q re: baby's 1st solids

eacerna · May 2011

We waited until E turned 6 months old to give her 1st solids. This past weekend, we started giving her rice cereal for breakfast and she loved it! Now, my question is, when do we increase the frequency of (solid food) feedings?

Thanks!

vanilla15 · May 2011

I think we started out feeding rice cereal 2x each day (breakfast & dinner). We still only due two feedings each day, but now we are adding fruits & veggies into the mix.

MrsNJSwimmer · May 2011

You know, I read this yesterday, and I have been trying to remember.

I think we started out with 2 meals /day like vanilla said. I think we did that for 2 weeks or so to make sure there wasn't any issue, and then I tried the baby food for him. I did go with veggies first, andn he didn't like some of the fruits then b/c I think they were too sweet (althuogh you'd never know it now by the way my kid loves cookies and cake!). Just remember to feed him the same thing for a few days before yuo try something else to check for allergies/response to the food.

eacerna · May 2011

Thanks! Good to know I can give her 2 feedings a day now. I wasn't sure if I needed to wait a while before we increase the # of feedings. I'll probably introduce a new fruit/veggie every weekend since that's the only time I can feed her during breakfast (she's in day care the rest of the week). I know you're suppose to introduce new food either breakfast/lunch so you have the rest of the day to observe if there are any reactions.

SanHawaii08 · May 2011

so glad you asked, i was wondering too! we're going to start this weekend Smile

eacerna · May 2011

SanHawaii08:
so glad you asked, i was wondering too! we're going to start this weekend

Goodluck! It's so fun to watch them eat. I'll be waiting for pictures ;-).

MrsNicole&Brian808 · May 2011

Our pediatrician started us on solids at 5 months. We skipped rice cereal altogether and went straight to purees. Our first food was avocado and then on to the veggies and then fruits. We're now also introducing chicken and turkey (good source of iron and the ped wanted LO to put on a little more weight). For the first couple of weeks, we mostly fed him solids once per day. Now we're up to twice per day (lunch & dinner). We introduce a new food every 3-4 days to see if he has an allergic reaction to anything (nothing so far). I've found the Wholesome Baby Food website to be extremely helpful. We were told to feed LO as much as he'll take. When he fusses or turns his head away, that usually means he's done.

eacerna · May 2011

MrsNicole&Brian808:
Our pediatrician started us on solids at 5 months. We skipped rice cereal altogether and went straight to purees. Our first food was avocado and then on to the veggies and then fruits. We're now also introducing chicken and turkey (good source of iron and the ped wanted LO to put on a little more weight). For the first couple of weeks, we mostly fed him solids once per day. Now we're up to twice per day (lunch & dinner). We introduce a new food every 3-4 days to see if he has an allergic reaction to anything (nothing so far). I've found the Wholesome Baby Food website to be extremely helpful. We were told to feed LO as much as he'll take. When he fusses or turns his head away, that usually means he's done.

Thanks. I want to give E avocado this weekend :-).

How do you prepare the chicken and turkey?

MrsNicole&Brian808 · May 2011

eacerna:
MrsNicole&Brian808:
Our pediatrician started us on solids at 5 months. We skipped rice cereal altogether and went straight to purees. Our first food was avocado and then on to the veggies and then fruits. We're now also introducing chicken and turkey (good source of iron and the ped wanted LO to put on a little more weight). For the first couple of weeks, we mostly fed him solids once per day. Now we're up to twice per day (lunch & dinner). We introduce a new food every 3-4 days to see if he has an allergic reaction to anything (nothing so far). I've found the Wholesome Baby Food website to be extremely helpful. We were told to feed LO as much as he'll take. When he fusses or turns his head away, that usually means he's done.

Thanks. I want to give E avocado this weekend :-).

How do you prepare the chicken and turkey?

Here's a helpful page from the Wholesome Baby Food website. I used chicken thighs, cut them up into 1" cubes, then steamed them until they were cooked all the way through. I reserved some of the water leftover from steaming (chicken drippings and some fat). I put everything into the refrigerator until cooled. I put the chicken chunks into my blender (about 1 cup at a time) and let the blender do its thing. I never really got a "powdery" consistency like the website mentions, but I got the chunks down to tiny little shreds. Adding the liquid (about 4 ounces) really does turn it into a puree. I didn't think it would, but it works! It was still a little thick afterward, so I just added some BM when it was time to feed LO to thin it out a little. Now I know to add a little more liquid next time. I'm going to stick the puree in the freezer (BTW, I love the OXO brand freezing trays) and see if they freeze well.

