Author Topic: Solid food and snack questions  (Read 4672 times)

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Offline sce

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Solid food and snack questions
« on: April 01, 2013, 21:59:43 pm »
So I started my DD on solids around 6 months.  She's almost 8 months now.  She was on a 4 hour EASY and it worked really well for her.

Now we're trying to switch her to the beyond 6 months schedule, but I have a couple of questions. I'm still BF.

1)  what is the ultimate value of this beyond 6 month schedule?  On the 4 hour schedule she napped for 2 hours and had full activity and slept from 11:30-8:30 without any problems or complaints.  So that has worked really well for everyone.  Should we even switch?
2) She's a small baby and so we had to switch her to the different EASY schedules later than the suggested ages.  She just wasn't able to eat enough for the 4 hours.  That's why I'm wondering if she'll be able t follow this new schedule.
3) for the "snack" time do I pull her off so that it's not a full feed?  I just think that if she takes a full feed then she won't eat solids for lunch or dinner.
4) her poops are small and very solid and she seems to be having trouble passing them.  Is that because she's not getting enough milk or is that normal?
5) her last feed right now is at 8:30pm and then she has a DF at 11pm.


Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #1 on: April 01, 2013, 22:16:51 pm »
Why are you wanting to change her routine?  Is it because she has stopped napping well or night sleep hAs been affected??

Milk is the most important part of your baby's diet so I wouldn't stop a feed so she'll take more solids. Are you doing milk an hour before solids?

How much milk is she having in a day?

What solids are you giving?  A change in poos is normal but constipation is not and can be a sign of not enough milk or too much solids or an intolerance. Does your LO take any water?





Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #2 on: April 01, 2013, 23:30:16 pm »
We thought we "should" change her schedule based on her age.  We didn't switch her to the 4 hour EASY until she was around 6 months.  She couldn't eat enough for it because she's pretty tiny in general.    She's probably only around 12 pounds now.  We just figured there was a reason why they recommend switching to a different schedule.  Maybe we shouldn't change it.  She naps for 2 hours at a time without any problems. eats fine and sleeps through the night from 11:30-8:30.

She's eating bananas, pears, apple, sweet potato, squash, carrots and rice cereal. 

She has milk at 8:30, a tiny bit after lunch at 12:30, 4:30, 8:30 and 11pm.  She eats for 8-10 minutes at a time which we think is probably around 5.5-6 ounces.  That's on the old schedule though.


Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #3 on: April 02, 2013, 00:17:41 am »
Sorry, I missed a question. 

No, she doesn't take water and will hardly have any diluted juice either.  Maybe a sip or two, but that's it. 

So should we leave her schedule the way it was and not worry about changing it?

Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #4 on: April 02, 2013, 11:02:38 am »
You don't need to change her schedule until something changes. So unless she is refusing naps or bedtime or having NWs then I'd leave it alone!!

At 8 months mine were on much more meal type solids like chicken casserole or stew. They both also would have been eating a lot of finger foods like toast or pancakes or steamed veggies or rice cakes. Is there a reason her diet is so limited?  What does the doctor say about her weight? 

It can take a while for them to take any sort of volume of water from a sippy. I think it took me trying from 6-9 months daily for both mine to get the hang of it. I wouldn't bother with juice as it can be bad for teeth but keep going with water and she will get the hang of it eventually.





Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #5 on: April 02, 2013, 13:07:44 pm »
Okay, well maybe we'll just leave her schedule alone then.  We just figured that maybe she should be up for longer periods at this age.  Thanks for the advice on that.

We haven't set up a schedule for introducing different solids, but we're getting there.  It's not limited for any particular reason.

We'll keep trying water and see how that works.  We just figured she didn't like water and so we put some heavily diluted juice in there.

Thanks again!!

Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #6 on: April 02, 2013, 13:17:37 pm »
If you want to use juice you are better using pure juice and you dilute one part juice/10 parts water.





Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #7 on: April 02, 2013, 15:38:24 pm »
Okay, thanks for the suggestion.

