2 Unrelated Questions: Alcohol & Food @ 4months.

melmcdaniel07 · November 2013

So... I by no means am asking about heavy drinking (I've had one glass of wine since my 4 month old was born). I have some holiday parties coming up and I'd like to be able to enjoy a drink or two but I guess I feel a little weird about this. I have heard of people all over the board: some don't drink at all, some drink and then pump and dump, some drink and just wait two hours and feed like normal. I'm just curious what you ladies are doing about this. And please.... no negative comments....

2nd question... at our last appointment my doctor suggested we start him on baby food and rice cereal... I feel like this is a little too soon. He's gaining weight just fine and seems to be full after breastfeeding. I'm not sure if this was just a canned response or if there is good reason for it. He did mention that he thought given his weight... 15 pds, 4 oz, that he would start wanting more (but I assume I would just start naturally producing more).

Sorry for the long post!

amandarins · November 2013

I don't breast feed, so I can't help you there.

Rice cereal is pretty old school. I personally feel like 4 months is too early. If you're not comfortable with the pedis advice, I'd get a new one.

BelhurstBride · November 2013

I go by sober enough to drive, sober enough to nurse rule of thumb. If I plan to drink more than that I offer pumped milk but don't pump and dump unless I get engorged.

We do BLWing and offer real food around 6 months, whenever LO is developmentally ready.

PB102012 · November 2013

MosyMama said:
Having a drink while BFing is fine. The rule of thumb that I've heard most often is that if you can legally drive then you can BF. KellyMom explains this well, along with everything else BF-related!

I think 4 months is early for cereal and baby food, especially since your babe is content with BM right now. As pp said, rice cereal is an old-school recommendation, since it has no nutritional benefit and is basically filler food (empty calories).

I plan to introduce new foods as baby cues for it, and no earlier than 6 months. I also agree with getting another opinion/new pediatrician.

I agree with everything here. Well said.

steelerbaby29 · November 2013

I called my nurses line on my insurance about drinking and breastfeeding. I strictly pump, but he is still getting my breast milk. They said when alcohol is out of your blood it's out of your milk.

taraleanne · November 2013

Agreed with the previous posters on drinking. If you are not sure, pump and dump.

I will politely disagree with cereal being of no nutritional value. It has some value, absolutely, it's just that BM is always going to be better of course. For certain reasons between my pedi and I, we started my 4m old on cereal (first rice,then oatmeal mixed with BM) when he was 4 months old. Cereal is good for the following reasons: it's an easy transition from exclusively BM to solids, help babies learn how to swallow, easy to digest and contains iron. Where I live, the public health is recommending babies start with cereal or other iron fortified foods (so this would be meat or legumes or baby cereal) because around 6 months old is when the iron stores the baby gets from mama start to deplete. They are suggesting we don't start fruit and veg until 7 months. Personally, I'll start sooner than that, I 100% watch my babies cues. I think mom's know best. Bottom line: if YOU think your baby isn't ready then keep on EBF!! Some babies are ready for some cereal at 4 months, some aren't. It's just like everything, these months to "start" are guidelines. Babies roll, crawl, walk, talk all at different rates because every baby is different. Sure, get a new pedi if you want or talk them about your concerns but LOTS of babies start solids before 6 months for various reasons, again, do what YOU think is best for YOUR baby. If he's not ready, don't do it. There's always a ton of different opinions about solids but I don't think there is right or wrong answer because all babies are different

carrotcake06 · November 2013

To echo pp: if you can drive, you can nurse. Once alcohol has cleared your blood, it's cleared your BM so no need to pump and dump unless you're wasted and engorged.

As far as introducing solids goes, I'm more of a fan of waiting until LO is ready than doing it at a certain age. As far as cereal goes, whatever. It's all just practice and it's not like you'll be doing cereal exclusively forever, so if you want to give it a shot, no harm is done. If it goes well, then I'd move on to bigger and better things.

