the night (around 3am) and he's up for the day between 6 and 6:30am and takes a lot of breast milk.

Obviously now we want him to start sleeping through and think if he's eating meals he will be more settled and will hopefully sleep through.

He has started grabbing at our food and watching us eat and things.

But we're not sure whether it's just a week or two too early.

We're busy for the next few days so won't be able to think about anything until the weekend but I am considering trying him on some baby rice to see what he thinks.

Has anyone weaned at 5 months?

[~*Nicole*~]

I didn't call it weaning b/c DD still took formula until she was 12 months old, but yes, we introduced baby cereal around 4 months. Then around 5.5 months, some fruit and continued on slowly to veggies, etc. So if he appears hungry, even with his milk feeds, and is interested in your food, holds his head up well, and doesn't thrust his tongue out when you put a spoon in his mouth, he may definitely be ready to try the baby rice cereal. If rice constipates him or he has any trouble, they have baby oatmeal and barley cereals as well. Just remember to try only 1 new food at a time over a span of at least 3 days to rule out any allergy or intolerance.

[Daylene]

Apparently in the UK, "weaning" refers to starting solids.  In the U.S., it refers to going off formula or breastmilk entirely.

I started solids with both my girls at 5 months.  My first daughter was less than enthusiastic, and it took her a month or two to really get into it.  But my second daughter was just like yours -- showing all the signs of being ready, and she really took to eating right away.

Go for it!

[~*Nicole*~]

Apparently in the UK, "weaning" refers to starting solids.  In the U.S., it refers to going off formula or breastmilk entirely.

Another cultural difference I've now learned from BW hehee.

[Lu Lu]

Apparently in the UK, "weaning" refers to starting solids.  In the U.S., it refers to going off formula or breastmilk entirely.

I forgot about that!

I think I'm going to try him with some baby rice (even though it's disgusting) just to see if he takes it or not and then we'll move on from there.

[Daylene]

One thing I did was this: for 2 or 3 days before starting solids, just before giving Tara formula, when she was pretty hungry, I just put a tiny amount of formula on the baby spoon and let her suck it off.  We did this 2 or 3 times before each bottle, so she got used to the idea.  Then, when it was time to start baby rice, I mixed it with LOTS of formula at first so it was really thin and tasted like formula.  So the difference between eating and drinking was very small, see.  I think it really helped her.  Baby steps, you know.

[~*Nicole*~]

I just made watery rice cereal and stuck it in her mouth with a spoon. First bite: a bit of a strange look. Second bite: It's a winner! She never looked back. Same thing with carrots, the first food. More taste, so I got that strange look, but then she was ALL about it!

[BigSkyMama]

My LO took to solids around 4 months like a pro and just today the Dr. said to start solid before a bottle because he was taking a good 40oz a day and still hungry.  So I say 6 months is a general guide line but if baby shows signs and likes solids go for it...and I know its a myth but our STTN started when we got on solids...coincidence?
We found rice cereal very constipating so we are just doing fruits and veggie...thinking about some oatmeal soon.  When we did do the rice cereal I made it with breast milk and that seemed to make it taste better to him.  Good luck and have fun!

[Daylene]

I know its a myth but our STTN started when we got on solids

I know -- same thing happened here!  And naps got better too!  I don't know if it's a case of 6-month magic (I'm told a lot of sleep problems just work themselves out around 6 months) or starting solids.  My mother-in-law, of course, swears it's the solids thing.  And she had 3 babies of her own, so I can't dismiss that entirely.  But either way, we're happy about it.   

[~*Nicole*~]

We started solids cereal about a week shy of 4 months, and about a week after 4 months started weaning night feeds (per docs recommendation) and DD STTN in about 4 days of breaking the feeding at night habit. Had she not slept through so well, I would have continued night feeds, but she clearly was getting enough during the day, her weight was great, doc. didn't think she needed them and then she slept through beautifully without them, but I think she would have continued waking and taking them, solids or not, had I not been actively weaning them. So, not sure if it was the solids that gave her enough calories during the day to be able to sleep through, but they oddly enough coincided pretty closely as well.

[Lu Lu]

Well, I tried giving him a bit of baby rice this evening and apart from the fact I think he was upset about the taste of it, he was very excited when the spoon was coming towards him.

I will do baby rice tomorrow and maybe over the weekend too and then start pureeing - another chapter in my baby's life!

[BigSkyMama]

Well have fun.  I think so far its been what we have most enjoyed.  We did peaches for the frist time this morning and he went crazy for them!  Good times.

[~Sarah~]

Ladies-
I too started solids at 4mo, DD LOVED it too, was saying MMMM during the first feed, so I knew I was onto something.  Dr. recommended here too.

I am still doing DF, are any of you?  How are you feeding between CN and BT?  I know some of you may be done with CN, but just thought I would ask.

Right now I BF when she wakes from CN (5) then at 6 I give her solids about 2T rice cereal with about 1.5oz BM and about 1/2 T of fruit.  I then do bath and her BT is about 630-645.  I then do a DF at 1000.
So, my question is, do I start thinking of dropping DF?  She is just shy of 5mo and I just want to make sure she is getting enough BM in a day.