Solids...

[angelsgirl]

My Mum keeps telling me that Maddie needs to start on solids soon...
When did you start your little ones on solids? Maddie is only 17 weeks old!

It is really starting to drive me crazy. She thinks because Maddie has started waking up a couple of times through the night (it has happened like 3 times in the past 2 weeks) that it is because she is hungry, therefore she should start having solids. Personally I feel I should give her another bottle.. which I do and she seems fine!
My mother and I have very different views on alot of parenting things... She was one of the people who encouraged me to stop breastfeeding and told me I shouldn't sleep with my baby in my bed.

But I am very lucky to have a baby who sleeps from 10pm-8am pretty much every night. I know this can't/won't continue, and that there will be something or other that will change this routine...
But i don't think giving Maddie solids is going to help her stay sleeping through the night... What do you guys think???

I just don't know what I should do. My mother is driving me crazy!!! I am going to go and make an appointment to see my early childhood nurse person, just to find out all the details, just so I am prepared.

 

[Birbitt]

Well I fed solids to my boys when it was apparent that liquids just were not enough. For my youngest son he started on very watery rice cereal when he was 3 months old. But didn't move on to anything else (including oatmeal cereals) until he was about 6 months. My youngest son didn't start on any kind of solids until he was 5 months old, and moved on to fruits and veggies at about 7 months. Really it depends on the baby.

 

[bliz]

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends only breast milk or formula for the first year. The Canadian Assoc. of Peds says 2 years.

Any other food a baby is given has less of the nutrition that develops the brain and body.

 

[GolfingMom]

Go with what you think she needs

My oldest child started solids at 4 months He's developed fine.

My youngest started cereal mixed in his formula at 2 months He's developed fine.

I know that won't be very accepted here but it's how we did it and have no issues

 

[jgonz]

The AAP, LLL, and the WHO recommend starting solids around 6 months old. The things to look for as far as "readiness" go is that the baby can Sit Up all by herself, she has developed the Pincer Grasp (thumb & forefinger can pick up small pieces of things), and the Tongue thrust has developed into a real swallow (food doesn't come back out the second you stick it in her mouth).

Until she's developed enough, she's not ready for solids. When she is ready, the perfect first foods are avocado, banana, and sweet potato.

And contrary to the Old Wives' Tale, feeding a younger baby solid food, cereal, or thickening a bottle of formula will NOT make the baby sleep longer. It may happen a couple of times, but it usually leads to stomach upset/disgestion problems for most (not all) babies.

 

[~Mrs. A2J~]

What ^^ Jgonz said. We started solids at 6 months for our older two and will do the same for number three.

My advice to you is to do your own research and decide for yourself what's best for your own child. I know as a first time mom it can be hard figuring out what's right so we tend to just follow the advice of those who are "supposed" to know like our parents or doctor (many doctors seem to have really bad advice when it comes to infant nutrition) but it really helps if you research for yourself and that way you can be confident in your decisions.

 

[Gods4me]

the "rules" of when you should do everything have changedd over the past few years,

when i was young it was 4months you were adviced start soilds because thats when there tummys can handle it.

now they say 6 months.

I gave james his first soild. which was a rusk when he was 4months old because his bottle wasnt filling him.

I dont think its a good idea to add in another bottle to the day or to the night. if you think she could do with another bottle she need more filling which would mean a little food could do her some good.

(sorry dont mean to side with your mother)

ever kid is diffrent and need to start soild at diffrent times.


just dont put anything in her bottle to make it more filling. because thats not good. it clogs up the bottle and could mean that she would get no food but also ruins you bottles.

you just have to deside what best for her. if you think she need more filling then soilds are a good way to go.

the thing bout when ever you start babys spit most of it out so the dont really eat much at all.

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

The AAP, LLL, and the WHO recommend starting solids around 6 months old. The things to look for as far as "readiness" go is that the baby can Sit Up all by herself, she has developed the Pincer Grasp (thumb & forefinger can pick up small pieces of things), and the Tongue thrust has developed into a real swallow (food doesn't come back out the second you stick it in her mouth).

Until she's developed enough, she's not ready for solids. When she is ready, the perfect first foods are avocado, banana, and sweet potato.

And contrary to the Old Wives' Tale, feeding a younger baby solid food, cereal, or thickening a bottle of formula will NOT make the baby sleep longer. It may happen a couple of times, but it usually leads to stomach upset/disgestion problems for most (not all) babies.

This is good advice.

 

[Hadassah]

6-12months if you have food allergies or aversions in your family. We're gunning for 1 year. Then and only then will we start to introduce solids.

My grandparents in law are aghast I am BFing past 3 months and not introducing solids. My mom keeps saying 'put some rice cereal in his milk bottle...' and I keep saying when suggested 'no, at one year we will start with solids. then, and not before'

There's a reason they wake for food in the middle of the night... or for comfort nursing. We can't read their brains and I can fairly guarantee that if they're not hungry It's likely they had a bad dream, got bored playing by themselves in bed/the crib or just need some face time.