So is it bad that after every time she takes solids I give her milk too?  That's what she seems to want.

Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #8 on: April 02, 2013, 16:03:09 pm »
No not bad at all.

So you are doing milk then solids then milk then nap?  Is that right?





Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #9 on: April 02, 2013, 17:13:24 pm »
This is our current schedule
8:30 Wake and feed (breast milk)
8:45-10:30 A
10:30 S
12:30 solids and breast milk
1-2:30 A
2:30 S
4:30 breast milk
4:45-6:30 A
6:30 S
7:30-8:30 A
8:30 solids and breast milk
9:15 bath time
9:30 S
11 DF breast milk

She sleeps until 8:30.

Should we do solids at 4:30 as well?  I'm just worried that she won't be getting enough milk.

Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #10 on: April 02, 2013, 20:33:51 pm »
At 8 months most would be on 3 meals plus 4 BFs, maybe 5 including DF.

So looking at your routine, I'd do:

Breakfast at 9.30 an hour after milk

BF on waking from nap and then lunch at 1/1.30

BF at 4.30 then dinner at 5.30

BF at bed and DF

Does that make sense? 





Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #11 on: April 03, 2013, 13:46:57 pm »
Absolutely!  We'll try that.

That will help with being able to offer her more food options as well.

Thanks again.

Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #12 on: April 23, 2013, 02:50:23 am »
So I just wanted to post an update.  We ended up leaving her schedule alone because she's still eating and napping and sleeping well.

We feed her solids one hour after every wake and BF.  We haven't started her on finger foods yet though.  We'll do that soon and we also want to try yogurt.

Her poops are sometimes still quite small and hard.  She won't take juice or water still.  She might be taking a tiny bit, but we try after every solid feeding.  Is there a better time to try?

Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #13 on: May 04, 2013, 22:54:28 pm »
Okay so now we've had to change up our schedule a bit because our DD started to get fussy during eating time and nap time.  Based on the recommended schedule we would be getting 2 meals with solid food and 3 snacks with BM.  We're a bit concerned cause right now we're getting 4 milk feeds and 3 meals with solids.

With the new schedule we probably wouldn't be doing the 11pm feed either.  I just don't think we'll be able to get her to eat enough if there are only 2 solid feeds and I'm worried she won't get enough milk cause she only takes around 7 ounces at a time.

Help!

Offline Skadiver13

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #14 on: May 04, 2013, 23:45:24 pm »
Hi sce, just curious is there a reason you are giving her juice? She doesn't "need" anything but BM or formula at this age. You can offer water in a sippy or bottle during meals or 30 min later if you want. But my own opinion is juice isn't necessary. It sounds like she is constipated? Have you tried prunes? I'm on my kindle so I can't type much or link but have you looked at the solid board routines? 4 milk and 3 solids meals is just fine. What 11 feed are you talking the DF? That's ok you are right around the time to drop the DF too so it's ok if she starts taking less at that feed, you might find she drops it naturally.
My dreamed for Angel Baby DD (other than dreaded 40min naps) Born 4/30/16
Reflux, MSPI, Love my Spirited,textbook little munchkin DS Born 5/17/2012



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Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #15 on: May 04, 2013, 23:50:13 pm »
We only give her juice at solid feeds just like you've said is normal. 

She's not constipated anymore.  We got over the hurdle.  Our concern now is that on the new schedule she'll have only 3 milk feeds and 2 solid feeds.  I don't think that's enough for her so I'm not sure how to alter it.

Offline Skadiver13

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #16 on: May 05, 2013, 00:31:16 am »
Why only 3? She's 8 months now right? Can you post the routine you are thinking of? Can you just offer water instead of juice? Or you could offer BM in a silly or cup at meal? No expert just trying to help. :) have you looked at the sample routines?
My dreamed for Angel Baby DD (other than dreaded 40min naps) Born 4/30/16
Reflux, MSPI, Love my Spirited,textbook little munchkin DS Born 5/17/2012



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Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #17 on: May 05, 2013, 00:52:29 am »
The routine that's being recommended right now is
8:30 E-BF
9 A
1030-11 S
1:15 E-snack BM
1:30 A
2:30 E-lunch solids
3:00 A
3:30-4 S
5:30 E snack BM
5:45 A
7-7:30 E dinner solids
8:30 A bath, story, bed time

So if we follow that we only have 3 BF's and 2 solids.  Before we were doing the schedule that I posted earlier and she had more feeds.  With the new one we'll have less feeds and I'm worried it won't be enough.

