Solids for preemies

cottonlily84

My DD will be 4 months in a month.  This is when most peds recommend starting solids.  I was planning on waiting until she's 6 months to give anything but breastmilk.  I want to wait to give her digestive system time to mature but if the cereal could help her hold some down I'd hate to not try it.  But she has such problems with reflux and spitting up I'm wondering if a little rice cereal could help keep her milk down?  Since she was 8 weeks early at 4 months her digestive system is really only developed to 2 months so would that be way too early/harsh on her tummy? 

kck329

You will get a lot of variety in answers on this one. Some pedis want to wait til closer to 6 months adjusted for solids, other feel like the baby's gut has been working since they were born so 6 months actual is ok. My pedi falls in the latter camp but was mostly concerned with LO's cues--watching us eat, sitting supported, head control mastered--this type of thing. I would say that 4 months actual is too early for introducing solids and recommend waiting at least until 6 months actual age.

Some cereal in her bottle is a different story though. Talk to your pedi about this idea. I know several of the babies on this board have cereal in their bottled for reflux starting at an early age. My DD's reflux was controlled by medication so I don't have any good answers here but I know someone else will chime in with that one.

Lavender444

Does you LO look ready for solids? Does she mimic your mouth movements and watch you eat? If so, she might be ready.

My little guy was born at 31 weeks, and he didn't start solids until he was 9 months actual. He had some tummy troubles, but even outside of that, he was just not ready. I don't think I would have started him until he was at least 5 months adjusted though. The research shows the longer you wait, the less likely allergies and issues are to come up.

 You could always try once and see how it goes. If she does a lot of tough thrusting and spitting back out- you can always back off and try again later down the road.

SushiNoMore

I agree with what the others have said about watching your baby's cues.  We actually tried solids 3 times with our son.  He wasn't ready the first two times (spit the cereal out), but he took off with it the third time.  He was about 7 months actual, 4 adjusted.

I think a lot of pedis will say that you can introduce solids kind of in the middle of the actual and adjusted age ranges.  That's what I've seen from others on this board, and that's what our pediatrician said.  I think you can just watch your baby's cues and make the decision based on that. 

cutcopypaste

My pedi wanted us to wait until C was 40 weeks adjusted to start rice cereal. She is on it now and is doing great with it, much less spit up/reflux issues.

lemen99

for my 26 weeker: they told us to start at 6 mo actual, 3 adjusted, because he needed more practice.  It seemed to soon.  I would wait longer.  I would do 5 adjusted.  For DS2 (35weeker) I waited until he was 6 mo adjusted and he did MUCH BETTER.

LnR70707

We tried rice cereal and oatmeal in DS's bottles early on for reflux and it just made him too gassy or constipated.   Our pedi recommended waiting until our 6 month check up to discuss starting solids, but we knew he was ready around Thanksgiving and tried a little cereal and a few stage 1 foods here and there at almost 5 months adjusted. 

cottonlily84

I should have clarified.  I only meant starting some cereal with her breastmilk, not solids like baby food, just for the reflux.  I guess we will wait talk to the ped about it but I just feel if something could help keep some milk down she wouldn't have such a hard time gaining. 

lemen99

cottonlily84:

I should have clarified.  I only meant starting some cereal with her breastmilk, not solids like baby food, just for the reflux.  I guess we will wait talk to the ped about it but I just feel if something could help keep some milk down she wouldn't have such a hard time gaining. 

 Is she being treated for reflux?  is her dr worried about her weight gain, or is she fussy?  Talk to your doctor.  They may want you to try reflux meds first.  if she's on meds and not gaining well, they may have you try a thickener. 

Lavender444

cottonlily84:

I should have clarified.  I only meant starting some cereal with her breastmilk, not solids like baby food, just for the reflux.  I guess we will wait talk to the ped about it but I just feel if something could help keep some milk down she wouldn't have such a hard time gaining. 

 

I still would wait.