To Solid or not to Solid...that is the question.

[LilMrsC]

At the moment I have a range of people telling me that Charlotte needs to go on to solids then on the other hand I have a range of people telling me to stay away from solids until 6 months. :confused:I know that giving babies solids is another great debate which some are very passionate about. I just dont know what to do with Charli.

So I guess what I am asking is:

What age did you/are you planning on putting your little one on solids?

If your baby is already on solids what are you giving them?

Why did you decided to put your baby on solids before 6 months/why arent you putting your baby on solids til 6 months?

Just to give you a run down on Charlotte. She is 6.4kgs, 4 months (18weeks) old, has 5 x 180mls a day but is starting to sleep a little less at night now.

I think there are no right or wrong answers but I'm hoping a bit more information might help me make the right choice for Charli.:D

[lucyrose9]

Hi my health nurse said don't start solids till 5 1/2 months my dd is nearly 6 months and has 5 220ml bottles and sleeps all night and 2 day sleeps.

I have just started solids and she is still getting used to them.I think if you start to early there digestive system is not developed enough.
But you need to start at around 6 months as there iron stores become lower.

[NibbleCurlynBub]

I honestly believe that the best and most baby friendly way of introducing solids is pieces of fruit.

Like a long wedge of rock melon. Skin on, hold it and let bub suck on it. Bub can control the amount they eat without having foreign food and a plastic utensil shoved in their gob.

I know my DS HATED his first solid experience, but DD was started on whole rock melon allowing her to control it and suck on it and slowly chew it of her own will.
She has been much more enthusiastic about food and will feed herself or be fed. Just loves it.

I would wait until your bub starts expressing an interest. If they aren't interested they will not have a positive experience.

I hate all this 'at 6 months' hype.
Not like you will end up with a 100% breastfed adult because you didn't introduce that awful baby rice at the right age.

Also, I would NOT give it to your baby at only 4 months. WAY too young IMO.

[GraceUnhearing]

there seems to be alot of misinformation about solid introduction so i thought i'd share this great info with everyone from the kellymom.com website


Most babies will become developmentally and physiologically ready to eat solids by 6-9 months of age. For some babies, delaying solids longer than six months can be a good thing; for example, some doctors may recommend delaying solids for 12 months if there is a family history of allergies.
Reasons for delaying solids

Although some of the reasons listed here assume that your baby is breastfed or fed breastmilk only, experts recommend that solids be delayed for formula fed babies also.

* Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.
Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breast milk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time. (Wilson, 1998) Many other studies have also linked the degree of exclusivity of breastfeeding to enhanced health benefits (see Immune factors in human milk and Risks of Artificial Feeding).

* Delaying solids gives baby's digestive system time to mature.
If solids are started before a baby's system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy. Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months.

* Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies.
It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies (see Allergy References and Risks of Artificial Feeding). From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an "open gut." This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream.This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby's bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also. See How Breast Milk Protects Newborns and The Case for the Virgin Gut for more on this subject.

* Delaying solids helps to protect baby from iron-deficiency anemia.
The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby's iron absorption. Healthy, full-term infants who are breastfed exclusively for periods of 6-9 months have been shown to maintain normal hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. In one study (Pisacane, 1995), the researchers concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months. The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia. See Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary? for more information.

* Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.
The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood. (for example, see Wilson 1998, von Kries 1999, Kalies 2005)

* Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.
Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby's diet - they do not add to baby's total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.

* Delaying solids helps to space babies.
Breastfeeding is most effective in preventing pregnancy when your baby is exclusively breastfed and all of his nutritional and sucking needs are satisfied at the breast.

* Delaying solids makes starting solids easier.
Babies who start solids later can feed themselves and are not as likely to have allergic reactions to foods.

the best thing to do is if your unsure dont do it. hold off until 6 months. there is no reason at all to give babies food until then and then the best way to do it is baby lead weaning.

im sure if you searched here you will find some great info on baby lead weaning

[Love is all you need]

Hey Nic,

I was thinking the same thing with Evie, 4 mths (about the same weight) and is starting to wake up at night however I have just upped her night bottle to 240mLs and she seems to be sleeping through again, I am going to wait and see how we go till 6mths I think each baby is ready at their own age, the main reason we are waiting is because of allergies...

I think its up to each individual mother to decided when they are ready but I think if there is a bit of doubt maybe to hold of a little bit or as a PP said maybe give a piece of fruit and see how she goes and if she doesn't like it then you know she isn't ready.....I gave Evie some apples and why she was ok with it she didn't take to much so I have stopped now.....especially after I read about the allergies (and with both of us with allergies)

If Charli does like it maybe she is ready, all babies develop at different times in everything this 'blanket age' that covers everyone is cr@p in my opinion

[trouble]

My girls both started at around 4months, I didnt have a set time to start them, I just started them when I felt they needed that little bit extra. and it just happened to be that age both times.

