Starting solids

I have gotten so many conflicting opinions that I thought I would ask you guys and add more to the mix :lol: ! Some questions:
1) When did you start with rice cereal and did you put it in the bottle or spoon feed?
2) Did it seem to help them sleep through the night?
3) Do you give your babies juice or water, we were told we could start that but don't know if we should?
4) If you formula feed, how many times a day do you give them a bottle and how much? We were told that we need to move to a 4-5 hour schedule and we are having trouble figuring out how to do that.

Thanks so much for your responses!

 

Sorry I don't have any answers...but I'm going to be watching this post, because I too am going to be starting solids very soon, and have some of the same questions!!

I have heard though, not to do water until after 6 months, something about babies getting too much can be bad? And to skip juice all together unless it's completely watered down. I am not planning on giving any water until at least 2-4 months from now, and no juice at all until at least 9 months, or later.

 

QUOTE(Fossie @ Jan 5 2009, 08:41 PM) [snapback]1134131[/snapback]
I have gotten so many conflicting opinions that I thought I would ask you guys and add more to the mix :lol: ! Some questions:
1) When did you start with rice cereal and did you put it in the bottle or spoon feed?
2) Did it seem to help them sleep through the night?
3) Do you give your babies juice or water, we were told we could start that but don't know if we should?
4) If you formula feed, how many times a day do you give them a bottle and how much? We were told that we need to move to a 4-5 hour schedule and we are having trouble figuring out how to do that.

Thanks so much for your responses!


1. I dont believe in putting cereal in the bottle unless there is a medical reason like reflux. They need to learn to eat from a spoon and not from a bottle. That is the end goal. With that being said, we started solids at 5 months.

2. It did not help them STTN.

3. I did not do juice or water as they need all of their nutrition from BM or formula.

4. Mine never did/do a 4 or 5 hour schedule. Between bottles, solids, snacks (age appropriate of course) they were always eating at least every 3 hours.

 

QUOTE(Fossie @ Jan 5 2009, 04:41 PM) [snapback]1134131[/snapback]
Some questions:
1) When did you start with rice cereal and did you put it in the bottle or spoon feed?

On our pediatrician's recommendation, we started rice cereal at 4 months. We spoon fed them. At first it is mainly just practice, getting used to different textures and tastes and most of the nutrition should still be coming from the formula or breast milk.

2) Did it seem to help them sleep through the night?
Not at all. Mine were sleeping thru prior to that and they did that on their own.

3) Do you give your babies juice or water, we were told we could start that but don't know if we should?
This was on on our pedi's recommendation as well, we did water with a splash of juice at 6 months, again to practice with the sippy cup

4) If you formula feed, how many times a day do you give them a bottle and how much? We were told that we need to move to a 4-5 hour schedule and we are having trouble figuring out how to do that.
We stayed on a 3 hour feed, ours were hungry every three hours still. Our pediatrician recommended for how many ounces of solids that they take at a feeding, that is how much you reduce the formula. Good luck!

 

1 - Ours started rice cereal today - 5 month birthday (although one got it in her bottle of bm due to reflux), we spoon fed in high chairs. Our ped. told us not to do purees or other cereals until 6 months

2 - ours were sleeping through the night by 10-12 weeks

3 - our babies have gotten a little juice (watered down) for constipation. Water we will start after at least 6 months - probably no additional juice since they will have fruit purees

4 - I also can't seem to get them to a 4 or 5 hour feeding schedule. They are always hungry by 3hrs.

 

1. We gave them cereal a couple times at 5 months but then I decided to wait til 6 months. We spoon fed (I have heard not to put it in the bottle unless instructed by the pediatrician for medical reasons i.e. reflux).
2. Solids didn't affect our sleep habits. Mine BFd every 3 hours round the clock til 4 months of age, at which time they went down to one night feeding. I wonder if it was because we moved them to their own room, or it could have just been maturity. They were STTN by about 6 months of age but have had weeks at a time since then where they wake in the night again, and this is with solids. Go figure!
3. I think it's a good idea to start practicing with a cup. A regular cup and a sippy cup. Mine have been very slow to take to cups, but we started with tiny amounts of formula around 4 months, not too often, but here and there. Only recently did one of my babies begin to drink from a sippy. They still blow bubbles in the regular cup. I haven't added juice b/c I didn't want them to rely on sweetness for drinks. I offer formula or water now. You have to be sure when they're little that they don't drink too much water b/c it can make them sick.
4. I can't say for sure because I BF, but 5 hours seems really long, considering it's their primary nutrition and also their hydration. I'm sure you will get some good ideas from other moms here. We still nurse every 3.5 or 4 hours from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.

