Dating scans are accurate because all embryos develop at the same rate. At 24 weeks I'm viable because all foetuses develop at the same rate. I'm due at 40 weeks because all pregnancies are the same length as all bumps develop at the same rate. My baby will have growth spurts at 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months because all newborns develop at the... hang on a minute... what's this? 4 months? My baby is hungry, s/he must need solids! But the research says it can be harmful before 6 months... but it's fine for my baby as all babies develop differently!
Where does it change?
The very same people who claim their pregnancies are utterly predictable because all babies develop at the same rate in utero claim that their baby's gut is ready to digest food two months early because not all babies conform to the same development patterns.
I find this odd. Now, I'm the first to say that there are differences in development between babies both in utero and out. I openly promote the fact that pregnancy can last anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks and that babies come when they are ready (i.e. not all are developed for birth bang on 40 weeks). Children do reach developmental milestones at different times, some roll first, other cut their first tooth first etc.
But when it comes to physiological development we can't actually see their insides so we can't actually know from observation whether their gut is mature enough to take solid foods. Isn't it best to err on the side of caution when it comes to our child's long term health?
Yes, the guidelines are a recommendation, not a requirement and it is every parent's right to ignore it or not. But recently I have encountered a number of people who not only ignore the research, but seem to think it is fictional or in some way unreliable. We are talking about dozens of academic, peer reviewed studies of tens of thousands of children. But when parents who have already decided to wean their child early they will, understandably, close their ears to the research that contradicts that decision one or more months down the road.
I have found, however, that many parents, at the time of making their decision are aware of the guideline, but haven't looked into the reasoning behind it and are not aware of the health risks associated with early weaning. They tend to say things like "I was weaned at 3 months and I'm alright, so I don't see the harm in weaning my baby at 4 months."
With very narrow world views like this it is easy to see why they would make such decisions, but I can't help but be disappointed that more parents don't take the time to look into these issues more.
Where does it change?
The very same people who claim their pregnancies are utterly predictable because all babies develop at the same rate in utero claim that their baby's gut is ready to digest food two months early because not all babies conform to the same development patterns.
I find this odd. Now, I'm the first to say that there are differences in development between babies both in utero and out. I openly promote the fact that pregnancy can last anywhere from 37 to 42 weeks and that babies come when they are ready (i.e. not all are developed for birth bang on 40 weeks). Children do reach developmental milestones at different times, some roll first, other cut their first tooth first etc.
But when it comes to physiological development we can't actually see their insides so we can't actually know from observation whether their gut is mature enough to take solid foods. Isn't it best to err on the side of caution when it comes to our child's long term health?
Yes, the guidelines are a recommendation, not a requirement and it is every parent's right to ignore it or not. But recently I have encountered a number of people who not only ignore the research, but seem to think it is fictional or in some way unreliable. We are talking about dozens of academic, peer reviewed studies of tens of thousands of children. But when parents who have already decided to wean their child early they will, understandably, close their ears to the research that contradicts that decision one or more months down the road.
I have found, however, that many parents, at the time of making their decision are aware of the guideline, but haven't looked into the reasoning behind it and are not aware of the health risks associated with early weaning. They tend to say things like "I was weaned at 3 months and I'm alright, so I don't see the harm in weaning my baby at 4 months."
With very narrow world views like this it is easy to see why they would make such decisions, but I can't help but be disappointed that more parents don't take the time to look into these issues more.
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