Considering to start solids; is 5 months too early?

I exclusively breast-feed and our pediatrician highly suggested to start solids at the age of 6 months, to which we happily agreed. However, our little ones don't seem satisfied after nursing. Yesterday, I went to work for a few hours and didn't pump so when I arrived home after 4.5 hours of no stimulation, I HAD to feed them. They already received some breastmilk in a bottle, about 4-5 oz 2 hours prior, so I didn't think they would nurse that long. WEEELLLLL, after nursing the both of them I felt totally emptied. I pumped afterwards to fully drain myself and was only able to collect a total of 3oz, which is not much for me. All this being said, they slept better last night than they have in a LONG while. Is it because they ate 4-5 oz more during the day? I just don't know what to do. Should we start solids as a way to increase their food supply during the day? I completely understand that breastmilk is the most important, but maybe they need a little more. Any thoughts?!?!?! THANKS!

 

We started at 4.5 months per the advice of the pedi (their office starts at 4 months).

 

We started on solids at 3.5-4 months. They were already eating 40+oz of formula a day at that point. By 5 months we were in stage 2 food and they were eating upwards of 2.5 jars each, cereal and fruit, and 40+oz of formula a day. Some babies are ready for solids before 6 months. At 5 months, it should be fine to start them on some cereal and see how it goes! Just a suggestion - some babies hate rice cereal. If they don't take to it, try mixing it with some stage 1 banana or try oatmeal instead mixed with banana... that worked much better for us.

 

I bf and just started solids this week. Chloe will be 5 months tomorrow. My ped is okay with starting solids now. We have just done about 1 tablespoon of oatmeal mixed w/bm.
Sue

 

I have started all of my kids at 4 months. If you feel comfortable, give it a try and see how it goes!

 

quote:
Originally posted by RRTwins:
Just a suggestion - some babies hate rice cereal. If they don't take to it, try mixing it with some stage 1 banana or try oatmeal instead mixed with banana... that worked much better for us.

Thanks for the suggestion, any tid bit of information is helpful.

 

I was determined to wait until 6 months (mostly because of what so many books say).

At 5 months, my boys were waking a couple times each to eat at night and were finishing full bottles in the middle oif the night. I realized they needed more food and that is when we started oatmeal in the morning and then within days moved to giving solids in the morning and at night.

They loved their food and have been good eaters since 5 months. I am so glad I did not wait until 6 months. I really did not have a choice. They were hungry and ready! I probably could have started them a couple of weeks sooner.

 

I've been feeling like my boys need more food these days too. They seem like they're never quite satisfied with just bf. I've offered them some ebm bottles, and the can down 6oz no problem! Yikes.

I asked my pedi about this last week, and he said to hold off if we can and just give them extra milk during the day. The reason behind this, so he believes, is that at this age what they need nutritionally is still milk. He said the solids act as "filler" which satisfies the baby and ultimately makes them want to eat less milk. At this stage they're not getting much from solids, so he said it's almost like eating a little sawdust--yes, it takes away the hungry feeling, but then it just passes through and you've forgone the real nutrition.

Don't know whether this is true or if I agree, just another perspective.

 

I went through something similar a couple weeks ago, if your twins were a bit early they may be going through the 4 month growth spurt now. Mine were driving me nuts with the wanting to nurse all the time and then after a week I could tell my breasts were more full and they were totally satisfied again.

That said, I'm counting the days to start solids... am waiting until 5months 3 weeks, because that's DH's birthday.