Ready for solids! (at least Mama is)

[Adelheid]

I know they say to wait until 6mo to start solids, but I'm wondering if starting at 5mo is ok?
My LO is not a great sleeper and seems to want to feed all night long. During the day, he feeds every three hours and will happily take top offs if I offered them. He can almost sit up on his own (leans forward on his arms but without any propping), he watches every bite that goes in to my mouth intensely, and got has two teeth (came in at 15 weeks). I assume those are all good signs that offering him a few bites would be ok. Right? My hope is that a little extra food in his tummy will help him sleep better/longer. 

[jessmum46]

It's totally up to you, he's your LO . Between 4-6 months time is when most LOs will typically be ready, and although WHO suggests to wait until 6 months, in practice some LOs will be ready earlier.  As you already suggested it's important to look for signs of readiness e.g. Being able to sit unaided, loss of tongue-thrust reflex and make sure if you do start before six months it is with appropriate foods.

That said..........solids are rarely the magic cure for sleep issues that most grandparents would have you believe . Milk is by far more calorific than any 'first' solids so although solids might make him feel fuller, paradoxically by pushing low-calorie solids you can actually lead to him waking more for milk. 

Personally speaking, rather than diving into solids I would first check his milk intake in the day (are you ebf? - it's possible if so that he could be snacking a bit if he's still feeding 3 hourly or more often at this age).  The other thing which I would really think about if he is feeding all night long is whether you've actually got a sleep association/prop issue going on rather than a hunger issue.  Does he feed to sleep at BT and every time he wakes at night?  That's totally fine if you're ok with it, but it's worth bearing in mind that could actually be the cause of the poor sleeping.  If you do want any help along those lines please feel free to post over on the sleep boards

[Adelheid]

Oh good point! So him being on a 3hr EAS could actually be contributing to his poor sleep? I thought that if anything he would be getting more calories in because he still ate so frequently. At night I was only BF him once, but these past few days he's up every hour from 4am and on and I have tried feeding to see if he will settle for more zzzZZZ.
So starting solids wouldn't be a benefit then. Other than easing him in to the process of eating and satisfying my glee at him acting like a "big boy".
What would be a factor though to start solids? As in, how much/ little he was feeding (he is ebf) or how often?
Thank you for your help!

[creations]

I agree with all Katherine said. Well worth looking at other reasons for him to be waking at night (could he be in discomfort from more teething perhaps?).

Just wanted to say, mine stayed on 3hr EASY (but formula fed) right until 6 months when, with solids meals added he finally managed to stretch to 4 hr milk feeds. Before hand he just couldn't do it, for mine being petite contributed to needing the more frequent feeds (small boy, small tummy) and I think also his silent reflux led him to being comfortable on the 3hr feeds too.
I was adamant I would wait until 6 months as per the WHO guide lines but in reality he was very ready at 5 months and by 5.5 months life had become a nightmare with him screaming blue murder every time I ate anything in front of him, it became impossible.  Finally, led by my own need to eat something and inability to cope with his screaming any longer I gave him some finger food hoping he wouldn't take in too much but would be pacified by holding/mouthing it. Well, he ate it.  So it was 5.5 months here.
I think if you take into account the guides, other factors effecting sleep and your mummy instinct on your child's needs you will start at the right time.
hth

[Adelheid]

Quick update:
On a 3.5h EAS now (works much better), dropped all NFs, and started solids. Lots of new changes. AND (!!) he is sleeping better.

[jessmum46]

[creations]

Sounds good

[Newbie mum]

Hello, I read your post with interest Adelheid. My daughter turned 5 months today (22weeks) and I think is ready for solids for the same reasons you described. She is on a 4 hour type EASY. goes to bed between 7.30-8pm but wakes between 0130-0200 hungry and then wakes between 0500-0600, my husband feeds again and she sleeps until 0745... I think she is feeding a lot. Can you tell me how you managed to drop the night feeds? And what foods you introduced? Thank you :-)

[creations]

Hi there Newbie Mum and welcome to the forums
Like Katherine (Jessmum46) said above, it's still normal for a baby of this age to have night feeds and solids are not usually the answer to getting LO to sleep through the night as milk is higher is calories than what they get from solids.
Please feel free to begin your own thread for support too.