Www.wholeseomebabyfood.com is a great resource.

greenangeleyes · November 2013

I agree with sober enough to drive sober enough to drink. When I go to a party I order my glass of wine, or I ask for a weak mixed drink, when i arrive and I nurse it through the night. By the time we leave the alcohol has worked its way through my system and I am ok to breastfeed or pump and store if need be.
As for food my doc says 4mo is ok to start introducing solids, but for bf babies they recommend waiting til 6mo so it doesn't effect the milk supply and you can nurse as long as you choose. Apparently after 6mo your supply is more regular. I just read an article here that said starting solids after 16 weeks in conjuction with breastfeeding can possibly lower risk of food allergies. Personally I am not going to start solids til 6mo, but I also plan of breastfeeding til one year. Although with the holiday season coming up I know my LO will be getting "tastes" off the plates of his grandparents, but I am ok with that. In the end it is all about what you and baby are ready for/comfortable with. I am a firm believer of Mom knows best.

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

It's totally fine to drink and bf. I always pre pump before doing so. So if baby is hungry I can reassure there in no alcohol in my system. Or if I want to save those bottles, I pump about 1/2 of an ounce and test my milk with the alcohol test strips. They work really well. I did an experiment and it was totally correct. If there is no alcohol I then bf.

janelleashu · November 2013

TexasGirl81 said:

It's totally fine to drink and bf. I always pre pump before doing so. So if baby is hungry I can reassure there in no alcohol in my system. Or if I want to save those bottles, I pump about 1/2 of an ounce and test my milk with the alcohol test strips. They work really well. I did an experiment and it was totally correct. If there is no alcohol I then bf.

Where did you get the alcohol test strips? That's a great idea!

jschmidt6 · November 2013

My pedi said if our LO can sit up on his own then he can start solids. I guess that's just a developmental benchmark he uses.

trudibell · November 2013

I don't breast feed either, however I usually abstain to be the designated driver if we go to a restaurant or party with LO. I just feel better knowing someone is 100% sober behind the wheel with my kid.

Some pediatricians are "old school" and will suggest solid food at 4 months, but the AAP recommends nothing but breast milk or formula for the first six. My pediatrician asked what we were doing about solid food and we told her we were waiting at least until LO was 6 months and she said that was fine, probably better, but if we really felt compelled to do so giving him food at 4 or 5 months wouldn't be a big deal. She wasn't against giving a baby cereals, but agreed with our decision to start him on home made vegetable purees before introducing other things. We're probably going to skip the cereals altogether, I'm just not convinced that it's any different than giving him white bread which I wouldn't do anyway.

taraleanne · November 2013

trudibell said:

I don't breast feed either, however I usually abstain to be the designated driver if we go to a restaurant or party with LO. I just feel better knowing someone is 100% sober behind the wheel with my kid.

Some pediatricians are "old school" and will suggest solid food at 4 months, but the AAP recommends nothing but breast milk or formula for the first six. My pediatrician asked what we were doing about solid food and we told her we were waiting at least until LO was 6 months and she said that was fine, probably better, but if we really felt compelled to do so giving him food at 4 or 5 months wouldn't be a big deal. She wasn't against giving a baby cereals, but agreed with our decision to start him on home made vegetable purees before introducing other things. We're probably going to skip the cereals altogether, I'm just not convinced that it's any different than giving him white bread which I wouldn't do anyway.

The reason why cereals are around is because they are iron fortified and around 6m iron from the mother's stores usually depletes and baby needs to get it from other sources. Cereal is an easy option and I disagree it's like white bread, having read the ingredients it's certainly isn't anything like bread. I think it's better than meats and legumes as first solids. Those things pureed are pretty gross I think

Where I live, the public health is recommending first solids be cereals, meats, beans, lentils, eggs....etc. All the high iron food. They actually don't suggest fruit and veg till 7-8 months but I know I'll start earlier than that. These recommendations are apparently based on AAP and Canada Health but I think that in reality people are doing all sorts of "introducing solids" methods. We are going to do cereals and high iron foods but not wait for fruit and veg. I may also skip pureed meats all together and try small pieces of cut up chicken. I'm sure every family will find something that works best for them and every baby will turn out just fine

TexasGirl81 · November 2013

janelleashu said:

TexasGirl81 said:

It's totally fine to drink and bf. I always pre pump before doing so. So if baby is hungry I can reassure there in no alcohol in my system. Or if I want to save those bottles, I pump about 1/2 of an ounce and test my milk with the alcohol test strips. They work really well. I did an experiment and it was totally correct. If there is no alcohol I then bf.

