When to introduce solids to a baby

Well that is a gross misconception there. Don't worry, I thought exactly the same thing at one time or another Lagogies.

But here you go.

Little A has been sleeping through the night from 2m3w - she is exclusively breastfed. With sleeping through I mean 7:30pm - 7:30am and mostly I wake her up by that time since I need to get rid of some milk. She sleeps in her own room. She had a cold/flu 2 week before she was 8 months old and slept through on and off for those 2 weeks. Then for the last week she has been cutting a tooth and wakes frequently between 9pm and 1am, then sleeps till 8:30am.

On the other hand my oldest was formula fed from 3 days of age and only started sleeping through at 2.5 years.

Regardless of solids - it played zero role

www.analyticalarmadillo.co.uk/2011/12/ni...o-use-baby-rice.html

Forgot to add the link on rice cereal!

Morning ladies

Sjoe, where does one start....

@MummyAbby, it's shocking what advice are given to new moms. You will also notice that the recommended age on the cereals & purities out there have changed from 4 months to 6 months.

Zee13, you are not a bad mom if you delay solids until your child shows he/she is fully ready. Read the link below to have an idea :

kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/solids-when/

You will always get a lot of advice & opinions from family, friends & healthcare professionals but at the end of the day, it's your baby! No one can force you into anything. All I can say is, do as much research on things before making a decision. Be it on sleeping through, starting solids etc.

Here is another link on why to delay solids :

kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/

Allergies can start only later in toddler/childhood. It doesn't necessarily mean that you will detect it before a year.

As for dairy products - if there is no known allergy in your family, you can start yogurt from 6 months & even give some chedder cheese (easier on their bodies) in moderation.

Just a side note on "sleeping through", there is nothing wrong with your baby if he/she doesn't sleep through at any given age when they small. Again, society is making such a big thing on when your baby needs to sleep through. Why??? Introducing solids is NOT going to miraculously make your baby a better sleeper. I see your lo is on formula & still wakes up at night as where some people will advice a bf mom to introduce formula or solids so that their babies can sleep better but it doesn't work like that.

I bf & my son still drinks almost every 2 to 3 hours during the night but I co-sleep so he just oi's & he is on the breast & we both sleep further. It doesn't bother me cause I know I'm giving him the comfort & food he still needs during the night & it keeps my milk supply up so that I can bf him for as long as possible.

Don't let it stress you out. Your lo will sleep through when ready

www.isisonline.org.uk/how_babies_sleep/


I hope this helps a bit!

Read up on everything you can & then only make an informed decision.

All the best!

Lagogies, I agree with what you've said, but again every opinion is dependent on their own experience and the needs of the child and the dynamics of the family. You know your child, their needs, and what fits in with your life style and how you would like to raise your child.

My boy has reflux and feeding him has been an on going battle since he was 2 weeks old...I managed to breastfeed for 2.5 months And expressing didn't work well as my milk went sour. Something to do with the enzymes in human milk.

He has been on NAN AR for the past 4 weeks and though things have improved dramatically he still does not eat well and only now is he starting to gain weight. I can also tell he is a lot more happy and content. The pediatrician suggested starting solids early - as in 4 months but that I need to see if he is ready, which I don't feel he is so ill hold off. One tip she did give me that works fantastically is adding a tsp of rice cereal to his night bottle. I've been doing that for about a week now, and the last few nights he only wakes up once a night to feed!

Generally when introducing solids you start with rice cereal at night, then you move that to the morning and veggies at night etc till you have 3 meals. Orange veg, then green veggies, then you introduce fruits and then you mix veggies and add stock (soups), and then you start adding meat. It's just a guideline.
Start with small amounts of food, it's about exploring textures and tastes, milk is still their primary source of nutrition. I must say though when I introduced solids to my daughter she naturally wanted less and less milk because she was eating so well.

Good luck and enjoy, this is a fun time and food must never become an issue and feeding never a battle or you will set them up for a life time of food issues! Believe me, I know.

Wow Lagogies, You've been very lucky with your girls and it seems like you found the right formula for your situation. I couldn't breastfeed my little one as well and she still seems fine on the formula.

You are right when you say i must trust my instinct, sometimes, mommy knows best


Thanks for your tips, you ladies have given me a lot to think about...

Oh and by the way if I say sleep through it means the following: going to bed at 9 at night and waking up at 6 or 7 in the morning. I always find it amusing that people go on about breastfeeding exclusively up to a late age, but many times these are the babies only sleeping through at a very late age. For me as a working mommy I rather have contented babies, sleeping through the night. They are calm kids that just are a pleasure never crying. Many people commented on my kids never crying, being calm and content.

I think the solids and sleeping through goes hand in hand. But I suppose that is my opinion.

It is great when you are fortunate enough to breastfeed till your child is a toddler. Obviously breast is best.

I was not that fortunate as when my eldest was 2 1/2 months I had to be back at work and stressful job. Even after treatment I hardly any milk left at 3 1/2 months. Thus as my milk got less and formula did not fill my childs needs so I introduced solids very sucessfully.

My daughters slept through at 6 weeks and 2 months respectively. ( my youngest was 3 1/2 weeks early). Were talking at very early age. Walking sitting etc earlier than their peers.

My daughters had absolutely no allergies and developed into very healthy eaters - asking for salad, cucumber carrotsticks etc for lunchbox as toddlers.

I think the most important tip is no dairy before the age of 1 year as in medical journals there is a link in early development of diabetes with use of bovine milk.

And no salt at least up to 9 or 10 months as their kidneys cannot process too much salt.

As said earlier Trust your instinct! Enjoy your baby