Curious.. why R people starting LO's on solids before 6 months?

[carmkaylasmom]

i think that the recommendation for 6 months is the same as the recommendation for feeding for the first 2 years. It works for some people and not others, we are all individuals and so are our babies!

[BabyBsMommy]

Our lo is 4.5 months and we're going to ask the doctor at our appointment this week about introducing rice cereal.  He was 7 lbs 14 oz at birth and is now over 17lbs.  He was on 4 hour EASY for a bit and down to one full feed at night and for the past 2 weeks is suddenly wanting to eat more through the day (taking full feeds each time, sometimes can't even make it a full 3 hours) and is waking for 3 full feeds at night.  He is reaching and mouthing when we eat and drink.  He's had some pooping problems so we've had to give him a bit of corn syrup on a spoon a few times over these past weeks and he is able to easily take it from the spoon.  I'll let you know what he recommends....

[Colin Macs Mom]

We started at 4.5 months at the doc's recommendation. I had no intention of starting until closer to 6 months, but he was just under 20 lbs at the 4 month checkup, and the doc explained that once they reach 18 lbs that's when they usually start really needing and wanting real food. I had been wondering since he was showing interest in our food - even grabbed a potato chip out of DH's hand one day. So we started, and it's been smooth sailing ever since.

[skibbit]

well we started our baby at 4 months because doc said that since he is only almost 13 lbs at 4 months thathes in the 10 % range so he needs to get more nutrients. we cant feed him every four hours because then he eats 4--6 ounces and even that is too much for him to hold in his little tummy. we have to feed him about every four hours still or he wont gain weight because hell spit all of it up =before he digests it. so the doctor told us to feed him every 3 hours or so and feed himn 2-4 ounces and feed him babyfood twice a day. hes long though. hes 25 inches. the 50% range for his age. so... i guess were unlucky because even though the doctor said to feed him every four hours throuout the night, hell sleep 6 or so ... we need the sleep. but its hard to feed him babyfood because he gets so constipated and we need to give him water between feeds, but the problem is that we cant because he needs the sleep since he sleeps a lot more than other babys at this age(can only stay awake about 45 min or sometimes only 30 before getting tired. ) so we dont have the time to gie it to him. we tryed watering his formula down at night, but hed eat about 4 ounces, but not get enough nutrients to gain weight... but it would help with the constipation. were just at a loss here. nothing we know to do now. tried it all. its just hereditary. my sis and i were both 4 months before we hit 10 lbs!! 

[BabyBsMommy]

Well, after our doctor's visit yesterday, he said we definitely should start Brenden on cereal.  He is 19 weeks old, up to just over 17lbs and 25" long.  He is in the 60% for length and 90%for weight.  He said to start with rice cereal, just once a day, for a few weeks before introducing oatmeal, then barley, then wheat.  By the way B has been guzzling milk the past few weeks, including 2 full, ravenous feeds at night, he felt he wasn't getting enough to sustain him on milk alone.  He also said that more current studies are showing that many babies have significantly depleted the iron stores we have for them via breast milk so the supplements in cereal are good for them to have.  He also said we should seriously consider supplementing with formula, even just once a day, since fatigue can start to take it's toll on milk supply around this time and he's had quite a few women who dried up by 9months when they wanted to go at least 12.  He also said (and I noticed) that it gets a little more difficult around this time to pump as much bm as before so you can't always get enough out for a full bottle feed by the end of the day.  By introducing a bottle of formula, DH can feed him at night so I get a bit more rest.  After B's had cereal for a week or so, we are going to introduce the formula but mixed at least 50-50 with ebm for the time being.
He took to the cereal like a duck to water!  He gobbled down a full serving no problem, full of smiles but got grumpy when he couldn't always hold the spoon with me and help guide it to his mouth!  He still woke up at 11 on the dot (is always asleep at almost 7:30 on the dot) but went right back to sleep until almost 2.  He woke me up around 6, wide awake (usually wake up is at 7ish) and I think he'd been awake in there for a while. So we're way ahead of schedule today, he's down at 7:45 for his first nap, it's usually not until almost 9!  The 11 wake is definitely habitual so we'll do w2s tonight.  Our fingers are crossed....

[carmkaylasmom]

good luck with the w2s!

[Sarah J]

you are right that pretty much everyone recommends that solids food is not started until six months but you are not taking into account that all babies are individual as are their mothers.  my lo was exclusively breast fed (as per recommendations) then at 5 and 1/2 months his weight plateaued and the week after he lost weight.  clearly this was a good time to start solid for us. none of the professionals involved with us made us feel like we were 'going against current advise or 'ignoring recomendations' we did what was right for my son as i will always endeavor to do. (lo gained the weight he lost and continues happily along his centile now)  they are, after all, 'recommendations' and 'advise' so should be used as a guide as it seems we all have done, even those who have started solids before six months.  i would not stick rigidly to advise that takes into account such a broad spectrum of people - the WHO also takes into account the whole world when making these recommendations - including third world countries.  your doctors and health visitors will advise what is best for your baby.

sorry if that sounds a bit 'off' but i do feel strongly about this (as you can probably tell)

[maisy]

Hi,
 When my DS was a baby the advice was to start solids at 4 months. He had absolutely no problems and if DD is ready at 4 months then I wont hesitate to start then.