SanHawaii08 · May 2011

eacerna:
SanHawaii08:
so glad you asked, i was wondering too! we're going to start this weekend

Goodluck! It's so fun to watch them eat. I'll be waiting for pictures ;-).

i will be taking plenty, i'm sure, haha. i just saw yours - too cute!!

mrspresley · May 2011

MrsNicole&Brian808:
We were told to feed LO as much as he'll take. When he fusses or turns his head away, that usually means he's done.

I was trying to remember (amazing how it wasn't that long ago and yet i'm having a hard time remembering now!) but I think this statement pretty much fits what we did.....we just let her tell us and we followed her lead.

we just waited until she got used to the texture of the rice cereal before starting purees....once she took to it ok (at first she spit out the thicker stuff) we started the purees. i started w/the green veggies first and waited on the sweeter stuff like bananas, sweet potatoes etc.

eacerna:
do you prepare the chicken and turkey?

i never thought to introduce these until our pedi asked me at her 9 month check up if we had started yet.... we hadn't yet, so she suggested introducing them. i asked her how i should prepare it and she simply suggested cutting it up into small pieces. i was surprised we didn't have to puree it but in the end it was really nice to wait until then b/c i think meat purees are gross =P she ate up the little pieces of chicken just fine and loved them i think unless there is a specific reason your pedi is recommending meat earlier on, it's fine to just wait until they are old enough to eat non pureed meat. she will be getting most of her nutrition from your breastmilk and then solids are just for fun and experimentation i remember malia saying that alexa didn't want to switch from pureed meats to solid meat for the longest time!

MrsNicole&Brian808 · May 2011

mrspresley:
eacerna:
do you prepare the chicken and turkey?
i never thought to introduce these until our pedi asked me at her 9 month check up if we had started yet.... we hadn't yet, so she suggested introducing them. i asked her how i should prepare it and she simply suggested cutting it up into small pieces. i was surprised we didn't have to puree it but in the end it was really nice to wait until then b/c i think meat purees are gross =P she ate up the little pieces of chicken just fine and loved them i think unless there is a specific reason your pedi is recommending meat earlier on, it's fine to just wait until they are old enough to eat non pureed meat. she will be getting most of her nutrition from your breastmilk and then solids are just for fun and experimentation i remember malia saying that alexa didn't want to switch from pureed meats to solid meat for the longest time!

Just wanted to share that our pedi recommended starting meats now for 2 reasons. The first reason was to increase LO's weight gain. While he's still within the normal range, his weight gain has slowed over the last couple of months, which is to be expected because he's so mobile and active now. The 2nd reason was because meats are a good source of iron. Our pedi told us that iron is important for brain development and production of neurotransmitters. There are studies that link iron deficiency at 12 months to ADHD. At our 9-month well-baby check, LO will get a finger stick to check his iron levels. If they are low, there's still time to bring those levels back up before he turns 12 months old.

mrspresley · May 2011

MrsNicole&Brian808:
Just wanted to share that our pedi recommended starting meats now for 2 reasons.

I did see that you were doing that based on your pedi's recommendations I was just trying to say that it depends on the individual baby and his/her needs. we fed a lot of other iron rich foods so when her levels were checked they were fine. luckily she is a good eater and eats most anything (although what she wants will vary from day to day). i don't think there's anything wrong with feeding meat earlier, just saying that I enjoyed skipping meat purees and going straight to small pieces of meat

MrsNicole&Brian808 · May 2011

mrspresley:
MrsNicole&Brian808:
Just wanted to share that our pedi recommended starting meats now for 2 reasons.
I did see that you were doing that based on your pedi's recommendations I was just trying to say that it depends on the individual baby and his/her needs. we fed a lot of other iron rich foods so when her levels were checked they were fine. luckily she is a good eater and eats most anything (although what she wants will vary from day to day). i don't think there's anything wrong with feeding meat earlier, just saying that I enjoyed skipping meat purees and going straight to small pieces of meat

Yeah, I just wanted to share (in general--not specifically because of what you posted Smile ) because I was surprised when the pedi recommended starting meats so early! Most moms/babies I know don't start meats until much later. I asked more questions during our office visit to find out why he suggested it. I find it interesting to see how pedi's preferences vary. Ours also doesn't "believe" in starting out with rice cereal. After hearing his reasons and doing our own research we decided to skip it.

LO is also a good eater. He ate every single thing I gave him until we hit peaches. He actually gagged and I thought he was going to vomit. Stick out tongue I really wanted to do homemade everything, but it's hard to find good (if any) organic produce near where I live so I buy Earth's Best or Plum Organics for the "Dirty Dozen". I tasted the Plum Organics Peaches I was trying to feed LO and it was really tart!

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