Will he ever be ready for solids

[emz1907]

My lo is just over 5 months now so we're looking ahead to starting solids in the near future. My question is though he still doesn't finish a full bottle during the day and definetly doesn't seem to be needing more so do we still start to introduce solids at 6months? Im excited to start to try him with this but don't want to do it at the wrong time and set off on a bad foot. He has recently started taking a massive feed just before bedtime, so maybe some solids at this time would be good?? Just dont know where to start

[*Natasha*]

What quantities is he taking during the day? Does he have any feeds at night?

[emz1907]

he takes roughly 3x 6oz bottles and a 9oz just before bed. Its rare that he skips a night feed but he has done it a few times. Thats usually 5-6oz too.

[dizzy]

My LO is the same, don't know the answer but marking my spot. My LO is just 6 months and don't know whether to start solids or not as don't want to mess it up. He drinks 4 oz, then 5 oz, then 6 oz, then 8 oz, then 7 oz dream feed. Never really wants to drink when gets up in the morning. Would drink at about 9.30/10.00 am if I let him though (in middle of 2 feeds) which is when he will have solids when I start I guess. Just not sure when to start.

[emz1907]

My lo hardly ever gives off hunger cues, its not normally until you bring the bottle to his mouth and he gets desperate for it to go in that you know. Today he has actually taken more milk about 30mins after seemingly finishing his bottle. Ive made the next batch of bottles an ounce bigger to see if he'll take it in one go. Maybe this is when he would accept a spoonful of solid at this time?

[Freya'sMum]

This is the response that I offer to all posters who have questions about starting out - hope it clarifies things

Firstly, the thing to remember is the concept that "until 1, food's just for fun!" - this means that babymilk remains the primary source of nutrition until babies are 12 months old, and that solid foods provide a little extra nutritional value but are mainly introduced to get them used to what food is, what to do with it and to learn that eating is an enjoyable, pleasurable, relaxed, positive experience between now and then!

You want to aim to maintain ds's pre-solids milk intake until at least 9-10 months old, and a helpful way to do this is to think of milkfeeds as the Eat in EASY and solid foods as the first part of the following Activity period, then ds gets the rest of his Activity time for his 'meal' to digest before lying down for his nap, from which he wakes up hungry for his next milkfeed.

There really is no rush to introduce solid foods, ds will be eating for the next 80 or so years so he can afford to take his time to get the hang of it. If you think about it from a bw perspective, we don't expect our los to all walk at 'x' months old, or talk at 'y' months, and we just accept that it is ok, and that they will do so when they do so, but with solid food somehow this logic goes out window! There seems to be a huge amount of pressure on parents to have their los eating vast quantities of loads of different foods at a very young age, and the bw philosophy that we apply to other things, that our los will do things when they are developmentally ready to do so, is forgotten...

...so, my advice to you is, apply that philosophy!

You can relax in the knowledge that at 6 months old, if ds doesn't eat a single mouthful of solid food, it doesn't matter, and rather than focus on trying to get him to do so, focus on making those positive associations. Whether you want to adopt a spoon-feeding or self-feeding approach to introducing solid foods, you can still sit together at mealtimes as a family so that you can model to him the experience of eating - he'll watch and learn how you do it, and how much you enjoy it! You've got at 6 months for him to get the hang of it - there's no rush  - and he'll learn better if he's doing it alongside you, rather than feeling pressured by you anxiously staring down at him spoon poised!

As for how to introduce foods... there are those who go the puree/mush route, and those who go with self-feeding (Baby-led Weaning, BLW) - both are fine, altho I believe that BLW is more complimentary to bw. You can apply the same gradual introduction of the foods that you will be expecting ds to have as part of his childhood diet with both approaches, helping to identify the culprit of any adverse reactions. Check out the FAQ section for more info on the BLW approach and the Recipes section for puree and finger food ideas.

Best wishes,

Ax

[emz1907]

Thanks for the info, that's very helpful

[flutie]

Hello,
Our little guy is going through the same thing right now. He is 5 months and had started not taking his full bottle about 2 weeks ago.  It seemed as though he would take 4-5 oz and then stop and just play with the nipple while looking at everything around him.  I think he was just more interested in what was going on around him (nosey little guy )  I would jsut sit him up, let him look around and wait till he got a second wind (usually 10-15 minutes late)  I then offer him the rest of his bottle and he usually finishes it.  I guess he just needed a break!

[dizzy]

That is how it started with my LO but now will only dink that full stop. I can try half an hour or 45 mins later just before I chuck it and he doesn't want it but will drink it hour and half to 2 hour later which is why seem to be giving 4 oz when wakes and then 3 oz with taster food an hour and a half later which I am not sure is right and then he wants a nap and sleeps like a dream which he never normally does but he will get used to this and am not sure he should!

[emz1907]

Well we took the plunge today! Callum has seemed to be looking for more and more after his feeds the last few days and especially his last feed before bed where he can double his usual amount. My parents looked after him yesterday and noticed the same thing so I thought I'd give it a whirl. I mixed some sloppy baby rice and he LOVED it yay He ate the amount I'd mixed and took 7oz of forumla. No gagging or choking at all and he in very enthusiastic about it which is good. Im wondering now though if I should give him some before bed at that feed as that's the one he takes a massive milk feed at and the solids might help him feel fuller without doubling a bottle?