To wean early or not.... that is the question!

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Permalink Reply by Jenny Rawling on July 16, 2011 at 10:31

Received wisdom (from the Colic Solved book) is that a third of refluxers get better when weaned, a third get worse, a third it makes no difference. My impression from the babies on the board is that babies with CMPI/food intolerances it seems to make things worse.

My son has CMPI and we tried early weaning at about 5m old, it felt like he reacted to everything so we stopped for a while. Tried again with a very gradual introduction to foods with BLW at over 6m and it's gone much better. Apart from dairy and soya he can now eat anything, we had a few issues early on with "windy" foods but he's now ok with small quantities of these. I know there are others who have had massive issues with all sorts of reactions to foods, I don't think weaning method or timing makes that much difference, it's probably down to the state of your individual child's gut and tendency to develop allergies/intolerances.

 

Respect to you for going through this a third time! I'm so pleased my refluxer is my second child, had he been the first he would have been an only! Jen xx

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Permalink Reply by Kiwi Lover on July 16, 2011 at 12:05

Hiya, I cannot imagine having 3 refluxers, think I would probably run away! My advice would be unless she is reasonably settled I wouldn't be introducing food, I wouldn't want to complicate matters. If she is still in pain I would be trying to fix that first. I wish I could go back to the pre weaning days, my CMPI LO was just becoming settled and normal on Neocate and then food has mucked it all up so I wouldn't be in any rush. 11oz in 24 hours doesn't sound settled to me. There are few on here who say weaning fixed things, and many (like me) going round in circles trying to figure what is causing a reaction or flare up. Also, none of the many paediatricians we have seen have recommended weaning early, and one was completely against it. Hope that helps x

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Permalink Reply by Tracy Nash on July 16, 2011 at 13:05

Haven't got any advice as I'm going through the same. We are on neocate but no meds yet. Paed reckons he not cmpi but to stay on neocate anyway and said to start weaning. I gave him a very small amount of baby rice Thursday made with neocate. He seemed to enjoy it but 3 hours later he was coughing then sick, doesn't happen that much then he had a bit of diaorreah. Since then he has been much more unsettled than normal and didn't poo yesterday or today. Sleep has been worse.  Not sure if this is all down to the couple of spoons of rice or not but am going to try again in a few days to see if I get same reaction. It's so hard knowing what to do for the best and to know what is upsetting them.  

maybe you could try really slowly like we are and watch for a reaction? 

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Permalink Reply by Tracy Nash on July 16, 2011 at 13:08

Just re read susie s reply and I agree. If settled then leave it. We were practically refused meds by the paed apart from ranitidine which I haven't seen gp yet to get so I'm desperate to find my own way out which is why I tried the early weaning. My lo was like an angel when we saw paed so he wouldn't prescribe us anything else and just encouraged us to give food. 

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Permalink Reply by Sarah on July 16, 2011 at 13:15

I know the paeds often recommend early weaning for refluxers, but I think that it's only a good idea when you have a "happy spitter" - a baby who vomits after after every feed, but is otherwise completely happy and content. I think Jen's rule of thirds is really true - the third that "improve" are those for whom the LES is just a 'bit loose' and so the solids are less easily vomited and stay in their tummy better... For the other 2/3rds of baby, early weaning just seems to prompt a catalogue of complications. My personal experience (two babies with intolerances) is delay as long as possible!!! xxx

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Permalink Reply by jo on July 16, 2011 at 17:10

i would agree with all above.delay as long as possible.if there is a family history of food intolerances and your lo already has suspected cmpi then i would definitely leave the food until 6 months and then go really slowly.

sarahx

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Permalink Reply by marmum on July 16, 2011 at 20:56

Thx for all the replies ladies.  Lets just call her my happy accident lol.  I am lucky in that she is a very happy and content baby apart from feeding.  She silent refluxes and is still in painsome times when she's feeding. 

 

With regards to weaning - you have all confirmed my gut which is to delay until 6 months.  However because of her poor weight gain and the fact that she's a refluxer, the dietician strongly advised me to wean early.  In her experience reflux kids reject textures/lumps if you don't get it in early enough.  She is a fab dietician (met her with my 2nd child) but I think I'm going to end up disagreeing with her on this one.

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Permalink Reply by Kiwi Lover on July 16, 2011 at 21:34

Hmmm, think I would disagree also. Most people I know weaned their normal babies before 6 months (normal babies must be so boring) and loads of them are stuck on the stage one. I waited til 6 months and was able to go straight on to stage 2 textures and finger foods, she is much better at feeding herself than any baby we have met, and she eats homemade stuff with more texture than the 10 month plus jars. Besides, even if you start at 4 months you can't give lumps/textures til around 6/7 months, so I don't really know what she means by get in early? I think the longer they have smooth purees the more set in their ways they get about it!

 

Have you seen Marley and Me? There is a joke where the Dad calls the new baby 'Oops', made me laugh. Mine is an oops! But the best oops ever!

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