When to start solids?

My girls were born at 33 weeks and are now 5 months old. When did you start them on cereal and solids?? My ped. suggested that we wait until at least 6 months because they were early and they have severe reflux. They can't sit up on their own either yet...does that make a difference?
Thanks for any suggestions.

 

Mine were not born early but did have a spitting up issue. We waited until almost 7 months....and I have always been told to use their adjusted age. Good luck and have fun with it!!! I LOVED the first faces we got when we gave them their first foods. :laughing:

 

My guys were born @ 33 weeks too and we were told by our pedi to start @ 4 months and they have done okay so far, They couldn't 'sit up' by themselves and still don't but they could hold their heads up. The highchairs did the support for them.

 

My grandsons were born at 32 weeks and one had severe reflux. We ended up going to a specialist for the problem and he now takes two different perscriptions. I only mention this because of your concern of the age and the reflux condition in conjunction with solid foods. The pediatrician actually recommended we begin cereal just after their three month check up. The boys were up to 8 oz of formula every three hours and wanting more so he recommended the rice cereal. They loved it and honestly, the twin with reflux did better with solids incorporated in his diet. It seemed the thicker the food the better he holds/held it down. At four months we introduced both fruits and veggies and again, both did extremely well. They continued with formula and would still take 6 to 8 ounces per feeding but less feedings. At the six month check he told us it was fine to incorporate meat so we began with turkey and chicken. No problems whatsoever with this incorporation. They are now seven months old and weigh 19 # 12 oz and 18 # 6 oz. When they came home from the hospital they weighed 4 and 5 lbs respectively. We did not use the adjusted age but their actual age. It may not work for you and I would follow the advice of your health care provider, but for us solids worked beautifully and with no problems whatsoever. Each baby takes 1 1/2 (3 total) jars of solids at the morning meal, 1 1/2 jars at the noon and then one each with the evening meal. They began sleeping through the night at 3 months old and now sleep from 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. without stirring. I think a lot of it has to do with the babies themselves and what they are ready for. You and your pedi would be the best judge of that.

 

QUOTE
I think a lot of it has to do with the babies themselves and what they are ready for. You and your pedi would be the best judge of that.


I agree!

 

I'd go by adjusted age. I've been waiting for 6 mo adjusted to start solids. Tomorrow is the big day, in fact!

 

Mine were born at almost 33 weeks and we're going by actual age as well. We've been given the go ahead to do rice cereal now at 4 months and to start veggies and fruits at 5 months. Ours have pretty bad reflux too, and the cereal in their bottles (which we started a couple weeks ago at the suggestion of the GI doctor) has helped.

Having said this, one DD is not ready for the spoon. She cries and does not like it so we aren't forcing the issue. We'll try again in a week or so