Author Topic: How do I increase solid intake?  (Read 1897 times)

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Offline Kellyshe

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How do I increase solid intake?
« on: June 19, 2013, 00:07:48 am »
DD will be 9mo next week.  We have been trying solids for the past 6 weeks.  I'm lucky is she takes a total of 3-4oz of solids a day.  I was offering a bottle every 4 hours but she's snacking (and we were feeding 1-2 NF each night...lots of AP going on).  I'm working on correcting the NF.  I'm also trying to work on her daytime bottle feeding schedule.  Today she had 3 bottles and 24oz milk during daytime hours but solids are still low (3-4oz total solids)

I know we started solids a little late (7.5mo).  Does it take a while until they are interested?  Am I missing the solid feeding window of opportunity?  How do I increase solids intake?  Is this normal?

Would really love some feedback.

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Re: How do I increase solid intake?
« Reply #1 on: June 19, 2013, 06:55:03 am »
Personally I would cut the night feeds before looking at altering day time milk (with a view to increasing solids).  If you start cutting the day milk now trying to increase solids you might just perpetuate the night bottles.  At this age it is still the milk feeds that gets LO through the night, not solids, I know many people think increasing solids will lead to a longer night, but it's a myth.
LOs become interested in solids in their own time, some are straight in there like they've been waiting all their life for solids, others just aren't that interested for a while. It doesn't matter either way at this age, if she was approaching 1yo and still not interested then you might need to encourage more but 3 months is a long time in baby world so there is no panic or hurry just yet.
It is advised to begin finger foods around 6 months of age so at 9 months there is no problem with offering finger food in addition to the puree you are giving her, you might find she has more interest in finger foods.  But even with these there is so much 'new' about it all, texture, taste, smell, temperature, that there is no problem if she just plays with it and mushes it up between her fingers to explore.  Offer batons/fingers of steamed veg, toast/pitta bread, even meat. Ensuring she is properly sat upright and the pieces are long enough for her to hold and control.  Offer a sippy or even a bottle of water along side solids to ensure she has enough fluid.
(as a side note, to show the contrast, my LO screamed at me for solid food from about 4.5 or 5 months, it was very hard to hold him off, and I know a couple of babies just now who are 8 months old but seem like much younger babies and have almost no interest in solids and are not yet sitting unaided - very different but still normal for their own individual needs)

WRT the snacking, when my LO began solids he suddenly needed a few more milk feeds in the day.  Although he had already had his fill of milk at his regular E time, solids came an hour later (with sippy and bottle of water) and he HAD to have another milk bottle following the solids.  It did seem like he was snacking but it was just a settling in period. I've seen threads with similar LOs needing an extra milk feed after a solids meal so I wouldn't worry too much about that.

And yes I think this is totally normal.
See where you are once the night feeds are gone and after introducing finger foods. hth


Offline Kellyshe

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Re: How do I increase solid intake?
« Reply #2 on: June 19, 2013, 14:05:39 pm »
Okay...so here is where we stand.  The past two nights we have not given a bottle.  She fell asleep at 6:50pm before we gave her the BT bottle. She woke at 7:30 and had her bottle and off to bed.  She fussed last night at 10 and 11pm, passed back out when we gave her a paci.  Then she woke around 1:30am.  My husband walked up and down the hallway patting her back and she passed back out.  Rather than put her back in her crib, he brought her into our bed.  She did a lot of tossing and turning in our bed and looking for a paci.  Between my DH and I, we jut kept putting the paci back in to get SOME sleep.  Unfortunately, I think we are going from one AP issue to another, right?  She woke at 5:45am this morning.  :(

Her tolal milk intake the past two days has been 24oz in 24 hours and only during waking hours.  I'm not sure this is enough for her (she's just over 17 pounds).  I don't think I want to start a dream feed as then I have to figure out how to stop that.  I could cluster feed when she gets home (we did that a few times in the past few weeks).

I will start to offer finger foods.  I have a feeling she won't put it in her mouth but who knows.

It seems like I have a lot of issues to fix....dropping the NF (were 2 days into no night feeds), resolving NW and EW.  Also, she is not an independent sleeper (although I'm not entirely sure I know what this means). She doesn't need a bottle to go to bed.  She has often fallen asleep either one me or Dh is held.  I've never just put her in her crib and she lays down to go to sleep.

Ugh, I'm feeling overwhelmed with all the things we may need to address.  I'm exhausted.  Besides dropping NF, where do I start.  Any BW for hire in the states?! :)

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Re: How do I increase solid intake?
« Reply #3 on: June 19, 2013, 15:32:34 pm »
Oh hugs, it sounds overwhelming.

I personally wouldn't bring her to bed with you and DH but I can see that you are all tired and looking for at least some sleep.
WRT night feeds, tbh at this age the dream feed would be dropped, I see no point in trying to establish one now.
Perhaps you can tackle each issue one at a time, cutting night feeds for example before trying for independent sleep.  I would offer water or gradually reduce the oz you offer and have a water bottle back up so you can gradually reduce the feed.  Some go cold turkey but that's not my preference I can't bare the crying and the hours of no sleep needed to help sooth LO through a difficult change. I always go slow and gradually introduce/wean things so there is no big shock for anyone and usually everyone gets some sleep too.

I believe there are sleep specialists available to employ but I wouldn't know where to start in looking for one. If you are serious perhaps post in the lounge or general sleep boards?


Offline Kellyshe

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Re: How do I increase solid intake?
« Reply #4 on: June 19, 2013, 15:40:22 pm »
Thanks.  It's hard to know where to start and to start at all. I don't want to continue this way, but it's easier to feed and all go back to bed.  :(  And no, I wasn't serious about hiring someone.  I think that's just my tiredness coming through in sarcasm. :)

So now I'm not sure what to do...continue with not offereing her feeds at night (she's not outright crying for it so I dont think she's hungry) or do I offer a feed and every 3 days add one less scoop of formula so it's more watered down.

I think DH and I are seriously in survival mode. I keep thinking it will get easier but it doesn't seem to be.  Fortunately, I know I'm not alone.  That's somwhat comforting.

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Re: How do I increase solid intake?
« Reply #5 on: June 19, 2013, 19:54:39 pm »
I see katie80 has picked up your night wakes thread which is where I think you need to start on this - dropping to one night feed then none (if she was sleeping through without a feed before now she will likely be able to return to that with a little encouragement).  At least if you start there the result is you all get more sleep and you will begin to feel better.

Yes making a bottle with less formula is one way to reduce night feeds. Another is to make it as usual but put 1oz less in the bottle.  If she drains it have a bottle of water on standby and offer that for comfort/thirst.  If she doesn't drain it continue for a couple of days then reduce 1oz again.  Eventually it will be just water you offer and she should stop waking, if she wakes then you sooth back to sleep using another method.  I would begin with one night feed only and get that totally gone before tackling the second.  Trying to cut both at once will be very hard.
hope that helps. big hugs, you and your DH will get through this.  And Katie80 is there with support for you on NWs xx