I realise that it is the up to date advice at the moment, but as with all things this kind of advice changes frequently. So I think I will go by my own experience and DD's develpment to determine it. We'll just have to wait and see!!

[BabyBsMommy]

I agree that you need to follow your baby's signs first and foremost!  Almost everyone my mom's age you talk to gave cereal to their babies at 3-4 months, even younger and we are all fine, and lots of those babies now adults do not have any food allergies!  I was giving our lo the full beginning serving of rice cereal the first 2 times and he gobbled most of it up but then I started thinking maybe that was too much and he just didn't know when to stop.  A full serving to start is considered 4 tbsp of cereal mix and 1.5 oz of liquid.  This morning I only gave 1 tbsp on cereal and 1 tbsp ebm and that went well.  I think I may double that tomorrow, though and more slowly over the next week or so move towards the full serving.

[linfran]

Guidelines change all the time - one of my friends has a large family and the reommended age was different for each one!!  My lo started solids jat 3.5 months on health professional's advice as he weighed 18lbs and suffered badly with reflux - he was also taking 40fl oz of formula a day including one feed at night, which he hadn't done previously.  I guess babies let you know when they're ready - my lo also would cry if you ate in front of him - even if he had just eaten and had been smiling at you just before!  He also would stare at every mouthful you took for the moent it left your plate until it went into your mouth - this was actually really creepy but hey, helped the diet!!

[DJ's mom]

each baby is different and so are theiir needs.... my dr. passes out a booklet at your first visit and lists everything they do at each well baby checkup... the 4 month baby checkup states to start your baby on solids, if they are ready.....

my oldest son is 23 yrs old... and he was eating rice cereal at 7 wks.. he was 10lbs at birth and was eating 8oz. at every feeding by the time he was 7wks.. so my dr. told me to quit starving the poor kid and give him cereal...lol

all my kids did fine... so i guess its up to what the baby requires and when he needs it....

wonder what all the other parents did in times before formula was invented and moms were unable to bf ?  makes ya wonder...LOL

[redfroggy]

My DS was absolutely ready. Even my ped said to even bump it up to three meals a day. He was a huge baby though. He was 9lb 7 oz at birth. AT four months he started adding feedings at night to get more substanance. He is already 20 lb at 5 m. It was a special circumstance.

[Rimma - Mommy to Solomon]

Our Dr. recommended starting solids more for fun and development (social etc.) at 4 months. He was always so interested in what we were eating and doing at the table. He loves to be a part of things in the adult world. ;0)

[home alone]

Started at 5mth 1wk
Recommendation by the DR.
Weight loss

[Mum of girl, boy, boy]

This is an interesting topic and one that drives me mad.

The amount of mums without a routine that start solids because they think it will "help there babies sleep" is incredible. Someone I know has started their baby on solids at around 4 months because they didn't think the lo was getting enough and it would help them sleep. I reckon she could have gone a lot longer if she'd eaten well herself (once she was at my house all day and didn't eat a sausage!) to keep her supply up, not mistaken hungry and tiredness the whole time. The great thing about a routine is that you can hopefully spot the need for more food.

I am also cautious what the professionals say. My HV has been saying I could start weaning with my little DS since 4 months and I didn't follow that advice. DS looks about ready now and I think he does need the extra food although I am not taking the decision to start lightly.

Someone else I know is starting there baby on solids because they are bored and want to do something with their baby. That to me is a strange thing.

I tried extra hard with my DD to make the 6 months and I couldn't quite get there. We were just under 6 months and she was waking every couple of hours all through the night after sleeping through. She had already had a growth spurt so we decided to start. I think DS is going to make the 6 months but I think that's because he was a smaller birth weight. DD was 8lb 10oz at birth and her weight started to taper off around 22 -24 weeks. Once we started solids she gained quite quickly and at 27 weeks was 18lb 13oz. DS was born at 6lb 7oz (just under 3 weeks early) and at 24 weeks was 15lb 4oz and his weight has just tapered off. I guess it will be interesting to see what he weighs once I start him on solids.

Along with the recommended guidelines to starting I have my own little additions:

make sure it's not a growth spurt.
check a cold etc is not putting them off feeding.
check they are taking whole feeds and if still waking make sure it's not a habit waking.
make sure feeds are spread out enough and they are getting the hind milk (i.e not snacking etc)
make sure the mum is eating well and drinking plenty of fluids
try taking a few days rest to see if your supply is down because of exhaustion etc
try to eliminate that teething is a cause of wakings and poor feeling.
make sure the baby is well rested in order to feed well.

Good luck all.

The bottom line is we are all trying to do what's best for lo's. I feel lucky that I found the bw books and site because it helps me make a more informed choice.

J