It must be nearly impossible for first time parents to know what to believe with all the conflicting advice regarding weaning. The general consensus has always been that you do not wean babies until they are six months old, however, some health visitors will advise you to wean a hungry baby from 17 weeks.
This article makes the issue even more confusing. It looks at a new report which says weaning your baby too early can increase the risk of type 1 diabetes as can weaning your baby too late. If we are to believe the article, then the correct time to wean is somewhere between five and six months. Personally I say ignore all the advice and wean when you think your child is ready. Usually they will show an interest in what you are eating, make mouthing gestures and no longer be satisfied on just milk. For my babies this was around the four month mark but all babies are different.