(XP) Talk to me about introducing solids

Tayrusso

Have your LO's started solids yet? 

I forgot to ask our pedi about it last Friday, so I called during the week and they told me:

Start btw 4-6 mo (I think I'll wait til 5 mo) and to gradually add a little rice cereal to her bottles.  The first time we do it, we should only add the cereal to one bottle that week, and then two bottles the second week.  I'm not entirely sure what to do on the third week....

Do I ultimately add cereal to all of her bottles?  (she only gets 3 bottles/day while she's with my sister/Casey, and the boob the rest of the time)  Or do I switch to spoon feeding in the third week?

Any advice appreciated!  And I'd *love* a book or website rec for more info.  When the time comes I'd like to make all of her food that I can.  TIA chicas! 

sweetpea2718

Here is a website that many moms on here use: https://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/

I  haven't really done much with solids except the tbsp of rice cereal mixed with BM every evening for practice eating with a spoon.  From what I understand, starting solids right now is just for practice eating from a spoon.  We never put cereal in his bottle.  I've heard that's good for reflux babies though.  

SeasideBride06

sweetpea2718:

what I understand, starting solids right now is just for practice eating from a spoon.  We never put cereal in his bottle.  I've heard that's good for reflux babies though.  

I agree with this.  We started rice cereal two nights ago.  I was going to wait longer, but since she already eats five 7 oz bottles (about to move to 8 oz) a day, I went ahead and started.

Klmorgan83

Start with spoon feeding, there's no reason to put the cereal in the bottles.  And like the others said eating solids is only practice at this point.  Whenever you decide to start, just do it once a day until your LO has the hang of it.  With DS #1 we cycled through a lot of foods before we added in another meal of solids.  You just want to make sure they they aren't decreasing their intake of BM/formula because of the amount of solids you are giving.

chelle1980

DS's pedi told me to start solids at his 4 month appointment. She recommended that I skip rice and start with a whole grain cereal so I started with oatmeal. She told me to feed it with a spoon so he gets used to eating. She said once he gets the hang of eating then I can do fruit and after fruit I can start veg. I am only doing one solid feeding a day and will probably wait until 5-6 months to add another. When be wakes up for the day, I give him his bottle first and then do the oatmeal. Tomorrow I plan to try bananas. The wholesome foods website that pp gave the link to is great. It tells you what foods they can eat at each age, gives lots of recipes, and explains the best methods to cook the food. I am using this website to guide me in making baby food.

amandalovescody

DS's pedi doesn't want us to try solids until after he see's him for his 6 month appointment. I'm really looking forward to starting him on solids. It's starting to seem like his formula isn't enough for him anymore.

DefiantRose

I was actually told to start with veggies, the pedi said if DD gets used to the sweetness of fruit first, she won't like or want the veggies. 

We started off with oatmeal once an evening by spoon for about a week, then went to green beans.  We've been doing that for over a week now, I think next we'll try squash.

Pedi did said it was just for practice, and not to replace any bottles with solids at this point as well.

MrsChelseaP09

We are holding off on solids until after our 6mo appt. My pedi and I discussed it extensively b/c i thought DD was starving and he recommended to substitute with formula over starting solids early. Luckily, it was just DD's appetite increasing and my supply has since adjusted to it. I am in no rush to start her on solids, although I am very excited about it.

apricoty

All I'm going to share with you are some links and this statement from American Academy of Family Physicians:

Breastfeeding is the physiological norm for both mothers and their children. Breastmilk offers medical and psychological benefits not available from human milk substitutes. The AAFP recommends that all babies, with rare exceptions, be breastfed and/or receive expressed human milk exclusively for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding should continue with the addition of complementary foods throughout the second half of the first year. Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired. Family physicians should have the knowledge to promote, protect, and support breastfeeding. (1989) (2007) (https://www.aafp.org/online/en/home/policy/policies/b/breastfeedingpolicy.html)

I find it very very strange that so many pediatric doctors recommend otherwise. 

