Feeding times - Introducing solids

1st Timer my girl is on butternut at night since Tuesday but skipped Wednesday cos she decided to take an afternoon nap from 4:30pm till 8pm? So 2 days so far but no improvement in her sleep?
I give her cereal between 9 & 10am.
Will wait 2 more weeks or so and then give the butternut in the afternoon and cereal again in the evening.
But definitely no improvements in her sleep yet. I really hope its true and not just a myth cos she wakes between 9pm & 12am for a feed and again between 2 & 4am and then between 5 & 7am and eventually wakes properly around 7.

I did it a bit diff too. I gave J cereal 2 hrs after his afternoon feed so at like 4 and then milk 2 hours later. I only started water once J was on 3 full feeds which was after 6m.

I built up to 6tsp cereal (purity rice cereal NOT cerelac) the texture of yoghurt and offered it on my finger for the first week or so as the spoon is a bit weird for them.

Good luck! Solids are scary but were the best think I ever did with James. He started sleeping though almost immediately and was such a happier and easier baby once he was full. James was a big baby though so boob milk really wasn't cutting it after 4.5m!

Just be warned they tend too poop less in cereal. J went from like 50 times a day to every 2 or 3 days.

Hey,
well because you guys are doing things very differently to how I introduced solids, I would just add (as another perspective) that food should ideally be in addition to milk and not be replacing milk feeds, esp at this stage.
I just alternated milk food milk food etc. But at first my lb was only having food once a day and only by 8 months was he having food 3 times a day and now he also has snacks. - I did blw though, so it's defs different

Hey Nelly - it is a bit nerve wrecking, but bear in mind we all do it differently, so my approach may not be ideal for you.

I gave my daughter milk when she woke up which was at about 7am - then 2 - 3 hours later when I would usually give her a 2nd bottle, I would introduce the solid (you introduce the solid at the classical breakfast juncture, as this is the one that is going to drop as a milk feed and turn into a solid feed).

However depending on your situation it might be better to start with another feed, but for me this feed made sense, as it worked for me during the week and on the weekends.

Initially baby gets some milky rice cereal - tiny bit to start, then given water (as much as she will drink) to quench her thirst - how much is not important, rather just offer it and then re-offer.

At this point, I might do the morning bath, and then once that is done, get baby ready for the morning nap - and at this point offer a milk bottle.

I hope that makes sense.

The clinic sister suggested that I feed her in the morning midway between the two morning feeds.
So if she feeds at 6 and again at 10, then give her cereal at 8ish. If she sleeps first just give it after the nap.
But I have found that she takes the food better if she's already slightly thirsty. Then I just follow her cue's for when she'll want milk again. But you're not meant to replace the milk feed with solids just yet. Sometime after 6 months they will drop a milk feed during the day, usually lunch time. And then you can start introducing water / juice / tea (your preference I will try water) in addition to the veggie meal.

Here's a helpful link I got from a friend.

www.earthsbest.com/node/321

Thanks RM! Interesting... wish this wasn't all so nerve wrecking!

How much water do you suggest? 20ml?

So am i correct in saying that you say just before his 10am feed i can give him porridge, water and then milk?

Hey Nelly

It differs from mom to mom, but I suggest you try solids on the morning feed - around 10 - 11am as you indicated.

For the first meal, you would aim for a total of a teaspoon to a tablespoon of very watered/milked down rice cereal. Only slightly less runny than milk.

Most of it is probably going to come right back up again, and that is fine. You are not feeding to make him full, more that he adjusts to the sensation.

Once he is done, I would wait 5 - 15 minutes and then give him a bottle, so his mouth has a chance to feel the variance in sensations, rather than go straight to a milk bottle.

You may need to repeat this for about a week, before you will be able to drop the 10am milk feed and give cereal.

If you are introducing solids, then remember that you should start introducing water to prevent constipation.

I opted to feed solids, and then introduce a water bottle straight after, as usually the porridge makes baby thirsty and they are looking for a thirst quencher.

Once the 10am is established, then you look to adjust the 5 - 6pm to change that to cereal as well.

However other moms may suggest other approaches.