Starting Solids

This topic has probably been addressed several times, but I'm putting it out there anyway. I started solids w/ my 5 1/2 month old g/g's this week (carrots!!). They eat at 4:30 b/c we do the bedtime feed at 6:30. Anyway, I noticed that when it came time for their bedtime bottle, they didn't eat as much as the usually do, which is of course b/c their tummys are full of carrots. In turn, instead of sleeping until 3AM for their one feeding of the night they woke up at 11:30 AND 3!! This has happened for 2 nights in a row. I'm not sure what to do b/c I can't feed them any earlier unless I have their sitter do it for me. I like feeding them!! We're eventually going to get to solids 3 times a day anyway and this will again become an issue. Thoughts? Ideas? Concerns?

 

Hmmm....Is there any way you could start with breakfast? Or, what about pushing the bedtime feed back to 7? Right now solid feeding is more for the practice, than the amount. So I would even maybe scale back the amount of carrots. To me, two hours seems like a good amount of time in between feeds.

I understand you like feeding them. I did too. LOL! But it may be the sitter who has to do it. Will she have to do all three feeds/day? I'm guessing it's your work schedule that is playing a big part in all of this. It is hard to balance it all. If you are free for breakfast time, I would switch the feeds to then. Even if you possibly started it, and the sitter finished it.

 

How much of the carrots are you feeding them? Maybe cut it back a bit? With that amount of time in between, it shouldn't be a big deal, but maybe you are giving them too much.

Or, you could try giving them extra in the earlier bottles - like if they are not eating 1 oz. of the bedtime bottle, put it in their bottles earlier in the day and see if that does the trick.

I know you don't want the sitter to feed them, but that may be the best way to avoid the extra waking up. We started with solids in the morning, then added the afternoon, then finally the evening.

 

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I was giving them too much. DD1 ate the entire jar of carrots. It's the small organic carrots from Babies R Us. DD2 only ate about half. I didn't want to start w/ fruits for their first solids, but maybe I should start with breakfast if I want to feed them. I work from 7-3 so that I have more time w/ them in the afternoons. They go to sleep by 7 and are up at 6. DH takes them to the sitter. All this solids business really stresses me out. I know it's just for practice, but it still seems important.

 

Sometimes they recommend to start with lunch for solids so that if there is a reaction, it's "out" before bedtime. I started with midday, then added breakfast, then added dinner. But she still only gets 1-2 tbsp of food at each meal.

And nothing says you can't give them carrots at breakfast. (Mine had leftovers from dinner the other day).

 

The whole jar is a bit much if you are just starting out. 1-2 tbsp is plenty. (2 tbsp is about 1 oz. if that helps). Try giving them a little less and see if that helps. There's no reason they can't have carrots in the morning. Mine get carrots, squash, etc. etc. all times of the day. Anything new I always give them first thing in the morning so that if there is a reaction, it can hopefully be over by bedtime.

 

We are 'practicing' solids at the moment too. I give them their bottle in the evening then after the bottle they have their solids. Only about 1 - 2 Tbsp's. They sleep through the night and this hasn't upset any of their routine. Because their tummies are already full it really is only to 'learn' to eat as opposed to nutrition. I am planning on starting to add a feed after their lunchtime bottles next week. Good luck.

 

No reason you can't give carrots for breakfast! We started with an a.m. meal and I gave them a wide variety of foods at that time. Fruits, vegetables, meat, cereal, etc. One thing I've had to learn in feeding my kids is not to be restrained by MY ideas of what "breakfast" or "dinner" is. They have no idea, you are teaching them so they can eat whatever whenever and it's just for practice at this point anyhow.

I agree that I'd do their solids earlier in the day if you want to get that last bottle into them for a good night's sleep. Also try to feed them their solids within a half hour or so of their last bottle so that they won't take in too much solids and drink less milk.

 

Goodness!!! Poor girls, I OVER FED them! I feel horrible! I had no idea that I should only start w/ 1-2 TBSP. I just kept feeding them until they turned their heads from the spoon. Well, now I know! Thanks ladies! I didn't give solids the past 2 nights, but am planning to try again on Saturday morning. We'll try 1-2 TBSP this time and see what happens. I feel horrible about overfeeding them :woah:

 

Hey, it's all good. :woohoo: We've all done those things and then afterwards felt bad. I went by what our doctor told us, so that is how I knew. She said always when we give them something new give them no more than 1 tbsp to make sure they aren't going to have a reaction. Our guys have had major stomach issues, so I usually give 1/2 tbsp the first day and then increase the next day when I'm sure they aren't going to have a horrible reaction.

 

Don't feel bad! We've all done things like that before! You are not alone my friend! I hope today goes well! Good luck!