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December 2010 Moms
B2bFall2005
member
WWYD Re: Cereal/Solids & Daycare
B2bFall2005
member
So I dropped DS off at daycare this morning and was chatting with the teacher. She asked if we had started cereal with DS b/c she's been noticing he's been going less and less time between bottles (he is on BM, and now gets 3 6-oz bottles at school).
DH and I have tried cereal with DS maybe 5 or 6 times. He's not a huge fan - he'll sometimes get some down and other times just ends up wearing most of it.
The teacher offered that they at daycare could 'teach' him how to eat solids/cereal if our schedule is a little too hectic to try it on a regular basis.
Thoughts? I feel like this is something as parents DH and I should 'teach' (when DS is ready). But at the same time, our weekday schedule at night is get home, quick play time, bath, bottle, bed. Sometimes I can squeeze in a cereal attempt if he's in a good mood but it doesn't always work out.
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Re: WWYD Re: Cereal/Solids & Daycare
You said that he isn't a big fan of cereal and ends up wearing most of it. In my opinion this would tell me that he isn't ready for cereal or he just doesn't like it. I personally would wait until he shows more interest or you are ready to start veggies with him.
I am not a big fan of forcing food on babies and it sounds like the daycare center is wanting to give him solids in hopes of making him go longer in between feedings.
I agree that this is something for you and your DH to "teach" your son. You'll find the time when it is right for everyone.
I agree with this.
If he's going less time between feedings, try splitting his 18 oz into 4 different bottles instead of 3.
That said, eating from a spoon is a learned behavior and consistency will help him learn faster. So, yes, at first they do start mostly wearing it. But you should see him learning to open his mouth wide for the spoon, leaning in, grabbing at the spoon and pulling it to his mouth, etc.
food blog | garden blog | curly dogs blog
Another option is to have the daycare give him a small amount of cereal daily for a week and see how it goes. I send 1 oz breastmilk and they mix in the cereal to proper consistency. That generally means about 1 tsp of cereal (if you go by the 1:4 ratio that's recommended on the box). That's really not a lot, but it's enough for him to practice with.
Then just keep an eye on his BM intake. If you notice him not finishing his bottles, then stop the cereal for a week or so. It's not like once they start solids they have to stay on them.
food blog | garden blog | curly dogs blog
At your DS's age, I would just not worry about solids right now. It sounds like she wants to use it to "supplement" and give him extra calories during the day, which really isn't what solids should be about at this point, unless she's offering them after he has a bottle.
Does he STTN? How many times do you nurse him when not at work? (Ex, I nurse DS 1x in the morning, 1x after daycare/before bed, and 2x overnight) 18oz while you're at work sounds like a lot (since most BFed babies take in 19-30oz/day).
Kellymom has some great info on bottle feeding a breastfed baby, how much to offer, etc. Could it be that your DCP is giving bottles too often, or that you feel he needs 6oz bottles when really he only needs, say, 4oz and then just wants to suck?
Here's some info, just in case:
https://www.kellymom.com/bf/pumping/milkcalc.html
If you think he's ready for solids / if you want him to start, I would say let the DC work on it with him. I think the consistency will help; although I can certainly understand why you would want to be the one to do it with him. It just seems like there's already a lot for you to accomplish with him during the day.
GL whatever you decide!
2 babies in heaven (mc)
Blog: ForLoveofCupcakes.com
Yes - DS is STTN (at least 5 out of 7 nights a week). Throughout a 24 hour period he gets a total of 5 6-oz bottles - a total of 30 oz/day. He is at DC from 800A until 530P. So he gets one bottle in the AM before DC and one in the PM before bed.
FWIW, I'm an EPer and have heard several echo that 30 oz/day is too much.......but DS does not seem to want to just 'suck' much. He can't stand his pacifier and he rarely sucks on his hands much longer than a minute or so.