starting solids. WWYD?

rmm17 · July 2011

I originally intended to wait until at least 6 months to start solids. Ace will be 6 months in 2 weeks and weight about 18 lbs. I EBF. For the past 2 week he's been waking every 45 mins-2 hours. He wants comfort and to nurse (either for food or comfort).

My friends and family keep telling me that if i start him on solids he will sleep better. I know the research says this isn't true but i'm getting desperate. We plan to skip rice cereal and start with avocado or possibly oatmeal. Should we start now or stick to our original plan to wait until 6 months. The other aspect is that we leave for vacation next Tuesday and will be out of town. I think it would be a pain to bring baby food along on a cruise (especially when i had originally hoped to make my own). I don't want Ace to be really hungry though. What would you do?

Dreamsicle23 · July 2011

Does he seem interested in food? If he is, then I say go for it. If not, wait. I started DS on cereal and veggies at 4 months. There was no way I could wait longer. He wanted FOOD, dammit! He also started sleeping 9-10 hours at that point. I know they say it's an OWT but it sure was a strange coincidence, especially since most babies have a wakeful period around then.

Valleybugt · July 2011

I just started BLW w my daughter and her sleeping seems unchanged. Sounds like a growth spurt.

skyejo · July 2011

My LO has been on solids (BLW) since six months. She's never once slept through the night. Granted, we bed share so the nursing buffet is too tempting to resist, but the introduction of food unfortunatly didn't have the powerful sleep-all-night effects that I was hoping for! Personally, if your LO seems hungry I would start solids, but not if it was just as a way to see if he would STTN.

shaunna&chad · July 2011

I think if the only reason you are considering getting started is to improve his sleep, like you said, it may not work. That being said, we started BLW at 5.5 months, and H did well. Since you are so close to the 6mo mark, and if he is showing all signs of developmental readiness, of course go ahead. I disagree however, with babies wanting food for hunger purposes at such a young age. I believe they show interest in food because they see adults with it. They show interest in whatever is in our hands, really, be it food, a phone, keys, etc. Babies have no clue that eating food satiates their hunger.

When you do start offering solids, remember to offer BM or formula first. And have fun!!! We had a blast watching H learn how to eat :-)

LouiseB2001 · July 2011

It is a myth that they sleep better. If you are starting a trip I strongly recommend waiting. I took DD on a 5 day overseas trip when she was 6 1/2 month and just the logistics of bringing frozen food to thaw and then buying new food was exhausting. Also remember at this time solids is just for fun, they hardly eat any of it and it is very messy. DD didn't really want to be fed (we did a mix between mashed veggies and BLW), she slowly learned to feed herself but that is even more messy. There is really not much difference between starting at 5 1/2 month and 6 months.

Kingston54 · July 2011

Everyone said that to me too and starting solids made ZERO difference; we also waited until 6 months. We started with butternut squash and skipped cereal too. First cereal we started was oatmeal around 8 months. That might have filled his belly a little more but the only thing that helped him sleep was time.

I agree to hold off on starting solids until after your cruise. Wait until you get home and you can do it the right way.

BlindysWife · July 2011

We started LO with solids at 6 months, and I secretly hoped and wished that it would improve his sleep, but it didn't. I would personally wait until you're back from your vacation.

IncogNeato · July 2011

Solids made absolutely no difference for my LO.

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