Sometimes i think we forget

spiffyone

that these are our babies.  we trust so much what our doctor's tell us, that we forget that we have our own minds and know what they need.  for example, our pedi just told us we needed to start feeding little man more because he doesn't eat enough, well, i knew he couldn't handle any more formula.  the doctor said to so i tried, he puked all over me frequently.  i stopped doing it and he is a happier baby.  he is my baby and it's my choice to make.  so, i guess what i am saying is, if you think your baby is ready for something, whatever it is, do it!  i forget that this little one is mine and it's ultimately my choice, the doctor can tell me what they think, but they aren't taking my baby away because i started feeding him cereal at 3.5 months instead of 4 months.  maybe it's just me though.

emack

That is great advice and actually makes me feel better about my entry into parenting!  Thanks for the reminder.

LindseyJW

great advice! i am always surprised when my pedi suggests something that i don't agree with for my child and she is surprised when i tell her i disagree. i suppose she is just accostomed to moms nodding and never questioning.

one bit of caution though, some of the feeding "schedules" are designed to align with the development of a baby's digestive system. so, for example, the 4-month mark is there b/c that's when a baby can physically handle the digestion necessary for cereal. of course, like everything else, this is just an average...some babies are ready before, others after. the problem is you can't tell when their little intestines can handle things, so you have to guess, adding a good dose of mama's intuition!

crazyDCbride

Although my baby isn't out yet - I totally agree!

My BFF (who works in a peds office, actually) - just reminded me of this yesterday... I was telling her that I called the on-call doc on Sunday night, since I didn't really feel Baby moving for quite some time.  I'd already tried the cold bev/lay on my side thing...  he told me to eat ice cream and wait 45 more minutes.

She was like "umm... this is YOUR baby, you already tried essentially the same thing, next time just go straight to the hospital..."

She was totally right.  But, I didn't want to seem like the freaking-out preggo lady.

femmeftle9

Umm, you are NOT supposed to feed a baby cereal until they are close to 6 months in age... WTF?

A pedi has that degree for a reason. They may not always be right, & yes you have to trust your instinct, but it is best to listen to what they have to say.

spiffyone

femmeftle9:

Umm, you are NOT supposed to feed a baby cereal until they are close to 6 months in age... WTF?

A pedi has that degree for a reason. They may not always be right, & yes you have to trust your instinct, but it is best to listen to what they have to say.

 funny, my pedi told us 4 months, so apparently we can feed them before 6.

*ANS*

We started solids before 6 months as well. My ped was fine with it and my kid was ready.

tommygrl820

we started at 4 months...per our pedi

femmeftle9

Spiffy -

You fessed up to feeding your child cereal at 3.5 months, that's ridiculous. Even you just admitted your own pedi told you 4 months. Mine told me after 5 months, closer to 6 months. I believe the AAP recommends 6 months.

schelebelle

I think it's also important to trust your instincts and not just go along with what other people decide for their children.  People are going to judge no matter what, so we all just need to do what's best for us and our kids.

Also, as far as the AAP goes, even they have differing opinions on solids.  From what I've read (in baby 411), the breastfeeding committee says to wait until six months to offer solids.  The nutrition committee says that anytime between four and six is okay.  So, which one do we believe?  My ped said that we could start anytime after four months. 

I will never understand why when people choose to start solids causes so much debate. 

femmeftle9

schelebelle:

I think it's also important to trust your instincts and not just go along with what other people decide for their children.  People are going to judge no matter what, so we all just need to do what's best for us and our kids.

Also, as far as the AAP goes, even they have differing opinions on solids.  From what I've read (in baby 411), the breastfeeding committee says to wait until six months to offer solids.  The nutrition committee says that anytime between four and six is okay.  So, which one do we believe?  My ped said that we could start anytime after four months. 

I will never understand why when people choose to start solids causes so much debate. 

There IS a difference between 3.5 & 4 months, that's why.

spiffyone

this totally wasn't supposed to be a debate as to when to start solids.  seriously, that is exactly what i was trying to say, trust your instincts.  my little man was ready to start cereal at 3.5 months.  he was staring at our food (and still is, i swear he thinks he has teeth) and when we tried it he totally knew what to do!  he was ready.  that's the point, he's my baby and he was ready.  when our mom's had us, all the "rules" were different from what they are now.  so back to my original post, do what you think is best.

schelebelle

femmeftle9:

schelebelle:

I think it's also important to trust your instincts and not just go along with what other people decide for their children.  People are going to judge no matter what, so we all just need to do what's best for us and our kids.

Also, as far as the AAP goes, even they have differing opinions on solids.  From what I've read (in baby 411), the breastfeeding committee says to wait until six months to offer solids.  The nutrition committee says that anytime between four and six is okay.  So, which one do we believe?  My ped said that we could start anytime after four months. 

I will never understand why when people choose to start solids causes so much debate. 

There IS a difference between 3.5 & 4 months, that's why.

Fine (though I still don't take issue with when Spiffy started solids.  That's her call).  But that's not what you said in your first post.  You seemed to take an issue with starting solids anytime prior to six months.  You also seemed to indicate that  it was crazy to ignore the guidelines offered by your pediatrician (as well as those of the AAP).  I was simply trying to point out that, in general, there are many opinions on this issue, including varying opinions from "experts."  You waited until six months, we started sometime after four.  That doesn't make you right and me wrong, it's just that we all make our decisions based on what's best for our own children.

KristinandChris

Hmmm guess I shouldn't advertise how my mom and aunt put cereal in my formula when I was oh, a few weeks old.  Not a lot but they said I was hungry, obviously today that would seem crazy but almost 30 years ago who knows.  I'm doing the opposite now by breastfeeding and holding off on solids until DD starts showings and/or the pedi recommends it.  Expert opinions change with each generation (we probably all slept on our stomachs as babies) and I agree with OP that moms usually know best with their own babies. 

annapolischick

my co-worker puts some cereal in her baby's formula (a very little amount) b/c her Pedi told her to... it would help him sustain his hunger longer, like at night. He's doing great, growing great, etc. Spiffy is right... listen to the doctor but trust your instincts as a mom! You know your baby and what they want, need, etc

special382

femmeftle9:

schelebelle:

I think it's also important to trust your instincts and not just go along with what other people decide for their children.  People are going to judge no matter what, so we all just need to do what's best for us and our kids.

Also, as far as the AAP goes, even they have differing opinions on solids.  From what I've read (in baby 411), the breastfeeding committee says to wait until six months to offer solids.  The nutrition committee says that anytime between four and six is okay.  So, which one do we believe?  My ped said that we could start anytime after four months. 

I will never understand why when people choose to start solids causes so much debate. 

There IS a difference between 3.5 & 4 months, that's why.

Well, we started Kenzie on rice cereal at 2 weeks old (because of severe reflux).  This was per the pedi GI dr and our regualr pedi.  She is now a very healthy 3 year old with no food allergies.  ::gasp::