ot- starting solifds

emmababy

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I love how helpful this board is!!

I started my 4 month old on cereal last week. Today we added in breakfast. I have no memory on how I did things with my dd!:confused3

How long on just cereal until you all added in baby food? How long until you added lunch and then stage 2?

Thanks!
 
We skipped cereal and baby food entirely, and started by giving him overcooked, fork mashed veggies like sweet potatoes and carrots, a little mashed banana, applesauce etc. and gradually offered soft veggies without being mashed.

Our pediatrician explained that introducing solids at around 5.5-6 months was to get them used to different textures, and not nutritionally necessary, and I was happy not to have to buy prepared baby foods.
 
I know the cereal is a good source of iron. Thanks for the input! We switched my daughter to all table foods by around 8-9 months. Do you remember when you went from 2 to 3 meals a day?
 
I know the cereal is a good source of iron. Thanks for the input! We switched my daughter to all table foods by around 8-9 months. Do you remember when you went from 2 to 3 meals a day?

It really just depends on the baby. I started my last guy at 4 months per dr.'s orders. at 6 they said to work up to 2 meals and by 9 he should be at 3 meals. He is almost 10 months now and isn't interested in the 3rd meal. He has cereal and 1-2 stage 2 foods for breakfast (after his morning nap). Then snacks on cheerios or life afterwards. For dinner he will have cereal and 1-2 veggies or dinners. He will have graham crackers or rice cake for a snack around 3. He nurses 3-4 times a day.
 

DS was adopted, so formula fed, and iron wasn't an issue. We just offered him a little food at every meal, often off our plates. He just started eating more and more until eventually he was eating mostly solids.

I didn't really time or plan or anything, just sort of took his cues.
 
If you went by doctor's suggestion, they have outdated info...the organization giving suggestions for babies now says to start after 6 months, not earlier.

As an adult who has really annoying food intolerances/allergies and issues that I put strongly back to being fed food too early (despite also being nursed until I was 4 years old, which is a strong family tradition in my very extended family, to do extended nursing). Hubby has had some life-threatening problems that he links back to (because it's the same foods that he was fed first) being fed solids too early, I highly recommend delaying! That might not be helpful for you, since you've made the decision, but it might help a lurker with their decision.

(DS was exclusively nursed to past 11 months - doc suggested going to a year b/c of the food intolerances on both sides, but DS had different ideas and grabbed my apple, took a bite, chewed and swallowed it one day - and ate a lovely combo of food, on his schedule, along with nursing (also on his schedule), and is very healthy...just in case anyone wondered)
 
The baby's gut isn't usually ready for solids until 6+ months. Here is an AWESOME article on starting solids!!
http://209.85.173.132/search?q=cach...ion+early+solid+food&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=7&gl=us

We introduced some stuff to DD1 around 5-6 months but she didn't start eating regularly until about 14-16 months (she still BF'd regularly though...she's still nursing 1-2x/day, actually). Now this time we're doing stuff different- skipping the fillers (cereals) and purees all together and just going to table food, casually. (like mashed up bananas, avacado, peaches/pears, "red stuff", etc) Like, I don't go out of my way to make sure she eats solids, but if we're having something she can eat, then I give her some.
 
I remember my ped telling us to feed veggies before fruit because the baby might no take to veggies after having the sweet tasting fruit. I started solids at four months, no food allergies for my kids, but neither my DH or I have them either.
 
We did the cereal with formula... until 5-6 months. Then we started with the more bitter vegetables first. Try one for 3-4 days before adding another just to make sure there was no allergies. It was recommended that we do start with the bitter vegetables first as sometimes children who have "sweet" fruits or vegetables first won't take the green beans and peas later on. By the time they were about 8-9 months both children were eating 2 "meals" plus snacks - cheerios, teething bisquits. We went right to table food about 10 or 11 months - mashed of course and spiced appropriately.

My children are both great eaters now and I really credit my dr. for recommending the bitter vegetables first. They love brussel sprouts, broccoli, peas, beans etc... The only food DS dislikes is what he calls "mushy rice" usually in a casserole and DD's food is onion. Not bad. My children ask for, "More bok choy please!" :rotfl:
 
Here's some info from my ped's website. I found their info on introducing solids very helpful.

Starting Your Baby on Solid Foods

click on the following links to jump directly to the section:
[General] [What Foods to Introduce] [Food Sensitivities & Allergies] [Caution]
[Feeding Suggestions]


General Information

You should generally start solid foods between 4-6 months of age. Starting solids
earlier than this will NOT cause your baby to sleep longer at night.

For your baby’s first year, breastmilk or formula is the most important part of her
diet. As you introduce solids, make sure that she is still drinking adequate
amounts of formula or breast milk.

Feed your baby all solids from a spoon. Putting cereal in the bottle is not a good
idea, and part of learning about solids is learning to eat with a spoon.

