just wondered really wen people was gonna start as packets say 4 month and hv say 6 month s xx

Official guidelines are milk for 6 months (unless for medical necessities) packets are there to show which ones can safely be used in those instances. The longer your baby is happy with just milk the better hun

Oh and watch out for all your older relatives who will tell you that they weaned at 3 weeks etc

An absolute minimum of 6 months for me.
the packets say 4 months because they "could" be used from then without causing problems such as choking on lumps etc. It is better to wait til 6 months + wherever possible.

Agree with pip holder and anothersquish

agree with everyone else

Four months (16 weeks) used to be the recommended age, but they increased that to six months in recent years. Back in the 80's they used to recommend starting at 3 months! Four months is now generally regarded as the absolute earliest to start if circumstances demand it, hence the labels you've seen.

HV could get in trouble if they tell you to try any earlier than 6 months unless there is a specific reason to do so. There have been some studies showing increased risk of allergies when weaned too early. HV will tell you to start offering food at 6 months because babies start to need the extra nutrition after that age.

I'm of the opinion that you should wait for the baby to show the signs that they are ready, and be led by that. I've watched friends and family weaning, and there does seem to be that magic moment, which might come before or after they are 6 months. Every baby isn't the same - it's not like something magic happens on the day they reach 26 weeks!

Dylan 18 weeks and isn't ready yet, but I'm watching him for the signs. He has started watching us eat, but he isn't chewing with us and is still satisfied from his milk, so he'll be staying as he is for now. I think he'll probably be ready a little before he is 6 months, but hopefully not too much!

Guidelines are 6 months and we really did want to wait til at least 6 months but we were advised we should start early. Having said that,Connah wasnt far off the 6 month mark at 5mnths 2 weeks.x

The closer you are to the magic 6 months the better.

I weaned my son with 5 months, with the support of the HV cause he was just ready for solids.

im aiming for 6 months!

6 months is the current guideline and Joe has been on just milk til today, we start weaning this afternoon!! He'll be 6 months on Friday, so 2 days short, but OH wants to be here for Joe's first tastes!!