starting solids

My girls will be 6 months old next week. I can't believe it. Anyway, we were at the Pedi a couple of weeks ago and I asked if we need to start solids at 6 months. The girls were born 10 weeks early, so they really don't seem ready to me. The Pedi said we can delay if we want to, but most babies are showing an interest at 6 months. Currently the girls are getting all EBM (one has hers fortified to 24 cal with formula though). I'll slowly start weaning from the pump after next week and transition to formula when our freezer stash is gone. The girls really don't seem interested in food at all. They do want to sit at the table with us in their high chairs, but only because they want to see us, not because they want to eat. I'm wondering how many of you delayed starting solids. If so, was it because your babies were preemie or for other reasons?

On another topic, when is water usually introduced? Do you need to be starting on solids when you add water? I'm just wondering about battling dehydration if it ever gets hot here this summer (seems unlikely the way things are going with the weather).

 

I did not delay solids and mine were 8 weeks early. In fact we started some cereal from a spoon at 4 months (per Ped advice) due to the fact that they had really bad reflux and we already gettting cereal in a bottle for weeks. So I did not push them at all. I didnt even do it everyday. Just when I found the time. But they did have good head control and could sit well assisted in the highchair.

They got water in sippys at about 6-7 months. But they never actually took a drink out of them until closer to like 8 or 9 months. They dont need water just because they are getting solids. They should still get EBM or formula for all of their nutrition.

 

we will be starting in a couple weeks (at 6 mo's as per pedi suggestion). I am looking forward to it!!!

 

I didn't delay solids, but honestly, I should have waited a little longer. We started at six months but neither of them were interested one bit! It was hard for me to see them not wanting to eat, but they just weren't ready at that time. ardon: I just wanted to do what I thought was the norm. I think you could give it a try and just see how they do. Worst case is that they don't like/want it and you can try again in a few days or weeks.
I did start putting water in their sippies at this time, but they didn't start drinking it until around 10/11 months. They will not get dehydrated because formula does contain water and they will get everything they need from it. Solids and sippies are just for practice in the first year, so don't worry about it too much if they don't drink/eat right away.

 

We started at 4 months because they were interested. If you want to try, go for it. Just because you try it doesn't mean you have to keep going if it doesn't work out.

 

We started at 4 months and by day 3 they were great with it. I had seen too many kids who were not introduced early and were still "drinking" their meals at 2. I wanted them to know what food was.

They sure love food.............. they sure hate milk though!

 

I think maybe I wasn't clear in my post. I'm NOT interested in starting solids. I really don't think they are interested and I don't think they are ready. They are only 4 months adjusted age, so I'm wondering how long I can delay the start of solids. Am I being a bad mommy if I don't start them until 8 months when they are closer to 6 months adjusted age.

 

Every kiddo is different, so if you feel they aren't ready then you should wait. Solids is just for practice when they are tiny so take your time. I started at 5 1/2 months, but it wasn't until the girls were closer to 6 1/2 ish months that we did meals consistently.

 

QUOTE(Beth*J @ Jun 16 2008, 05:03 PM) [snapback]829792[/snapback]
I think maybe I wasn't clear in my post. I'm NOT interested in starting solids. I really don't think they are interested and I don't think they are ready. They are only 4 months adjusted age, so I'm wondering how long I can delay the start of solids. Am I being a bad mommy if I don't start them until 8 months when they are closer to 6 months adjusted age.



So then wait. Since it's practice and not for nutritional value, it won't hurt them. My ped. told me not to worry about it until they were 10ish months old because at one year we took them off formula. I don't think that would make you a bad mom to wait, it's just that you know your kids better then anyone else. :hug99:

 

QUOTE(Beth*J @ Jun 16 2008, 05:03 PM) [snapback]829792[/snapback]
Am I being a bad mommy if I don't start them until 8 months when they are closer to 6 months adjusted age.


Of course not! We started early, at 4 months, but I know that is not right for everyone.

 

I'm delaying and my kids weren't born early. I have a history of severe allergies and want to delay their start to solid foods as long as possible.

 

Of course you're not a bad mom! Many, many people don't start their babies on solids until they are six months old. I didn't start mine until they were six months old and they're doing great. You should follow your mommy instincts.

