Do you agree with the new guidelines for babies starting weaning at 6 months rather than sooner?

Answer 1

I personally think 6 months seems quite old, I have noticed there are still lots of baby jars and packets suitable from 4 months so there must be a bit of mixed signal somewhere.

With my 3 I started them on solids very gradually when I felt they were ready, I think mums just know when their baby needs a bit more and is no longer satisfied purely with milk.

Our ancestors managed to wean successfully before 6 months in the olden days without too much problems so I dont see how things have changed too much.

What I think is more important is what you are actually feeding them, perhaps the guidlines are to protect babies of parents who wrongly feed them foods that are unsuitable.

I ertaintly do not think it dangerous to introduce solids before 6 months and I did with my 3 and have had no problems, I have no idea when I will start solids with my next baby but I am certain it will be when I think baby is ready rather than following an ever changing guidline.

Answer 2

it depends on the baby. when mine were small it was 4 months and they were usually ready for baby rice by then, my daughter has 2 one age 2 and one aged 6 months. she told me about the new 6 month rule and i thought it was a bit odd as her first baby was ready to eat at 4 months so she did start as the health visitor said that he needed something although officially she had to recommend the 6 month guideline. her second baby however has not been interested in food and hes now 6 months and just started however she finds it hard to get him interested in it and although it may just be him i think that some of it is to do with the fact that he hasnt been introduced to the idea earlier. i dont necessarily agree with the new rule, they are always changing their ideas so i would say go by your baby's needs .

Answer 3

Babies traditionally were given solids from 4 months, this is when I gave my baby mashed up food and simple finger food, fortunately by the time I had her, it was well known that giving wheat to babies under six months could potentially cause coeliac disease which is not curable and seriously limits their diet all their lives. The reason we are now being told to wean our babies from six months, is that the government do not trust us not to give wheat or wheat products to our babies before this time, or think we are too stupid to know what products contain wheat. Fair enough, there will always be people who do not have all the information they need and so may give their children wheat under six months because they just don't know they shouldn't.

It certainly will not hurt to continue giving formula or breast milk only until six months, but ask your health visitor and see what she says. When you do start weaning, be prepared to continue giving baby formula or better still breast at least morning and night until they are a year old or more, they still need the calcium and other good things in it.

Answer 4

I think she means putting them on to solids. I think it's a good thing, I started my son on solids at 6 months and he's very healthy and in the 98th percentile for height and weight. Too early and their digestion can't cope, they're more likely to end up with allergies.
Edit - I also think it helps with continuing breastfeeding. If the baby is too full of food, it won't want as much milk, but milk is the only thing neccesary for the first 6 months. The reason they say to start solids by then is because the babies are born with a supply of iron from their mother and it starts to run out at 6 months.

Answer 5

6 months is the counseled age for beginning up feeding a toddler stable ingredients. beginning with greens, then fruit, cereal. Egg basically after one 3 hundred and sixty 5 days of age. weight problems and hypersensitive reactions have been related to the early feeding of ingredients in infants youthful than 6 months.

Answer 6

Everyone around me started at different stages depending on their worries or how their baby was. We tried baby rice at 4 months, she didnt like it so we didnt try again. At 5 months she developed and interest in our food so we tried her on bananas, fruit jars,baby cereal and so on, by 7 months she came off the jars and on proper food not mashed up and avoiding salt, along with 16-20oz formula per day.
I think its good to have guidelines but you also have to realise that your baby won't stick to these guidelines, if you have a hungry or very active baby like mine then they need more than formula to keep up with their constant growing.

Answer 7

guidelines are fantastic but every baby is different, my eldest was on solids quite early and took to it like a duck to water,
we were still tentativly weaning my second child at 12 months, he is now thriving on our food, he has never really like puree he just started eating if that makes sence, but then he is just arkward lol anyway ramble over, every child is different, but 6 months at least is definitly wise

Answer 8

I have always believed that your baby will let you know when its ready to advance at things. If he/she genuinly is not satisfied with milk anymore and you dont wean it can be very distressing to deal with an obviously hungry baby. However, start with very small amounts, and dont reduce the milk straight away, and your baby will find his/her own speed at which to advance feeding!

Answer 9

It is based on scientific evidence that babies intestines are not ready for solid foods before 6 months. I agree with science and biology on this one. How can one argue with science?

Whether you believe in God or not, a woman's body is designed to nourish her offspring, plain and simple.

Answer 10

PHIOOEY! Breast-feed a year if you can make it. It is the best thing for all concerned. Cow's milk causes allergies, and smelly diapers.
Introduce other foods a bit at a time after 6 months, to be alert to allergies and food preferences. Start meat late. And limit sweets to fruit.