Offline Skadiver13

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #18 on: May 05, 2013, 11:34:09 am »
Ok, again I'm not an expert so hopefully the mods will correct me if I'm wrong but I know you don't "have" to drop to 3 feeds unelss you want to or unless you see your lo start to take less of a bottle. Mine dropped down to 3 when his routine had him only taking around 3/4oz of his 4pm bottle once I introduced lunch. So we dropped from around 26oz a day to 22-24oz a day on 3 bottles but htat's ok as he was on 3 meals. We did this around 9 months, but it  can be done earlier if some lo's have a voracious appetite for solids but ar estill taking enough BM/formula. You are BF correct?

what time does she wake up for the day? It looks like you are doing  2 30min naps a day? Is there a reason?
My dreamed for Angel Baby DD (other than dreaded 40min naps) Born 4/30/16
Reflux, MSPI, Love my Spirited,textbook little munchkin DS Born 5/17/2012



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Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #19 on: May 05, 2013, 12:34:35 pm »
They are over 2 hour naps if you see when she goes to bed and then when they next feed is.  Sorry, maybe I didn't make that clear.

Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #20 on: May 05, 2013, 13:43:24 pm »
And she wakes at 8-8:30

Offline Skadiver13

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #21 on: May 05, 2013, 14:06:54 pm »
Oh sorry It said 10:30-11S I thought you meant she slept 10:30-11..I see what you mean now. It looks like you are still on 3 naps? Is she high sleep needs?  How much is she drinking (or how long if she is BF). A time is from Eyes open to eyes shut. She's sleeping from 9:30PM-8:30 AM. Is she SSTN, or are there any NW?

so currently you are doing.
W:8/8:30
E:8:30 BM
A:8:30-10:30
S: 10:30-12:30
E:12:30 solids and breast milk (do you do it at the same time or feed solids first than offer BM in a bottle or breast?)
A:12:30-2:30
S:2:30-4:30
E: 4:30 BM
A: 4:30-6:30
S: 6:30-7:30
A-7:30-9:30
E:8:30 solids and breast milk (are you offering BM at the same time or before/after?)
9:15 bath time
9:30 S
11 DF breast milk

sorry for all the questions just trying to get it right, don't want to give you bad advice. Looks like you are offering 5 feeds (to include DF) and 2 solids (breakfast and dinner), most people offer Breakfast/Lunch then add in dinner but if dinner is working for you keep it and add lunch closer to 9/10months if you want. We just added dinner in (he's a little slow to take to solids) at 11 months (but that's just us).

My dreamed for Angel Baby DD (other than dreaded 40min naps) Born 4/30/16
Reflux, MSPI, Love my Spirited,textbook little munchkin DS Born 5/17/2012



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Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #22 on: May 05, 2013, 15:50:58 pm »
At 8 months most would be on 3 meals plus 4 BFs, maybe 5 including DF.

So looking at your routine, I'd do:

Breakfast at 9.30 an hour after milk

BF on waking from nap and then lunch at 1/1.30

BF at 4.30 then dinner at 5.30

BF at bed and DF

Does that make sense? 

Are you talking about the routine I recommended ?  It has 5 BFs and 3 solids meals.






Offline sce

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #23 on: May 05, 2013, 18:29:39 pm »
Okay, I think it's my fault.  I don't think I'm making myself clear.   That's the routine we've been using, but she's getting fussy during her 6:30 and 8:30 naps and during her meals so we're changing the schedule up to make her more comfortable.  The schedule that we're thinking of changing to is:
8:30 E-BF
9 A
1030-11 S
1:15 E-snack BM
1:30 A
2:30 E-lunch solids
3:00 A
3:30-4 S
5:30 E snack BM
5:45 A
7-7:30 E dinner solids
8:30 A bath, story, bed time

and we're worried cause it's not anywhere near the same amount of food.
 
