Restless at night after starting solids?

[pooperman]

Hi

Is there a possible expected correlation with restlessness at night after starting on solids? Our 5 month old has been waking up crying and required putting back to sleep more frequently in the wee hours of the morning since he started one meal of rice pudding a day.

Thanks
F

[*Kara*]

What time of day are you offering solids?

I know the UK recommends a lunch offering but in Canada/USA, the suggestion is breakfast first to allow the entire day for any tummy upset to subside...

If you are feeding at dinner time, it could be that little tummy working hard to digest food when it should be at rest

[sdaeffler]

Is he having regular bowel movements?  Cereals can be constipating for babies, especially ones that are iron fortified.   I stopped giving my LO cereals and just give fruits  /veggies.  He seems much happier throughout the day and at night, and his BM's are regular.  Trying something a little more gentle might help out, like sweet potatoes or pears. 

[*Kara*]

For sure cereal can be constipating... especially rice based.  Barley or oat will keep things moving...

Pears are a great idea, but be warned that sweet potato can be constipating too  

[sdaeffler]

I know white potatoes are constipating - but are sweet potatoes also constipating?  I thought they were easily digestible which is why it's what pediatricians recommend as a beginner food?  I tried to google, can't find a source that says they are constipating, but also can't find a source that says they aren't.  I'd like to know for sure because I feed my LO sweet potatoes all the time but am trying to avoid feeding him too many foods that can back him up.

Good to know about the oats - I will start using them again!

More about barley... when's a good / safe time to start introducing it?

[*Kara*]

I think the sweet potatoes thing is one of the ones that mom's find to be constipating despite all the experts claiming otherwise   So many sources say that yams will help with constipation, but I think the issue is that there just isn't much water content to sweet potatoes - so they can lead to constipation unless you have a baby who will drink plenty of fluids with meals... Should be totally fine for a BF baby as well

We have barley baby cereal in Canada and it can be introduced from 6 months

[sdaeffler]

Good to know!  Thank you
I might try the Barley and toss the Rice...

[Lemonthyme]

I think it varies; my health visitor in the UK recommended starting solids at late breakfast time, e.g. 10am for this reason.  I think there are a lot of things though which can disturb sleep at this age.

[*Kara*]

So true Lemonthyme... sadly, the sleep disturbances don't stop   There's always something with these little people!

[Lemonthyme]

Yep and I have to say PUPD saved our sanity at 6 months!