Starting solids

The girls had their 4 month check-up today and the doctor said to start them on cereal. She said to give them a bottle when they wake up, then some cereal at mid-morning. But I'm confused. They aren't going to take much cereal to start, so do they get a bottle too? After the cereal?

I guess I'm most confused as to how to incorporate cereal.... and then eventually baby food... in with their bottles? I also don't understand how you give them cereal if you aren't at home, especially since they aren't sitting up on their own yet. I'm going to use the bumbos for now when we're here, but how do I do it if we're out?

I just got this bottle thing figured out and now this!! I wasn't expecting to start cereal and baby food until they were 6 months old, so I'm surprised that it's starting already.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I really feel like I'm at a total loss.

 

At this point the formula is the most important, so I always did bottle, then 1-1.5 hours later, solids. I started off with just dinner of rice cereal, in between those last two bottles. I quickly moved to fruits and veggies, because my babies didn't like plain cereal. By 6 months, we were on 3 solid meals a day, plus 5(5oz) bottles. The fifth bottle was dropped around 8 months when they started enjoying their solids more. As far as feeding while out, I always just did it in their stroller. Good luck!

 

Ok, solids are a pain at first. Go slow at first to get them used to the taste/texture of the cereal (should take a few days) then you can start introducing fruit and veggies.

We do solids separately from milk, giving water instead.

Also, check with your pedi, but for the first few weeks of solids, don't worry if you miss a feeding because you are out - it's a process. The bottle is still their primary source of nutrition, but the general rule of thumb is by nine months they are eating 3 meals a day plus snacks in preparation for the bottle going bye bye at 1 years old.

Hang in there, it gets easier!

Miriam

 

QUOTE(becky5 @ Oct 5 2007, 06:35 PM) [snapback]437698[/snapback]
At this point the formula is the most important, so I always did bottle, then 1-1.5 hours later, solids. I started off with just dinner of rice cereal, in between those last two bottles. I quickly moved to fruits and veggies, because my babies didn't like plain cereal. By 6 months, we were on 3 solid meals a day, plus 5(5oz) bottles. The fifth bottle was dropped around 8 months when they started enjoying their solids more. As far as feeding while out, I always just did it in their stroller. Good luck!


Pretty much the same for us, although we dropped bottle #5 around 6 months.

 

I agree with all the previous posters - slow and steady is the key. As far as feeding while out I found that using the infant carrier was my best bet. In fact - the boys are now 7 months old and too big for the carriers in the car, but it's perfect for me to put them in and feed them. I have high chairs and bumbos, but I still prefer that carrier. Most of the time I just sit them in it slightly reclined, but if they are rambunchious that day I will still use the straps. The first couple of days with feedings they didn't like the texture and sort of rolled it around and let it drool from their mouth. I used the scoop and reinsert technique. Sounds a little gross, but when they get older you don't even give it a second thought. Now my only problem is getting the spoon to mouth fast enough. If I feed both at the same time they are eyeballing that spoon going to brother's mouth and I have two mouths open and waiting.

When the arms are waving I just gently restrain with my left hand and feed them with my right. Now that they are older - they are so used to it that they rarely try and use their hands to grab the spoon - they just wait for it to get to their mouth. ... but they do use their feet and put their toes in their mouth. After every feeding I have to wash their feet - that's a first for me - my girls never did that

 

Bottles (or breast feeding) are the main source of nutrition until 9 months old and from there solids start to gradually take priority. I gave my babies cereal once a day starting at 5 months. I did it after their morning nap, which was sort of between bottles. If I tried to feed them cereal when the were actually due for a bottle (and therefore quite hungry) it was terrible. They were frustrated and cried. I generally give solids twice a day now and we do four 8-oz bottles. I give solids (cereal and fruit in the a.m., cereal and veggies in the p.m.) an hour before they're due for a bottle, so they're peckish and interested in eating, but not starving. This is working well for us. Pick the most cheerful time of day and start cereal then. For us that's after the first morning nap. The babies are refreshed, happy, and interested in the world. Solids are a fun game for them.

If you're out all day one day and have to skip solids and do more bottles instead that's just fine at this early stage in the game. I never feed solids in public - my boys are too messy!

 

we started last month and this is how we did it: Between the last 2 feedings of the day we would put them in the bumbos and give them a little rice cereal. Just be prepared that 90% of it will end up on their face and bib. It takes a few weeks of practice for them to really eat it! we did that one feeding for a week or more and then added some veggies to the cereal mixture. Sweet potatoes and squash were big hits with mine. After 2-3 weeks of that I added another meal around 11:00 am. We haven't even attempted to feed them in public. It would be waaaay too big a production at this point. when they can sit up and can grab puffs or something I'll give it a whirl. Right now we have not changed anything about their nursing schedule. The solid food is just a supplement.

Reyna

 

i think that my biggest concern is what time of day to do it. they are happiest in the mornings, so maybe we can try some cereal for "brunch" between their morning and noon bottles ...but breena has physical therapy two mornings a week so that is going to interfere. maybe early evening would be better...an hour or so before their final bottles. we're usually home around that time anyway.

i also like the car seat idea. we have some used infant seats that we bought and never used, so if they got yucky it wouldn't be a big deal. i just don't think they've got enough head control for even the bumbos to work yet.

thanks so much for the help. it really made me feel better!