 

I just really started solids (cereal) at 7 months. I had tried rice cereal at 6 months and DD wouldn't really take it and both DD and DS would scream at nights... Only did it for 4 days, then stopped and so did the screaming?!?! So, I waited a bit and tried Barley instead. They did better and DS was really liking it and DD getting the hang of it, but I wasn't consistent (maybe 1-2x per week)... But at 7 months we've been doing Barley everyday, and today we tried Carrots... DD wouldn't open her mouth at all, and DS commenced to screech/scream. Even when I tried to give him his cereal after he wouldn't stop. So, lunch was over, but we'll try again tomorrow!

Our Pedi said we could start cereal at 4 months, but I didn't want to until 6 months (against constant nagging from my mom, dad, and sis).

Just do what you feel is right for your kids. It's not going to harm them to not start yet. As PP said, it's just for taste testing/practice and not for nutrition at this point. You could go all 12 months and not feed them anything other than BM and Formula!

You don't have to give water, as pp said its in the EBM or Formula in large quantities. So, why not let them get some nutrition too.

GL!

 

My boys were born at 30 weeks and we started solids at 6 months (4 months adjusted age). They had been on breastmilk exclusively at that point. I had considered waiting longer than 6 months but they seemed quite hungry and were up to 8 oz bottles of breastmilk which is a LOT so I figured it meant they were ready for solids. I've read though that many recommend waiting until 6 months adjusted age to start.

 

Mine started at 4 months. I was not really pushy with the food. We only did one meal a day at my convenience of rice cereal mixed with a fruit or vegetable for about a month. I did not really start 2 meals a day until 7 1/2 months old. Then I did a brunch and a dinner with the family. I started giving them sippies of water or juice and water mixed at 7 months old. Now at 9 months old I try to give them 3 meals a day. Just follow your babies lead.

 

I plan to start the boys no earlier than 6.5 months. I would consider starting right at the 6-mth mark, but we leave for vacation 2 days later, and I don't want to deal with bringing cereal, the pump, highchairs or booster seats, spoons, bowls, etc. Much easier to just wait and start when we get home. I don't feel rushed at all... though, just today, I caught AJ ogling my lunch... I personally LOVE the way that my babies are thriving on exclusive breastmilk, and I hate to upset that balance!

With my DD, we started solids at 6.5 months, but it was probably another month before we introduced anything other than cereal. So, sometime between 7-8 months was when we started giving foods regularly, and introducing veggies, meats, fruit; it's also when we started giving small amounts of water in sippies. By 10 months, she was eating several table foods (diced small or mushed... I hated jarred baby food!). At 3.5, she is the world's pokiest eater... but she will eat almost anything!

 

[SIZE=10pt]I didn't start solids with A&P until they were about 6.5 months.

I think I subconciously didn't start them sooner as I didn't want them to GROW UP They weren't really interested in what we were eating. The first few days they didn't really care much for it. After about a week they were lovin their 'food'

You're definitely not a bad mom for delaying. You know what is best for your babies. Do what you think is best for them and you

April [/SIZE]

 

QUOTE
Am I being a bad mommy if I don't start them until 8 months when they are closer to 6 months adjusted age.


Of course not, Beth! I waited until 6 mo adjusted (=7.5 mo actual), and they only really got interested in food around 7.5 mo adjusted (=9 mo actual), and they are just fine. They're eating us out of house and home now!

You might fine this article interesting. Excerpt:

QUOTE
Most babies will become developmentally and physiologically ready to eat solids by 6-9 months of age. For some babies, delaying solids longer than six months can be a good thing; for example, some doctors may recommend delaying solids for 12 months if there is a family history of allergies.

 

I would wait on the solids until they show readiness, because honestly, if they aren't ready, it's just a hassle. That being said, mine were never big baby food eaters, so at some point I did have to just deal with the spitting it back out, mess, etc. I started cereal at 5 months actual, but if I had to do it again I'd start at 6 months adjusted (8 months actual). Mine were on all table food by 10 months and they are good eaters today, typical toddler finicky sometimes, but good eaters overall.

I didn't really give them water, except for a little practice in a sippy when they were eating. We didn't start with any substantial water until the summer after they turned one.

 

I think it's most important to pay attention to your babies readiness and not make the decision based on age. If they can sit (assisted), have good head control, stare at you when you are eating, seem to be hungry after bottles... THEN it will be a better time to start. Why would yo be a bad mom for doing what's best for your babies?

At our 4 month apt., the ped said we could start cereal. When I asked about waiting, he said that 4 months was the earliest that it was safe for the babies.