starting solids

so we've been experimenting with starting solids, going slowly and letting them let us know when they're ready. i've been following wholesomebabyfood.com but one thing i haven't found an answer to is how often we should be trying. like right now we're trying oatmeal. owen likes it and he took a little bit after his morning nap on saturday. should that be it for the day? since we're just starting should i keep it small? or should i try again, like more than once a day?

i guess i'm just not sure how frequently they should be fed solids when we're still relying on formula for nutrition and calories. i know it's supposed to be a slow transition but i feel like the details are really fuzzy for me. like, for right now i'm only getting maybe a couple spoonfulls in their mouths before they make it very clear that they don't want to do it anymore. at what point is it enough to be considered a "meal" and then how many meals should they have a day?

maybe this information is on wholesomebabyfood.com and i just haven't found it. can anyone help?

 

I just stuck with once a day until they got the hang of it. It's so messy and a lot of work to drag everything out for just a couple of bites!

 

It is all so confusing, isn't it? Especially the first time around!! :blink:

When I introduced the cereal to both my older DS and my twins, I started with just 1xday. I chose a time (not necessarily a meal time) - but just a time when they were in a good mood, well-rested and when they had recently finished nursing so I knew they weren't really "hungry" and it wouldn't be replacing a feeding. Then I'd get them all set-up and give them the cereal. It seemed like each day they liked it more - and within a week or so, they were eating maybe 2 tablespoons of cereal mixed with EBM/formula.

If, after a few days, it seems like they are enjoying it and you want to give it to them 2xday - I don't see any reason not to. Just make sure that their formula intake doesn't decrease. Otherwise, just have fun with it - and get those hilarious faces on camera!

 

Ditto the previous post! My ped told me to start with once a day ( I followed the instructions on the box for 1 tbs oatmeal for 4 tbs/2oz milk) and to gradually increase the thickness of the cereal to 2 tbs then 3 then 4tbs cereal to 2 oz milk which is a full serving over a course of 2 weeks. I sometimes still only make 3tbs cereal to 2oz milk cause it's thick enough. Anyway, my ped said after 2 weeks to increase to 2 meals a day. At around 8 1/2 months we'll go to 3. We're also taking it very slowly. We've introduced rice, oatmeal, barley cereals. We've also given them squash and sweet potato and now trying peas.

When you do get up to veggies what I had questions with was when to give it to them with relation to cereal. What I've come up with is giving them the cereal first and then the new food. Then at day 3 or so when they're used to it, I mix in 2 oz cereal with half a jar of food for each.

Good luck. I also had soo many questions.

 

I did one meal at 6 months, added a second at 7, and just added the third meal now at 8 months. I did cereal for most of the 6th month...then added veggies, then fruit, today protein for the first time. Now I do cereal with a fruit for breakfast, protein with veggie for lunch, and veggie with cereal for dinner (but at 6 months, just dinner!). Mine have been good eaters from the start, but I think you'll have to just watch for signs as far as how much. My pedi said the goal was to slowly work up to 6 tbls cereal, 1/4-1/2 cup each of fruit and veggie, and 2 tbls protein split over three meals by 9 months. I'm not sure if that helps. In the beginning, I was giving about 2 tbls of cereal and maybe 4 of veggie to split, but my hungry little hippos quickly started demanding more. If yours aren't that into it yet, give it time. I would go with once a day, as much as they seem to want. You'll know when they want more!

 

Anything new I would only feed them once a day for 3-4 days. One reason you only want to do it once is in case they have an allergic reaction or have loose or hard stools. If you give it to them several times it could compound any allergic reaction, constipation, or diarrhea.

I started my guys early and gave them a meal every other day the first month, one meal at 6 months, 2 meals at 7 months, and three meals at 8 months.

 

A couple spoonfuls at 4 months is plenty! Most recommend that you start at 6 months, but some babies are ready early. Watch for signs of being full (turning head or clamping mouth shut). I always found starting solids a hassle... a neat milestone, but a mess to clean up and do. Just take it slow. Their main source of nutrition should be formula/breastmilk until a year.

 

We're right along with you, starting 1 meal per day at 6 months old. We started rice cereal but DS seemed to be straining to poop after the third meal, so our pedi's nurse said we could go ahead and try squash. They have really enjoyed both foods, after the first try! DS wants to eat more than we prepare, but we're taking it slowly.

It's fun, but messy. I'm glad to see I can wait another month to add another feeding! This was a good question

 

Another vote for once a day until they get proficient at it and then we increased to twice a day. We were on 3 solids a day at 9 months.