You may want to start solids at a time when your baby is hungry but not
starving, such as after he has had a little formula or breast milk, but not after a
full milk feeding when he is not at all hungry.

Try to introduce new foods with enthusiasm, but do not force your child to eat
something. If your child is not interested in a new food, put it away and try
introducing it again later.

When introducing new foods, there should be an interval of 2-3 days between
each new food so that you will know if your baby is having a reaction to a new
food. If you baby develops vomiting, rash or diarrhea, please do not give that
food again and discuss this reaction at your next visit. If your child develops
hives or breathing problems, please call the office.
[Back to Top]


What Foods to Introduce

Somewhere between 4 and 6 months old, rice cereal should generally be the first
food you introduce to your baby. Start with about one tablespoon of cereal mixed
with a little breastmilk or formula once or twice a day.

After your baby is eating rice cereal well, you may begin to introduce pureed
vegetables and fruits (either homemade or bought at the store). Start with about
one tablespoon and slowly work up to about 1/4 cup.

Around 6-7 months old, you may introduce pureed chicken and meat (these are
good sources of iron).

Around 7-8 months old, you may find your baby is able to handle more texture
and eat larger quantities, and may prefer eating a jar of Stage 2 foods.

Once your child is about 8 months old and sitting up well, you may introduce
finger foods such as biscuits, Cheerios, pasta, soft bread/toast, small pieces of
soft vegetables or fruits, and shredded chicken or meat.

A note on constipation: Sometimes when a baby starts on solid foods, he will
become constipated (hard stools). If your baby becomes constipated, use
oatmeal or barley cereal instead of rice cereal and avoid bananas and sweet
potatoes, which are constipating. All the fruits which begin with "P" (plums,
peaches, prunes, pears) will help soften your baby’s stool, so give them often if
you baby is having hard stools. If your baby is constipated, you may also give him
1 ounce of prune juice mixed with 1 ounce of water every day or two.

Beverages

For the whole first year, breastmilk or formula should be your baby’s primary
beverage. Typical amounts are listed in the table at the end of the page.

After the age of 6 months, about 4 ounces of fluoridated water (tap water in
many towns) is good for your baby’s teeth. If your water supply is not
fluoridated, please ask your doctor about fluoride drops.

Fruit juice tends to be high in sugar and fills up babies so they eat less nutritious
food. We do NOT recommend giving juice to your baby in the first year.
[Back to Top]


Food Sensitivities and Allergies

Citrus fruits and tomatoes may cause a rash around the mouth in young children,
so avoid them until about 9 months old. (This is not a true allergy and children
with this type of reaction may have these foods when they are older.)

We recommend avoiding egg whites until near 12 months old.
Avoid nut and peanut products and shellfish until at least 12 months old. (Solid
nuts are a choking hazard and should be avoided until at least 4 years old.)

If you have a family history of specific food allergies or severe eczema, you may
want to avoid allergenic foods until your child is as old as 4 or 5 years. You
should discuss this with your provider.
[Back to Top]


CAUTION!

Nuts, whole grapes, spoonfuls of peanut butter, round slices of hot dog, hard raw
vegetables, popcorn, hard candies, and ice are all choking hazards and should not
be given to your child until 4 years old. All foods you give younger children should
be soft and in small pieces.

Do not give your baby honey until he is over 1 year old.

Do not home prepare beets, turnips, carrots, spinach, and collard greens while
your child is an infant. These can be high in nitrates when prepared at home, but
are safe if given as store-bought baby food.

[Back to Top]

Feeding Suggestions For Your Baby by age

AT 4-6 Months

Breastmilk or Formula
5-6 times a day = 24 - 36 ounces in 24 hours

Solids once or twice a day
Cereals/grains: Baby cereal 1-3 Tablespoons per serving mixed with breastmilk,
formula, or water; start once a day and increase to twice a day

Vegetables: Start with 1 Tablespoon and increase gradually to about 2 ounces
per serving; may use store-bought Stage 1 baby foods or homemade cooked,
pureed vegetables

Fruits: Start with 1 Tablespoon and increase gradually to about 2 ounces per
serving; may use store-bought Stage 1 baby foods or homemade fresh, pureed
fruits

Meats/Eggs/Other proteins: NONE


AT 6-9 Months
Breastmilk or Formula
5-6 times a day = 24 - 36 ounces in 24 hours

Solids two or three times a day
Cereals/grains: 2 servings baby cereal; may start biscuits, soft pieces of
bread/toast when baby is sitting up well

Vegetables: 1-2 servings/day of 2-4 ounces; may use store-bought Stage 1 or
Stage 2 baby foods or homemade cooked, mashed vegetables

Fruits: 1-2 servings/day of 2-4 ounces each; may use store-bought Stage 1 or
Stage 2 baby foods or homemade cooked, mashed fruits

