solids/sippy cup questions...

[LeeLeeMelis]

My Wesley is 5.5 months and has been playing with solids for a few weeks now. He eats roughly a tablespoon of oatmeal or rice cereal and about a half a tablespoon of veggies twice a day. He is breastfed and has been exclusively until solids were introduced. I know he's still young but I just want to know this stuff for what's to come. We're moving soon and it's a pretty big move so I want to be prepared for what he will need in the near future. Here are my questions:

-I mix the cereals with breastmilk. I read that nursing babies dont get enough iron so you need to supplement. Is this true?
-At what point do solid meals start taking the place of breast feedings? I dont want to wean yet but I have no idea how to balance breast feeding and solid meals.
-When do I offer/when does he need a sippy cup? I think I'm going to opt not to offer juice so would that mean I just give him water?

Thanks for your time!

[Erin (redstarfalling)]

It's a fallacy that breastfed babies don't get enough iron.  In fact, the iron in breastmilk is more easily absorbed than the iron in formula, so BF babies don't need the massive doses of it.  If you are healthy, then your milk will contain sufficient iron for your baby.  It USED to be a concern, which is why cereals tended to be recommended as a first food, because they have extra iron added.  However, if your baby is eating some solids having iron (cereals, meats) by around 9 months or so, this is usually plenty of iron for his needs.

For the first year, solids are mostly for practice and exposure and less for nutrition.  This gradually changes as you approach and pass a year (there's no magic age when suddenly solids are more important or anything!).  Breastmilk remains the primary source of nutrition for at least the year.  Offer the breatmilk first and solids after, and you probably won't go wrong.  Have you checked out the information on Baby Led Weaning?  It's and awesome method for introducing solids!

Some babies never use a sippy cup and go straight to a straight cup.  I personally started around 6 or 7 months offering one (with water) at meals - so when I offered solids, I also offered the water.  My kids mostly played with it at first, but gradually got the hang of it.

HTH and have fun with it all!

[Tansy]

Hey LeeLeeMelis
My son is also named Wesley and is 5 1/2 mths!
We have been offering him solids for two weeks now and everything is going well.
BM will give your baby enough iron until they are 6 mths apparently. i guess once they start being so active they need more. the cereals will provide the rest. solids should be offered after milk so that you know bub is getting the essential nutrients first.
I don't think solids actually replace milk feeds for a few mths yet - not something i've thought of anyway.
I've started to offer Wes a sippy cup now to encourage him to get used to it. Heinz make a sippy cup suitable for 4 -6 mth olds. he doesn't really drink from it, just plays with it. Also, as Erin said in pp, some kids get the hang of a straight cup right away and have no need for a sippy cup.
Water is definitely the best choice for LO as juice can be high in sugar. The more they get used to it the better i say.
good luck with the move...
tans

[olkan]

Hi!
My LO is 7 mo, and I tried to introduce a sippy cup since 5 months, she never figure out how to use it. She LOVES drinking (or shall I call it spilling the drink all around rather) from just a normal cup which I hold for her, but she reaches to hold it by the handle, puts it to her mouth and chews it and makes bubbles in the drink which I move toward her lips carefully, and swallows sometimes. She takes bottle also. So I figured I'd just go for a normal cup when she gets older.
She's not keen on water or any cold drink unfortunately, I give her really light fennel tea or chamomile tea, she likes the warm drinks and foods.

Right now I feed her with solids 1-1.5 hours after BF, I started with 2 meals, now at 7 months added lunch. I plan to reverse BF and solids when she's 8 months old.

[Thea Mum]

My 7.5 month old wouldn't take any of the cups with spouts on, she just used them as teething toys.  I just ordered a Bickiepegs Doidy Cup and she loves it!  She took it on the first go and drinks loads of water from it, i guess as it looks more like a normal cup but due to the funny shape it is much easier to use and saves some of the mess from a normal cup.  Got it from Amazon, highly recommend it and you can use it from as early as 3 months they claim!

[LeeLeeMelis]

Tansy, when is your Wes' birthday?  I saw you post on another topic a while ago and saw that you had a Wesley but didnt realize they were so close in age! Wesley's are so much fun arent they!

I may offer a sippy soon but we're about to move so I'm going to try to keep major changes to a minimum for now. When we get settled I'll give the cup I think. I am not replacing BF with solids since he isnt consistent yet with the solids. He's liking them more and more though!Thanks for your help ladies!

[DebMcGee]

I've just started DD on a trainer cup and she took to it by day 2. it's by vital baby and is suitable from 4 months. It has a valve on it that makes it spill proof and she takes to it really well.

I'd try to offer water first for about a week in the new cup and then if you have to, give diluted juice. It's good to get babies used to water sooner rather than later as it will cause less probs later on.

I have read lots about the iron and personally believe they do need more iron from 6 months to help their rapid growth and brain development. I don't always give rice - I vary her diet and feed iron rich foods. We're starting red meat next week which is the best source of iron.

[Tansy]

Hey LeeLeeMelis,  Wes was born on the 22nd July 2008. What about your's? Let us know how the move goes. We're in the market for another place too, so id love to know what you do to make the transition easier on the bubs.
x

[LeeLeeMelis]

My Wesley was born at 6:43 on the 22nd!! How funny!! I'll be sure to keep you posted on the move!