Where did you get the alcohol test strips? That's a great idea!

@janelleashu
I know! I love them. They sell them at babies r us. They are kind of hard to find so just get an associate to help out.

janelleashu · November 2013

TexasGirl81 said:

janelleashu said:

TexasGirl81 said:

It's totally fine to drink and bf. I always pre pump before doing so. So if baby is hungry I can reassure there in no alcohol in my system. Or if I want to save those bottles, I pump about 1/2 of an ounce and test my milk with the alcohol test strips. They work really well. I did an experiment and it was totally correct. If there is no alcohol I then bf.

Where did you get the alcohol test strips? That's a great idea!

@janelleashu
I know! I love them. They sell them at babies r us. They are kind of hard to find so just get an associate to help out.

Thanks! Think I can put them on my LO's Christmas wish list? Haha.

trudibell · December 2013

taraleanne said:

trudibell said:

I don't breast feed either, however I usually abstain to be the designated driver if we go to a restaurant or party with LO. I just feel better knowing someone is 100% sober behind the wheel with my kid.

Some pediatricians are "old school" and will suggest solid food at 4 months, but the AAP recommends nothing but breast milk or formula for the first six. My pediatrician asked what we were doing about solid food and we told her we were waiting at least until LO was 6 months and she said that was fine, probably better, but if we really felt compelled to do so giving him food at 4 or 5 months wouldn't be a big deal. She wasn't against giving a baby cereals, but agreed with our decision to start him on home made vegetable purees before introducing other things. We're probably going to skip the cereals altogether, I'm just not convinced that it's any different than giving him white bread which I wouldn't do anyway.

The reason why cereals are around is because they are iron fortified and around 6m iron from the mother's stores usually depletes and baby needs to get it from other sources. Cereal is an easy option and I disagree it's like white bread, having read the ingredients it's certainly isn't anything like bread. I think it's better than meats and legumes as first solids. Those things pureed are pretty gross I think Where I live, the public health is recommending first solids be cereals, meats, beans, lentils, eggs....etc. All the high iron food. They actually don't suggest fruit and veg till 7-8 months but I know I'll start earlier than that. These recommendations are apparently based on AAP and Canada Health but I think that in reality people are doing all sorts of "introducing solids" methods. We are going to do cereals and high iron foods but not wait for fruit and veg. I may also skip pureed meats all together and try small pieces of cut up chicken. I'm sure every family will find something that works best for them and every baby will turn out just fine

Of course introducing cereals or whatever first is fine. From my understanding, what you introduce first doesn't really matter as much as people think https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Switching-to-Solid-Foods.aspx

That said, my reason for veggies first (which I have discussed at length with my pediatrician) is that obesity runs in our family - both my husband and I struggled growing up with it and basically had to reteach ourselves how to properly eat as adults. It's a tough road to healthy eating these days, and of course, LO will have the same food choices we had, we just hope that starting with veggies and setting a good example from day 1 helps him avoid some of the health problems we had as kids and young adults. I'm probably going with a homemade sweet potato puree first (which also is a source of iron). I agree with you about pureed meats, although it's ok to disagree about cereals. (Just a disclaimer, I'm not an anti-carb fanatic by any means). I think at the end of the day so long as you nourish your child in the way that's best for your family is what's important.

taraleanne · December 2013

trudibell said:

I think at the end of the day so long as you nourish your child in the way that's best for your family is what's important.

@trudibell - I totally agree.

I'm going to try a homemade sweet potato puree next too. My son could use some beefing up so he could use some carbs and fats!

