When/How to start solids

DDearinger · March 2010

Pedi said that we HAVE to start DD on cereal ASAP b/c of weight issues. With that being said, I work FT and have no idea when I would have time to start feeding DD cereal. DD usually wakes up between 6:30-7:00 and I nurse her then. But our mornings seem so rushed as it is, I just don't know if we should just start getting up earlier (please no!) or try to do it in the evenings (when I won't have much time to see if she has a reaction to it).

So experienced WMs, how did you do it? Any tips and advice for starting cereal/solids would be greatly appreciated!

FiremansWife2009baby · March 2010

I would say its okay to start in the evenings. Even though you wont be able to watch her for hours afterwards to see for a reaction - if she was allergic, I think she would have a reaction fairly quickly.

Also, just out of curiosity - how much does she weigh? My DS is tiny and the pedi never recommended that we start solids early for weight gain. I know every doc is different, but I would think with a breastfed baby that solids wouldn't be the first thing to jump to. But anyway, just curious!

aglenn · March 2010

We just started and I've been doing it in the evenings. My daycare will give it to her during the day if we want, though. We just haven't done that yet because she's just learning and not eating much at this point. Can your DCP help?

AmyCC1980 · March 2010

I introduced cereal to DD at dinner. There was just no way that we could fit it in before work/daycare. Plus, I wanted to be the one to give her solids for the first time. It may have been a little selfish, but I didn't want to give up that "first".

DDearinger · March 2010

FiremansWife2009baby:

Also, just out of curiosity - how much does she weigh? My DS is tiny and the pedi never recommended that we start solids early for weight gain. I know every doc is different, but I would think with a breastfed baby that solids wouldn't be the first thing to jump to. But anyway, just curious!

At her 4 month appt, she was down from her 2 month appt. We went back last Friday for a f/u - DD had started some reflux meds which have helped with her spit up issues tremendously. She was 11.8 lbs last Friday (11.4 at 4 mnth, and 11.9 at 2 mnth visit). I have always EBF (or given EBM) until this past weekend when I introduced formula b/c of my shrinking freezer stash and supply. I'm still trying to figure out if I am going to mix the cereal with formula or BM.... and how exactly I'm going to start supplementing the formula.

Geez, sorry for the life story when you asked a simple question

DDearinger · March 2010

AmyCC1980:
I introduced cereal to DD at dinner. There was just no way that we could fit it in before work/daycare. Plus, I wanted to be the one to give her solids for the first time. It may have been a little selfish, but I didn't want to give up that "first".

I hear ya on this. We'll start in the evenings and go from there! Thanks for the support ladies

Stella2008 · March 2010

We did not start this until around 5 1/2 months (EBF baby), but we would give it to her in the evenings, and then her (in home) day care would feed her cereal mixed with pumped milk in the morning. So two cereal meals a day until she started fruits/veggies at 6 months.

DDearinger · March 2010

Stella2008:
We did not start this until around 5 1/2 months (EBF baby), but we would give it to her in the evenings, and then her (in home) day care would feed her cereal mixed with pumped milk in the morning. So two cereal meals a day until she started fruits/veggies at 6 months.

So did you have the cereal and milk mixed before you go there, ready to go in a container? Or did you have them seperate for them to mix?

trackchik6 · March 2010

I started over the weekend so i could do it first, but after that DS gets solids during the day at daycare.

ETA: i BF ds and he drinks pumped milk at daycare. I have them mix his cereal at daycare with formula though. it was just a lot easier that way.

Mjmksb04 · March 2010

It seems a bit odd to me that your pedi wants you to start solids in lieu of just supplementing with formula at her age. But what I would do is just have DC mix it with BM or formula and offer it to her between bottles in the morning and once she gets used to that, in the afternoon. FYI: I had a major problem getting my DS to really take to cereal or any other solids until he hit 6 months old, so don't be too surprised if they have issues in the beginning.

SFAug07 · March 2010

We started solids at 4 months as DD was so hungry and always eating so much formula. We started with rice cereal at dinner and a few weeks later also added breakfast, and introduced other cereal, fruit and vegetables.

babs324 · March 2010

We also started DD on cereal in the evenings. I wanted to be there for this, and it also just made sense! A few weeks later we added a second cereal feeding in the morning, but it's more like 1- 1 1/2 hours after she first eats in the morning. Our pedi told us that eventually we want to make it so it's more like our mealtime, but right now she eats her first cereal around 8 or 8:30 am, and then her second around 5:30 pm!

trinny · March 2010

DDearinger:
AmyCC1980:
I introduced cereal to DD at dinner. There was just no way that we could fit it in before work/daycare. Plus, I wanted to be the one to give her solids for the first time. It may have been a little selfish, but I didn't want to give up that "first".

I hear ya on this. We'll start in the evenings and go from there! Thanks for the support ladies

Just a counter-opinion. I was happy to have daycare start solids for us. If it weren't for them, DD would probably still be on a liquid diet! LOL! BFing was just so much easier than having her make a huge mess and trying to eat with a spoon. Plus, it took a little pressure off of me to pump, though I still mostly sent the same amt after she started. She continues to be a much better eater at school than she is at home.

Stella2008 · March 2010

DDearinger:

Stella2008:
We did not start this until around 5 1/2 months (EBF baby), but we would give it to her in the evenings, and then her (in home) day care would feed her cereal mixed with pumped milk in the morning. So two cereal meals a day until she started fruits/veggies at 6 months.

So did you have the cereal and milk mixed before you go there, ready to go in a container? Or did you have them seperate for them to mix?

I'd send them separate--in addition to the already prepared BM bottles I'd send daily, I'd also send a few oz. of BM (in the pump container) and she'd use this to mix it up. She'd usually send the container back every other day since she only used an ounce to mix up the cereal. GL!

mellp9 · March 2010

I started rice cereal/oatmeal in the evenings. I didn't have time in the morning, and honestly, I wanted to be the one to feed him. Everything worked out well.

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