Not only does thickening milk/formula not work, it sets up for bowel issues in the future (if not earlier) It is a new hypothesis that if you are prone to celiac disease or gluten intolerance, this may turn on the celiac gene.

 

[angelsgirl]

My grandparents in law are aghast I am BFing past 3 months and not introducing solids. My mom keeps saying 'put some rice cereal in his milk bottle...' and I keep saying when suggested 'no, at one year we will start with solids. then, and not before'

There's a reason they wake for food in the middle of the night... or for comfort nursing. We can't read their brains and I can fairly guarantee that if they're not hungry It's likely they had a bad dream, got bored playing by themselves in bed/the crib or just need some face time.

I completely agree with you about the reason they wake in the middle of the night! Yesterday Maddie was having her afternoon nap and she woke up crying... this was after about 2 hours of sleeping. She was fed just before she went to sleep so I knew she wasn't hungry. I picked her up and gave her her dummy, then we went out to the lounge and I rocked her while watching a DVD. All she needed there was some comfort and to know that Mummy was there. I am very lucky to have a very good sleeping baby. But this is going to happen during the night occasionally too! My mother has a very different view of children than I do. They need to sleep when she says, they need to be seen and not heard. If you put them to bed at night they should sleep through from when they are really little. You don't cuddle or feed to sleep... Ugh... Cause if you do those things you are spoiling your child and it is going to be hard to break the 'bad habit!'
Ugh sorry about the rant!

HadassahSukkot, good for you holding your ground on what you think is best for you and your little one. I hope they stop telling you to do those things and get it through their head that this is what you are going to do and support you in your decision.

 

[Assisi]

I agree with jgonz, watch for the developmental cues.

 

[CrystalBrooke]

First of all, your mother is going to try and tell you how to raise your child until the end of time..it's just how most mothers are. BUT, you must remember that YOU are the mommy and YOU decided what's best for your child. Do some research and decide for yourself what's best for Madeleine. I started Emily on solids pretty early..around 4 or 5 months I think and she's turned out fine..but it's not like that for all babies, especially if your family has any food allergies. In the mean time just kindly listen to your mother and then do what you want.

 

[Leanna]

Whoa. This is the first I remembered that I haven't even thought about feeding my baby solids yet. He is 3 days older than yours. So no hurry. Oh and he sleeps all night now. Just make sure she eats enough during the day.

 

[angelsgirl]

It wouldn't have occured to me to feed her solids yet either, except that my mum keeps bringing it up!
Maddie is doing well on just milk now so i don't see any reason to start solids just yet.

From the cues that jgnoz mentioned, maddie isn't at all ready for solids yet. She can't do any of them. So I will just keep going with the formula for now!

 

[Neenie1]

Both of mine started solids around 4 months. If you don't want to feed her solids yet, then don't. Don't cave to pressure from anyone either, it's your baby not theirs.

I don't regret starting my babies on solids earlier than the "recommended" (remember they are only recommendations) age, but it's not like that for everyone. I do know of some mums who started their babies early and their kids ended up with exczema, and various other allergies. Follow your gut instinct and if it says no, then don't do it.


Am I right in assuming your dd is your mum's first grandchild? If so then I remember my ds was first grandchild on both sides of the family and just about everything I did was met with some comment from MIL and my mum. Yeah it's just mothers for you, I wonder if I will be the same when I have grandchildren lol.

 

[angelsgirl]

Am I right in assuming your dd is your mum's first grandchild? If so then I remember my ds was first grandchild on both sides of the family and just about everything I did was met with some comment from MIL and my mum. Yeah it's just mothers for you, I wonder if I will be the same when I have grandchildren lol.

Maddie is the first grandchild on each side! Thankfully my PIL don't really say anything about the way we have been parenting. They did day to my husband (not me) that they didn't think having the baby in our room was wise. But they didn't express that to me and when DH said that is what I wanted they didn't mention it again! My MIL is good... I don't mind asking her for advice. She gives it and then leaves it at that. So I do ask her alot of things. She isn't as pushy as my mum though. When my Mum has an opinion you know about it!

 

[Gods4me]

was just wondering what stage of mik you give to her? because if shes only on the first stage move up to the 2nd stage. because it has a bit more filling in it. with out moving on to solids.

i see other people have been advicing adding things in to the bottles... really dont do it. its not good for the baby at all and its more likey she is going to choke on it. if you really think she needs more filling in the bottle just give her food instead.
(yes people ill say there babys are fine and that great but i dont think i could give a bottle to a child if there a risk she could choke on it,)


your heath vistor should come out to see you when your at this stage. to let you know about weaning on to soilds. they ill tell you all the do's and dont. and if not. maybe you should make an appointment and get her to tell you what she thinks.