This is a very useful source of info about starting solids.  https://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/  

An excellent summary: https://www.askdrsears.com/topics/feeding-infants-toddlers/starting-solids/6-reasons-delay-introducing-solid-food

And: https://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/solids.htm

All of this I found by simply typing 'starting solids' into google.  

Most of the information in these links are to dissuade you from feeding your baby solids before 6 months of age, the last one (wholesomebaby) offers a feeding schedule (even for a 4 month old), but even that website is trying to discourage parents from feeding their children before 6 months of age.  Again, I'm absolutely baffled at your physician telling you to start her on rice ... why?  Would you do me a favor and ask her/him to justify that and then share it with me?  I'm really really interested ... 

srs5624

American Academy of Pediatrics:

(https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/pages/Switching-To-Solid-Foods.aspx)

When can my baby eat solid foods?

Most babies are ready to eat solid foods at 4 to 6 months of age. Before this age, instead of swallowing the food, babies push their tongues against the spoon or food. This tongue-pushing reflex is necessary when they are breastfeeding or drinking from a bottle. Most babies stop doing this at about 4 months of age. Energy needs of babies begin to increase around this age as well, making this a good time to introduce solids.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends mothers breastfeed exclusively for at least 4 months but preferably 6 months and continue breastfeeding after introduction of solid foods until 12 months of age. Check with your child's doctor about vitamin D and iron supplements during the first year.

 

Mayo Clinic:

(https://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00029)

Is your baby ready for solid foods?

Breast milk or formula is the only food your newborn needs. Within four to six months, however, your baby will begin to develop the coordination to move solid food from the front of the mouth to the back for swallowing. At the same time, your baby's head control will improve and he or she will learn to sit with support ? essential skills for eating solid foods.

Most babies are ready to begin eating solid foods as a complement to breast-feeding or formula-feeding between ages 4 months and 6 months. If you're not sure whether your baby is ready, ask yourself these questions:

• Can your baby hold his or her head in a steady, upright position?
• Can your baby sit with support?
• Is your baby interested in what you're eating?

If you answer yes to these questions and you have the OK from your baby's doctor or dietitian, you can begin supplementing your baby's liquid diet.

 

____________________________________________________________ 

Just demonstrating the difference between the advice out there. Any advice given on a website will be based on what the site host stands for. The more conservative sites will make allowances only for breastmilk and will always say to wait until after 6 months to introduce solids. The more liberal sites will make allowances for formula and they'll give the 4-6 month suggestion (usually siting specific milestones that should be met) for introducing solids.

Most actual medical doctors (not internet bloggers) will base readiness for solids on certain skills being mastered, not a strict age recommendation.

 

My son's doctor suggested starting him on solids at his last appointment (just before 4 months). He needs some more substantial calories. Formula just doesn't cut it anymore. He was eating almost 60 oz of formula a day because he was hungry all.the.time. I mean, stomach audibly growling every hour. Now, in addition to his bottles he gets 2 tbsp of oatmeal in the morning and 1 oz of veggie/fruit in the evening.

He's down to roughly 40-45 oz of formula now, which is in line with what he should be eating... he's 16 lbs, 10 oz and 27 inches long (94th for height, 62nd for weight).

Babyville

Klmorgan83:

Start with spoon feeding, there's no reason to put the cereal in the bottles.  And like the others said eating solids is only practice at this point.  Whenever you decide to start, just do it once a day until your LO has the hang of it.  With DS #1 we cycled through a lot of foods before we added in another meal of solids.  You just want to make sure they they aren't decreasing their intake of BM/formula because of the amount of solids you are giving.

This. Our pedi. said putting cereal in LO's bottle was pointless as they need to learn to eat of a spoon, which is a whole new technique. We started with one very runny cereal feed a day (at about the same time) and gradually thickened it upover about 3-4 weeks. We're now doing a baby food at the same feed time. Pedi. recommended one new food every 3-days, that way you can check for food allegies.

LO is 4 months old and already had two teeth, so she may be wanting something a bit chunkier before long!!