ready for solids?

MrsJOSEnADRI · February 2011

Recently, I posted about Elise's HUGE appetite. I think it was definitely a growth spurt. She went from 6 4-5 oz bottles, to about 6 bottles of 6-7 oz at 3 months exactly! However, after that spurt, she's now giving me some trouble finishing her bottles. She's only drinking about half of them, but I KNOW she stays hungry because she'll want to eat, again, in about 1.5-2 hours. At first, I thought it had to do with the nipple flow so I tried level 3 (she had been using level 2 since 2 months). Although she didn't choke, it just flowed out of her mouth faster than she could swallow. It was about 2 weeks ago that I tried the faster flow nipples.

In the past week or so, she's been eating about 7 times a day and only 3-4 oz at a time. I know it's still within a normal range of formula intake and just by looking at her you can tell she's well-fed, lol. However, I'm starting to wonder if maybe the milk is just not enough for her. She gets excited when she sees the bottle, she gets hungry at pretty much the same times as usual, but when I offer the bottle she drinks a few ounces at a time and then doesn't want any more. Yesterday, I mixed the formula she left with some rice cereal to see if she could eat from a spoon and she DID! She only ate a couple of spoonfuls, but she swallowed it and didn't push it back out with her tongue.

The weird thing is that in the mornings, when you'd think she'd be the hungriest since she STTN, is when she only drinks 3 oz or so. Towards the evening is when she drinks the most and she might drink up to 5 or 6 oz at bedtime, but this is just not like her. She's always been a good eater.

What do you think? Should I try the faster flow, again? Or, do you think she's ready to try some solids (compota) when she's done with her milk? I'm going to ask the pedi at her appt next week, but wanted to see what my fellow bumpies think.

Albah · February 2011

She just came out of a growth spurt so the decrease in milk intake now will be noticeable, but as long as she is taking in the recommended amount per day, I would not worry. Plus, the fact she drinks less in the morning and more in the evening seems fine to me as Ethan does the exact same thing. lol

I would continue with the same flow nipple for now since the faster flow one you tried just 2 weeks ago and it was too fast for her. You can give it a try again in a few weeks.

Now, in reference to whether or not she is ready for some solids...well, I think if you feed Elise, she will eat! lol But the question is what is the benefit of her starting solids? To be honest, not too much at this point. Some pedi's give the go on solids at 4 months but the minimum recommendation is really 6 months. At this point, solids are just to get her used to tasting different textures/flavors. Prolonging giving solids has been shown to decrease chances of developing allergies. In reality, Elise is getting all the nutrition she needs from the formula. She has gained weight quite nicely in this fashion. :-)

Do realize that this is coming from a mommy that has prolonged the introduction of solids. Evan didn't start until 8 mths and Ethan is following in the same footsteps. But many mommies start sooner for their own reasons. I just personally don't see a benefit. Let us know how Elise does!

:-)

MrsJOSEnADRI · February 2011

Of course, it's the Cuban grandma that's pushing for the compota. I would rather put it off as long as possible. I have read about the food allergies and other reasons to start later. It's also a lot more convenient to just mix together formula bottles than to start a whole food menu for her.

And, after speaking to my mom, again. The pattern is about 3 oz during morning feedings (about 3 or 4 times) and then 5-6 oz in the afternoon/evening feedings (about 3 times). So, that's at least 24 oz which is just fine. I was just so used to her eating over 30 oz for the past couple of months that I was worried about her appetite.

Albah · February 2011

LOL My mother is the same way. She tells me "ay mira como se le queda viendo a la comida; vamos a darle platanito!" And I tell her no. lol

MrsJOSEnADRI · February 2011

LOLOLOL, on the other hand, my FIL is concerned that she's overweight and that we're feeding her too much. But, i just give her what she wants!

UMwife · February 2011

Based on the pictures I've seen of Elise, it's obvious you're doing a good job feeding her and keeping her content. Like Laura said, she just came off of a growth spurt so her decrease in formula intake is going to seem obvious to you. If she seems full and happy though, I don't think it's a big deal that she's eating less than she was.

ANJ410 · February 2011

You can try smaller bottles more often. Both of my LO's were excessively hungry as infants and I found that feeding them every 2 - 2.5 hours worked best for them. I know most books suggest feeding every 3-4 hours but mine just could not go that long inbetween.

If she still seems very hungry after that, talk to your pedi. Both of my kids were drinking 40+ oz of formula a day by 3 months old, so both of their Dr's told me to start cereal on the spoon at 3 months (we have had two different Drs because we lived in Fl when DS was an infant and we now live in NY). Solid food was the right thing for my kids and we have not had any issues with food allergies or obesity.

britishbride05 · February 2011

ANJ410:
You can try smaller bottles more often. Both of my LO's were excessively hungry as infants and I found that feeding them every 2 - 2.5 hours worked best for them. I know most books suggest feeding every 3-4 hours but mine just could not go that long inbetween.
If she still seems very hungry after that, talk to your pedi. Both of my kids were drinking 40+ oz of formula a day by 3 months old, so both of their Dr's told me to start cereal on the spoon at 3 months (we have had two different Drs because we lived in Fl when DS was an infant and we now live in NY). Solid food was the right thing for my kids and we have not had any issues with food allergies or obesity.

This (except for the NY part lol)

Both my girls started on solids at 4 months (and oatmeal by spoon at around 3 1/2 months) and neither has any problems with obesity or allergies. We did a full allergy panel on Abby and the only thing she had an allergy to is dog... and I don't think that has anything to do with her meals

MrsJOSEnADRI · February 2011

Thx for your input, ladies. I'll see what the pedi says at her 4 mo appt.

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