Is DS ready for solids???

[Katw]

Hi,

DS was 17wks yesterday ( will be 4mths on Sat) and I am wondering whether he maybe starting to be ready for some solids?

I was told by my Health Visitor, when he was 3mths,  that I would be lucky if he made it much past 4mths without needing some solids. At the time I thought 'yeah right ' but lately her words have been going round in my head.

I'm not in any rush to begin but a few things have made me wonder whether he is telling me he is ready.
These are :
1) Crying after feeds for more , even after 8oz ( not at every feed though)
2) Constantly sucking his hands, even after a feed - as soon as I unswaddle after his nap , his hands go straight in his mouth.
3) Waking earlier and earlier in the morning, sometimes will cry out from 4am and then wake properly at 6.15am instead of 7am or other times will wake at 5am and will not settle until fed. This is starting to happen every day instead of about every 7-10days.

I have posted on the Easy Boards incase the wakings are to do with his routine but this is the only other thing I can think he might need.
He does not wake up crying for food but he has never done that since birth either - he would just fuss in the night until I fed him, howver if he wakes after lying there awhile he does need feeding to get back to sleep. He started sttn from 7pm-7am with a DF from 9.5wks but has woken every 7-10days in early am and needed a feed to get back to sleep - as this hasn't been every night I am thinking this is not a habit?? However this week the early wakings are now every day and I don't want the feedings to become a habit.

He is mainly bottle fed but has a BF at 7am ( and also at 5am if needed) and at that feed he also has 5oz of formula. The rest of the day he is formula fed. ( I had to drop BF's earlier than with DD as he was so hungry all the time- now down to one and may stop soon )
11am - 8oz
3pm- 7oz
6.40pm - 8oz
1015pm - DF - 5-7oz

He was last weighed two weeks ago and was 15wks and weighed 16lbs 6oz ( 8lb 2oz at birth) so I would guess he would be over 17lbs by now. He will take a spoon in his mouth and does not thrust it back out.

Hope I have put enough info in? If anyone can help that would be great as I do not want to do anything wrong!!

Thanks

[yaya]

sorry I don't know much about this but I personally would try to hold off if you can

[Shdef]

If there are no allergies, eczema or hayfever in the family, I'd give rice cereal before bed a go, but only if the doctor recommends it. All other cereal should not be given before 6 months, as the system is still too immature. And with fruit solids, you'll only make him hungrier 

[emmas]

Have you tried hungy baby formula?

[Katw]

HI,

Yes he has been on hungry baby formula since he was 2wks as he is quite sicky and this helped abit.

[Purplecattypants]

Hi there 

He does seem super young to begin solids yet...but take a look at this link, its really useful and should help: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html

And here: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=36922.0

I would warn you against rice cereal....its can be very constipating, give them horrible tummy ache, and actually has pretty much no nutritional value whatsoever...might as well give them wallpaper paste!

Solids at this age are just for fun/practice....milk should be your lo's main source of nutrition until closer to 12 months. Any solids you can give them at this age really arent high enough in calories to make a difference. Do you think perhaps he is having a growth spurt? There is a common on at 4 months.

If you DO think he's ready, then why not check out info on Babyled Weaning....the theory behind it that if he's ready, he'll eat. No purees, just offer finger food. Info here:

http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=92560.0

HTH x

[Katw]

Thanks everyone for your advice.

I am going to try to hold off for longer as DD was about 20wks when I weaned her, so even if I wait until around 19-20wks, that would be better. ( Although she weighed less than he does now when she started solids!!)

I think he went through his 4mth GS already as he got really hungry and thats when I upped his bottles to 7-8oz instead of 6-7oz.

I will just wait maybe a week more and then have another think - or hope the Easy board has another solution to the EW's!!!

Thanks,

[Purplecattypants]

ps I was born in High Wycombe! 

[Katw]

Guess you don't live here now then?

Its ok has its good and bad parts.......

[Purplecattypants]

No, we moved when I was a few months old. Used to live in Naphill...havent been back!

[Katw]

Going to a friends today for tea who lives in Naphill!!! Its very nice there.......

[**Clare**]

Hi there!! I would def try and hold off and dont go by his weight, my lo is now 20.5 pounds and we have only just started weaning.  I dont think it means alot!!

Good luck xxx