Amy Childs’ Instagram post sparks an online parenting debate

Amy Childs has taken to Instagram to ask other parents for advice about whether she should start weaning her four-month-old daughter Polly.

In the caption accompanying the two packets of baby rice, Amy explained that Polly seems 'to be getting so hungry' all the time and so, she thinks it might be time to start putting her on baby rice. However, the former TOWIE star points out that even though Polly is 'a very hungry baby', she thinks that she might 'be too small' to take this step. Amy went on to say that she has been given various opinions with some people advising her to start weaning now and other mums saying that she should wait until the six-month milestone. You can see her post in full below.

Ok girls so here goes !!! Can't believe polly is now 4 months ?where does the time go, right so I'm going to put polly on baby rice, she seems to be getting so hungry. I was feeding her every 4 hours and now she is waking up in between wanting more food! I don't no why but I still think she is so small to be having baby rice but I'm going to give it a try as there now say to put them on rice at 4 months ( a lot of new mums told me not to wait until there 6 months) polly is a very hungry baby ?? , was any other mums nervous weening ?? I sure am ?? will let you no how I get on ?

A post shared by Amy Childs (@amychilds1990) on Aug 15, 2017 at 4:04am PDT

Having asked if any other mothers were nervous when it came to weaning their children, it wasn't long before Amy's followers responded to her post. The reaction to her query was mixed with 2,297 likes and almost 1,000 comments. A lot of the early comments said that Amy should wait until six months before starting her on solids, as you'll see below. Another said:

"Baby rice is full of crap if your going to start early go with blended up vegetables but guidelines 6 months is there for a reason x".

This is what another Instagram user had to say.

"Wait till shes of age. 6 months"

Someone else wrote:

"Don't go on anything but scientific factual info which is 6 months, doctors know best x".

However, there were plenty of other comments asking people to stop "mum-shaming", with some saying that they weaned their children early and they're perfectly fine. One person commented:

"I started weaning my daughter on porridge and baby rice at 4 months. She's now 6 months I've started giving her 3 meals a day. She still has 3 bottles a day. Go by your motherly instinct x".

Another said:

"Ladies please can we stop mum shaming! It's a hard enough job raising a baby without the added pressure of being in the public eye! Amy is doing what is best for HER child and I'm sure she knows her better than anyone in this world!! Yes guildlines suggest 6 months but that's all they are....guidelines!".

Although general guidelines for weaning say to start at 6 months, every baby is different and this is a topic that people often disagree on. Main image via Instagram: Amy Childs