To answer your questions we normally don't give her any milk at lunch because she already struggles with eating enough solids.  SO we leave it at that and give her some cheerios for a snack later on.  For the 8:30 feed it's only BM.

does any of this make sense?  She was loving her schedule, but now she's getting fussy o we're trying to change it up to make her happier, but we don't know what to do.  She wakes up at 8:30 usually so it's hard to fit everything in.  I just need help cause I'm getting frustrated.

Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #24 on: May 05, 2013, 21:23:38 pm »
Sorry I get it now.

It not unusual for things to go a bit funny at this age but BFs are most important.

If you feed at 8.30am, can you not do brekkie at 9.15/9.20?

At 8 months though 10.30 would be far too early for the first nap. 2 hours A time is typical of a four month old. At 8 months A time would be about 3.5-4 hours.

Also sorry if I'm being dim but in the routine you post is your LO only napping 10.30-11 and then 3.30-4?





Offline Skadiver13

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #25 on: May 05, 2013, 23:55:54 pm »
Hi Shiv, I had that issue and asked. I feel bad she's answering the same questions twice. If you look up a few posts I think it's just the way she wrote out her easy.. Here is what she's actually doing:
W:8/8:30
E:8:30 BM
A:8:30-10:30
S: 10:30-12:30
E:12:30 solids and breast milk (do you do it at the same time or feed solids first than offer BM in a bottle or breast?)
A:12:30-2:30
S:2:30-4:30
E: 4:30 BM
A: 4:30-6:30
S: 6:30-7:30
A-7:30-9:30
E:8:30 solids and breast milk (are you offering BM at the same time or before/after?)
9:15 bath time
9:30 S
11 DF breast milk

It's a lot of day sleep and not a lot of awake time for her age plus a long nap in the late evening?? That's looks almost like 5hrs of Day sleep? Am I missing something? Is she waking at all at night of is she sleeping straight through from 9:30-8:30 with no NW? Do you like the 8:30 wake up?

What you can do is offer solids 1-2hrs after BF. So for instance.
W:8/8:30
E:8:30 BM
Solids: 9:30
S: 10:30-12:30
E:12:30 Offer BF
E: 1:30 solids
S:2:30-4:30
E: 4:30 BM
E: 5:30 Dinner if you like
S: 6:30-7:30 (is ther a reason you are offering a CN so late in the day?)
E:8:30 BM I wouldn't do solids this late in the day
9:15 bath time
9:30 S
11 DF breast milk

Although it does seem like you'll be feeding her all day so at some point you can drop the DF if you want, you are getting close to that age where it's suggested it drop anyway that's up to you, and with the introduction of solids she may drop it naturally as some do, but some moms kind of need to force it. I never did the DF as it just disrupted my lo's sleep for the rest of the night he was off.
My dreamed for Angel Baby DD (other than dreaded 40min naps) Born 4/30/16
Reflux, MSPI, Love my Spirited,textbook little munchkin DS Born 5/17/2012



**Siobhan**

Offline Shiv52

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #26 on: May 06, 2013, 07:56:01 am »
Thank you lovely for clarifying.

I think where skadiver has suggested meals and BFs is great.

But by 8 months LOs are normally on 3.5 hours A time and 2 solid naps. Is your LO high sleep needs?   Is she an independent sleeper?    We did at 8-8 routine and it suited us great.





Offline Skadiver13

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Re: Solid food and snack questions
« Reply #27 on: May 06, 2013, 09:21:41 am »
I agree RE sleep. :)
My dreamed for Angel Baby DD (other than dreaded 40min naps) Born 4/30/16
Reflux, MSPI, Love my Spirited,textbook little munchkin DS Born 5/17/2012



**Siobhan**