I think you as the mum will be the best judge of when she needs more, and it is up to you, everyone has a different opinion, that why I think it is important to make up your own mind.

my girls both slept through the night at around 2-3 months, when they started to sleep less, and when they were not waiting for their bottles as long, I then decided they needed more, I only started small with farex, my kids didnt really become big solid eater until 6months, but it got them through the night!!

[Missus S]

Strictly 6 months minimum here as both DH and I have allergies.

I'm pretty sure the WHO recommendation is to wait until they are at least 6 months of age. I think like that info that GraceUnhearing posted.........their little guts just aren't mature enough before then. That's just my opinion anyway........I certainly don't judge others who introduce them sooner.

And I don't know if it would help the sleep issues.........I just find babies sleep patterns change all the time.

[Bel1978]

My DD's paed said she was right at 3-4 mths... after giving her solids she was perfect... by 7 mths at xmas she was eating roast dinners... at 1st she took a while to eat bigger food but farex and similar foods have been offered to babies for years younger then 6 mths

Today Jarvis has another appointment at the hospital as you know i have had many problems with him i will check with his paed what he says as farex may help keep his milk down...

Just adding after reading some posts... Sienna's paed stated that alot of formula has baby rice cereal in it any way and they give it from 1 week..

[SpottySocks]

When my now 7 year old was a baby the WHO recommended age for starting solids was 4 months but by the time my now 4 1/2 yr old came along the recommended age had changed to 6 months.

My first daughter was ready at 4 months - if sitting on our knee when we were eating she would reach for our food, her eyes would follow the fork up to our mouths. She would open her mouth when she saw a spoon and reach out for food from our plates. I just felt she was ready. I started her off on baby rice (farex etc) mixed with breast milk.

My 2nd daughter wasn't even vaguely interested in food at 6 months let alone 4 months. She started off with finger food - rusks, banana peices etc from around the age of 6 1/2 months but it took her much longer to get into it than it did my 1st baby. She always preferred to feed herself & hated pureed foods & being fed from a spoon.

If Charlotte is showing an interest in food then maybe she is ready. Every baby is different and you will know if she is showing an interest. It may be that she just needs a bit more formula in the evenings to get her through the night or perhaps a few spoonfuls of baby rice in the evenings might be what she needs. Do what you feel is right for her.

Something to be aware of is to avoid weetbix. I have a friend whose little one became severely constipated because she was eating weetbix for breakfast from 6 months of age. She spent a couple of nights in hospital while they "cleared her out" - it was quite serious & she was quite a sick little girl. Her paediatrician said that he advises against weetbix until a baby is at least 10 months old.

Goodluck!

[YMo7]

we have done anything from 2 months onwards - simply because every child is different and we gave our kids solids when we thought they individually needed it.

there is no right answer - its what you feel is right for your baby and you.

[LilMrsC]

Thankyou so much for your replies. They have definately made me feel better.

I dont think Charlotte is ready for solids at this stage. I may try and put her bottle up a little bit and see if that helps her with sleeping a bit longer at night.

I'd be a lost little mummy without bubhub I tell ya. :yes:

[Bel1978]

Didnt know about weetbix thanx for that...

J's paed said his case is different will see how all his tests go before starting food... he said def not before 4 mths with him

[Bex]

Hey just thought I would put y 2 sent worth in.

DS1 really didn't start looking till about 5 months. I started him on those for months baby food Chicken and sweetcorn. He hated farex and wasn really interested.

DS2 was a big hungry baby he was almost 4 months when I started him on solids once again he hated farex so after him getting the hang of farex i put him on the 4 months food aswell.

A couple of weeks later I put them on home made baby food which they had till they went on normal food.

With both though I only gave them solids at night at bout 5 so they where not sitting heavy in their tum for bed. After a while I introduced weet bix for brekky then after a bit longer I introduced lunch. DS2 started to refuse to be fed at nine months and so was eating meat and veg including florets of cauli and brocc at nine months. Where as i know kids that where still on smooth baby food at like 15-16 months. They where just chokers.

As for Charllette I don't feel she is ready for solids. Being FT BF I think I will wait for at least 6 months.

They say baby's on formula will quiet often start looking for solids earlier than BF fed and after having 2 bottles and one breast I would have to agree.

[QTB]

i have 2 very different babies...

brayden started on solids at 10wks old, not because i wanted too, but because at 10wks old he still had not reached his birth weight, due to supply issues with me and an undiognosed milk protein allergy. the solids helped him gain weight... however we stopped them once he was dx with the milk protein allergy and was put on a special formula at 12 weeks... he then didnt start again until 6months.

Harlan on the other hand is very content, no allergy etc, and other than the piece of cheese i found his brother had put in his mouth he wont be touching solids until at least 6months.

i like to go by the WHO recommendations, but i also understand that some babies really do need it earlier! (Coras not so wee Myles comes to mind here! :D)

so i never judge anyone for the choices they make in parenting :)