Meats/Eggs/Other proteins: 1-2 servings/day of 2-4 ounces chicken, meat, or
beans; may use store-bought Stage 1 or Stage 2 baby foods or homemade very
soft shredded chicken, meat, or beans


AT 9-12 Months

Breastmilk or Formula
4-5 times a day = 16 - 24 ounces in 24 hours

Solids three times a day
Cereals/grains: 2 servings/day baby cereal, oatmeal, cheerios, soft breads, or
pasta

Vegetables: 1-2 servings/day of about 4 ounces; may use store-bought baby
foods or homemade soft, cooked vegetables

Fruits: 1-2 servings/day of about 4 ounces; may use store-bought baby foods or
homemade soft pieces of fruit

Meats/Eggs/Other proteins: 1-2 servings/day of soft chicken, meat, fish, beans,
yogurt, cheese; may start egg yolks around 9 months and whole eggs around 12
months (max 3 eggs/week);
 
DD is 8.5 months and really just starting solids.
We started introducing food at 6 months, but she wasn't interested. We've skipped a lot of the cereals because she seemed to have an intolerance.
She does a couple of meals a day, generally she does one protein meal (chicken and veggies) and one fruit meal (bananas & blueberries).
She only is tolerating organics, and we're doing a brand called sweet pea that is frozen organic baby food.
Truthfully, it's taken 2 months for her to be interested in food.
We're also trying to wean her from breastfeeding during the day. She's really only started taking bottles in the last couple of weeks also.
 
If you went by doctor's suggestion, they have outdated info...the organization giving suggestions for babies now says to start after 6 months, not earlier.

Yeah, it's amazing how many peds don't follow the guidelines set forth by their own organization. Obviously, it's ultimately the decision of the parents when to start solids, but they should be given the proper recommendations.

OP, my 8 month is just starting to get more interested in solids. I feed her mixtures of mashed up table food and jarred baby food. She's taken well to everything so far. At this stage, I wouldn't be too concerned about getting her to take meals, per se. The purpose of solids is to experiment with flavors and textures. Breastmilk or formula is the primary source of nutrition until at least 1 year.
 
At that age babies should really be getting all their nutrition from breastmilk or formula. I wouldn't start feeding several "meals" each day as a replacement for milk. I didn't start feeding my babies food until they were quite a bit older than that (but I know my mom started giving us cereal when we were just a few weeks old). My oldest is the only one that ever ate the cereal. Other than that they ate food that I made at home or jars of a few things. My youngest just waited until he could eat the food himself. He never liked being fed pureed/mashed food.
 
My children are both great eaters now and I really credit my dr. for recommending the bitter vegetables first. They love brussel sprouts, broccoli, peas, beans etc... The only food DS dislikes is what he calls "mushy rice" usually in a casserole and DD's food is onion. Not bad. My children ask for, "More bok choy please!" :rotfl:

LOL - we did veggies first, too. Two are great eaters, one is okay (he's 10, getting better), and two are horrible buttered noodle lovers! :lmao:
 
I started all my kids around 4-5mths just to get use of solid foods. I made all my own food and usually just a few table spoons is all they need at the beginning. My now 12mth old instantly loved solid food where my DD I thought we were going to be mashing her food until she was in college.

I agree with the other posters to make sure the baby is getting most of her meals either from formula or breastfeeding.
 
Both of my boys started on cereals at 3 months. My second son is 7 months and is almost completely on solids, he eats almost everything we do, so much easier.
 
My son started cereal (off the spoon, never out of the bottle) at 10 weeks. He was formula fed from day 1 (downing 2 oz. a shot right from the womb) and was maxing out on formula by 10 weeks (35 oz/ day). Doctor told us to introduce cereal so we did twice a day and that really helped. After about two weeks on Rice we tried Oat and then Barley (his favorite). He didn't like his cereal real runny either.

At 4 months we started with the green veggies first doing one at a time for 4-5 days. Then we did the orange veggies and finally the fruits. Like a PP, our doctor recommended so that he wouldn't get used to the sweet flavors.

I never really used the stage 2 or 3 foods a whole lot. By that point we just were mashing food up on our plates and giving that to him and just supplementing with a little baby food.

My son is almost 3 and still eats like a champ. I don't think there is any set age when you need to switch. We were early but he needed it or the poor kid would have been starving. I think you just need to follow the cues of your child.
 
Thanks for all your advice! We aren't substituting a nursing session for food. But he is 18 pounds already and needed something to satisfy his hunger. He was eating his dinner of cereal like a champ, and the doctor said to add stage one at night once he did that. But the flyer she gave me said to add the second meal, so I was confused!!!

And with my daughter, I honestly don't remember how we did it. That first year was such whirlwind, I should have wrot it down!
 


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