 

1) When did you start with rice cereal and did you put it in the bottle or spoon feed?
4.5 months with a spoon, and we took it very slow. I only fed them a few times the first week, and then they took two days to eat the small jars of veges. I'm not a fan of the whole in a bottle thing. If I did it again, I would start later. This was way too early for one of my boys--Mark just started to get the idea of eating from a spoon within the last two weeks. I should have started Eli at 5 months and Mark at 6.

2) Did it seem to help them sleep through the night?
Heck no.

3) Do you give your babies juice or water, we were told we could start that but don't know if we should?
No juice, but I have given them water a few times, and I have watered down formula or breastmilk a few times, but there were specific reasons for this. My guys had a 2 week bout with diarrhea, and the doctor told me to be careful about them getting dehydrated, so I gave them watered down breastmilk/formula. This was in addition to their regular feedings. I have also given them a couple ounces (never more than 2-3) of water if I thought they were constipated. Constipation can occur when they start solids, so the water can counteract that problem (but some can foods like peas, prunes, peaches, avacados, and pears can help too). It worked like a charm. I gave them each a little water and bicycled their legs, and it worked.

4) If you formula feed, how many times a day do you give them a bottle and how much? We were told that we need to move to a 4-5 hour schedule and we are having trouble figuring out how to do that.
My guys don't get enough formula to really know.

 

1) When did you start with rice cereal and did you put it in the bottle or spoon feed?

We started at 6 months... It's what the AAP recommends, as they can't really digest it before that. Honestly DS wasn't even ready until 7 months anyway. We used a spoon, as the whole point of solids is to get them used to eating solids, not drinking them (which, by the way, isn't recommended unless there is severe reflux). Mine hated cereals anyway, so the advantage of starting later is that you can switch to something else pretty fast.

2) Did it seem to help them sleep through the night?

Not at all. It decreased their appetite for bottles and they stopped drinking as much, so were more hungry at night.

3) Do you give your babies juice or water, we were told we could start that but don't know if we should?

Neither. They'll get water when they start using sippies. Juice has no nutritional value and is no good for their teeth, as far as I'm concerned.

4) If you formula feed, how many times a day do you give them a bottle and how much? We were told that we need to move to a 4-5 hour schedule and we are having trouble figuring out how to do that.

Mine were on a 3 hour schedule until we started solids. Then it moved to 4 hours because they would not drink their bottles otherwise. Their formula intake dropped by about 6oz a day, so I guess it's not really a surprise that they ended up putting on only 3lbs each from 6 to 10 months. I would definitely recommend waiting as long as possible if you have small babies.

 

1) When did you start with rice cereal and did you put it in the bottle or spoon feed? We started with everyone at 6 months with a spoon. Unless there is a medical issue and the doctor has stated put it in a bottle, it should be on a spoon. It is something they need to learn.
2) Did it seem to help them sleep through the night? Nope, if anything it made them wake more or at least change their schedule somewhat.
3) Do you give your babies juice or water, we were told we could start that but don't know if we should? Babies need formula/breastmilk until they are one year old for brain development and growth. Anything you add to that (juice) takes away from what they take in. Juice is just empty calories and quite honestly can give the sore butts (diaper rashes). A little water after a solid meal isn't going to hurt, but they don't need it. IF the climate is hot, a bit of water added to the mix to keep them hydrated is fine.
4) If you formula feed, how many times a day do you give them a bottle and how much? We were told that we need to move to a 4-5 hour schedule and we are having trouble figuring out how to do that. I breastfeed on demand which kind of turned into a schedule. 4-5 hours? That seems like a long time between feedings. My twins were still breastfeeding every 2 hours at 5 months old. HTH!