BelhurstBride · December 2013

taraleanne said:

trudibell said:

I don't breast feed either, however I usually abstain to be the designated driver if we go to a restaurant or party with LO. I just feel better knowing someone is 100% sober behind the wheel with my kid.

Some pediatricians are "old school" and will suggest solid food at 4 months, but the AAP recommends nothing but breast milk or formula for the first six. My pediatrician asked what we were doing about solid food and we told her we were waiting at least until LO was 6 months and she said that was fine, probably better, but if we really felt compelled to do so giving him food at 4 or 5 months wouldn't be a big deal. She wasn't against giving a baby cereals, but agreed with our decision to start him on home made vegetable purees before introducing other things. We're probably going to skip the cereals altogether, I'm just not convinced that it's any different than giving him white bread which I wouldn't do anyway.

The reason why cereals are around is because they are iron fortified and around 6m iron from the mother's stores usually depletes and baby needs to get it from other sources. Cereal is an easy option and I disagree it's like white bread, having read the ingredients it's certainly isn't anything like bread. I think it's better than meats and legumes as first solids. Those things pureed are pretty gross I think Where I live, the public health is recommending first solids be cereals, meats, beans, lentils, eggs....etc. All the high iron food. They actually don't suggest fruit and veg till 7-8 months but I know I'll start earlier than that. These recommendations are apparently based on AAP and Canada Health but I think that in reality people are doing all sorts of "introducing solids" methods. We are going to do cereals and high iron foods but not wait for fruit and veg. I may also skip pureed meats all together and try small pieces of cut up chicken. I'm sure every family will find something that works best for them and every baby will turn out just fine

@taraleanne That's incorrect information.

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron/

taraleanne · December 2013

BelhurstBride said:

taraleanne said:

trudibell said:

I don't breast feed either, however I usually abstain to be the designated driver if we go to a restaurant or party with LO. I just feel better knowing someone is 100% sober behind the wheel with my kid.

Some pediatricians are "old school" and will suggest solid food at 4 months, but the AAP recommends nothing but breast milk or formula for the first six. My pediatrician asked what we were doing about solid food and we told her we were waiting at least until LO was 6 months and she said that was fine, probably better, but if we really felt compelled to do so giving him food at 4 or 5 months wouldn't be a big deal. She wasn't against giving a baby cereals, but agreed with our decision to start him on home made vegetable purees before introducing other things. We're probably going to skip the cereals altogether, I'm just not convinced that it's any different than giving him white bread which I wouldn't do anyway.

The reason why cereals are around is because they are iron fortified and around 6m iron from the mother's stores usually depletes and baby needs to get it from other sources. Cereal is an easy option and I disagree it's like white bread, having read the ingredients it's certainly isn't anything like bread. I think it's better than meats and legumes as first solids. Those things pureed are pretty gross I think Where I live, the public health is recommending first solids be cereals, meats, beans, lentils, eggs....etc. All the high iron food. They actually don't suggest fruit and veg till 7-8 months but I know I'll start earlier than that. These recommendations are apparently based on AAP and Canada Health but I think that in reality people are doing all sorts of "introducing solids" methods. We are going to do cereals and high iron foods but not wait for fruit and veg. I may also skip pureed meats all together and try small pieces of cut up chicken. I'm sure every family will find something that works best for them and every baby will turn out just fine

@taraleanne That's incorrect information.

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/vitamins/iron/

@belhurstbride - fair enough but you can't suggest what I said is incorrect information based on an article from over 2 years ago.... sorry, but kellymom is ONE source of information. What I said is quoted directly from a Registered Dietician who says the recommendations of our public health office is based on Health Canada guidelines and the AAP. The kellymom article also says the following: The current research indicates that a baby’s iron stores should last between six and twelve months, depending upon the baby.

Emphasize the word "should". And this is exactly why they are suggesting we start with high iron foods where I live.

We don't have to agree and I realize that different people are given different advice from their health provider, but I'm personally going to go by what I was told by the medical professionals in my community.

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