Solids... Dr. said not till 6 months?

ehpope · March 2010

At our 4 month check up I asked when we should think about starting solids. Dr said he wanted to wait until 6 months because they were born early (37 weeks doesn't seem that early for twins) he wanted to give their digestive system time to catch up. This is actually what I would prefer, but I'm wonder if solids help them to gain weight?

My daughter was 6lbs3oz at birth and is now 11lbs13oz. He said she was in the 10th percentile, but he thought it was just because she was sick (Had MRSA and had IV anitbiotics for 4 days) He's not too worried about her, but doesn't want her to get behind on gaining. Wouldn't solids help this or are solids only to help practice eating with a spoon?

tmbuchmann · March 2010

DS didn't actually eat much when we started solids. He still got more nutrition (sp?) from milk. I would follow your doc's advice!!

lisa&andy · March 2010

While I can't speak for your doctor, my twins were born at 35w2d and they started solids at 4 months. Maybe our pedi. is more laidback about things, but he encouraged us to start then. In the beginning it is just about practicing with the spoon. Honestly, I am on the mentality of that doctors are great, but they are not with my kids 24/7, they see them for 30 mins every 2 months so they do not see many things. My kids were showing all the signs that they were ready for solids, so we started. I would do some research, check out wholesomebabyfood.com and the American Academy of Pediatrics and take that information plus what the doctor said and decide what you want to do.

jacobandcrystal · March 2010

lisa&andy:
I am on the mentality of that doctors are great, but they are not with my kids 24/7, they see them for 30 mins every 2 months so they do not see many things. My kids were showing all the signs that they were ready for solids, so we started.

Ditto. All babies are different when it comes to being ready for solids. Our oldest was showing signs very early so we decided to try cereal for him at 11 weeks and he LOVED it so we continued and he was much happier and slept better. (He was born past 40 weeks and weighed 9 lbs. 2 oz. and gained quickly.) On the other hand, we let our 2nd try out cereal at 3 months and he really didn't care for it, so we waited and tried again at 4 months and then he loved it.

I'm planning to let our girls try cereal at 4 months to see if they're interested.

Breenie29 · March 2010

My doc recommended the same thing. So after our next visit we will start. I think in the beginning with solids it's more for them to get used to eating with a spoon as opposed to a nutritional source. I think they will still get their main nutrition from formula.

janjag · March 2010

we were also told to wait till about 6mos for our 33 1/2wkers. ped told us to start and we did, then stopped. i was in the middle of a major scheduling debaucle, and it was very inconvenient. so we started at almost 7mos.

we sort of waited for them to have more head/neck strength. also, like pp said their interest in food can tell you too. 6mos is totally fine for starting solids.

we had a very plump vivi, and ped actually said adding solids might slow her down a bit, he also said it might not. ha!

macchiatto · March 2010

There's more calories in formula/BM than in solids (well, purees especially) so I don't know that I'd start them just for weight gain. Solids are really just for practice during the first year; breastmilk/formula provides all an infant's nutritional needs, especially in the first 6-8 months.

ehpope · March 2010

Thanks for all the advice! I think I'll at least wait till 5 months and evaluate then, DD is showing some signs of being ready, but DS is not at all. Thanks Thanks!!

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Solids... Dr. said not till 6 months?

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