Crohn Disease linked to early weaning...

Just thought I'd share some info that I have been discussing on a few forums today.

I "met" one lady that had crohn disease and when she was diagnosed she researched it lots (as you would) it is linked to early weaning. She was weaned at 3 weeks by her mum. Ok I know it is excessively early but this is the second time I've heard of the link in the space of a week.

The thing that has now become apparent to me is even when people can say "My 4 year old was weaned at 12 weeks and he's ok" don't really have that as an arguement. This lady actually wasn't diagnosed until her late 20's.

Crohn disease, food allergies and intolerences have become alot more prevalent in the past 50-60 years. This correlates with the timescale that babies have been weaned early. Before the second world war purreed baby foods were impossible to obtain, children could not be weaned until they were old enough to handle chewing.

What really pees me off is the big baby food giants such as heinz are still free to reign on labelling their products "from 4 months" in essence this is covered by the fact it says "from" so it doesn't actually suggest you must wean at 4 months but does in fact give the impression it is fine.

The facts remain that yes not all babies are the same and some MAY be ready to wean at 4 months (but absolutely no way sooner) but for the sake of 8 weeks and the future health of your child are you willing to take the risk and wean early? I know I wasn't so I held out.

Don't get me wrong I have nothing against mothers that do wean early ONLY if they make an informed decision. I can't bare the fact that some take it on the basis that their Mother's, mother's, uncle's brother was weaned at 10 weeks and he's ok... It's an uneducated, defensive response in my opinion. But that's just me! so shoot me!

Would be interested in others views? I didn't know about crohn disease link until 4 months into weaning but the more I read the more I'm glad I waited.