Cereal...

We're starting cereal tomorrow with the boys, and I have a really stupid question. Do you try to feed the cereal before or after BFing? It's certainly not in lieu of BFing, is it? My pedi gave us a good reference sheet, but I can't find that info on it.

I'm so embarassed to ask this! :blush:

TIA!
Becky

 

Becky-why are you embarresed??!! Silly!!! This question has been asked by many before you, lol! It should be offered w/in 30mins AFTER nursing.

 

Do it after breast feeding. If you can, I'd do it a little while after so they aren't completely full from the feeding. It's just for practice at this point, not for nutrition.

ETA: Kristi and I posted at the same time. And she's right, it's not a silly question.

 

Not silly, you can do it 30-60 minutes after a feeding.

 

Definitely offer solids no more than 30 min after nursing! You don't want to cut into their breastmilk intake, especially since you're starting so early.

 

Oddly, our pedi recommends doing it "backwards" from what everyone here is saying!

We do solids, immediately followed by a milk feed. It works for us because after bottles comes sleep around here! We formula-feed, but the instruction sheet is the same for breast or bottle. It's never detracted from their formula intake, though we were told if it did detract from it a little bit, it's not a big deal unless there are weight gain issues.

I think it's a matter of figuring out what works for you and your babies - I have a friend who's son wouldn't eat solids at ALL until she replaced a breastfeeding session with the solids (at 7 months old, though). Every kid and every appetite is different.

Have fun!

 

I'll chime in here and say that with my first I did cereal/solids first and then BF immediately after - I thought she needed a drink to wash it down :blush: I definately think that doing solids before BF cut down my supply and led her to self wean at about 9 1/2 months. Solids at this point are just for practice - they are getting their nutrition from you. I think you've gotten excellent advice - I'd BF first & then do solids after.

 

QUOTE
I definately think that doing solids before BF cut down my supply and led her to self wean at about 9 1/2 months.


Bingo. If they fill up on solids, they won't take as much breastmilk, which tells your body not to make as much milk. And dwindling supply can cause babies to lose interest in nursing earlier than they would otherwise.

QUOTE
I have a friend who's son wouldn't eat solids at ALL until she replaced a breastfeeding session with the solids (at 7 months old, though).


This is actually OK. Breastmilk is all babies need for the entire first year, though plenty are ready for solids around 6-8 mo. If a 7 mo old is happy and gaining on mom's milk alone, then all is well! Like you said, all kids and all appetites are different - some will gobble down anything you put in front of them from the very beginning, others will barely nibble at 9 mo... As long as they're getting enough breastmilk/formula, it's all good.

 

Thanks ladies!! Things should be interesting this morning...

 

QUOTE(bstone716 @ Jul 12 2008, 05:09 AM) [snapback]872772[/snapback]
Thanks ladies!! Things should be interesting this morning...


I want an update!!!!!!!