Introducing Solids - When is the best time, what is right

[macca27975]

I have a question?? I have started my kids on some solids at this stage just farex mixed with their milk and then their full bottle thereafter, but my question is how often do you give them solids in the beginning my mum thinks only once a day so their tummies can adjust and so they don't get consitpated. We only started on Saturday and they are only 5 months old (actual age, but but developmentally 3mth as they were 8 weeks premmie) so iam not sure if I am doing the right thing.......... so far things seem to be going well. I have also brought some canned baby food that says they are for 4-6month of age but i don't know when to try these on them, I would make their food but not sure what they can eat at what age need to do some research. I feel like I have training wheels on lol

My kids where 8 weeks early, so corrected age, 3 months actual age, 5 months. They seem to enjoy the farex, I put two tablespoon of it in a bowl with 120mls of their milk so it is still runnie and share it between them, it is runnie enough to basically fall down the back of their throats, but they can learn the differance. After some of the spoon fulls I put their dummy in it seems to helps them suck it back, but they know when it is coming as their mouth is already open and they are yelling at me for some more, plus their faces are covered in the farex lol. They suck on the spoon as if they are drinking their bottle and some of it just gets pushed out but I spoon it up and put it back in. I just worry if I give them to much it will block them up.

I get so confused with the actual and corrected age due to them being premmie. They say you can start introducing solids around 6 months, I have been told so many things, mainly I should wait longer as the kids tummies are not ready and they can get allegies and all that, I am so confused I really thought I was doing the right thing, they seem to be doing OK with it, but I am only giving them the Farex at their dinner feeds

Oh who knows I don't want to make them sick :hair:

[sandy cheeks]

Hi I have a 33 weeker now 7months(actual) I started her on farax just once a day for first few weeks the slowly introduced veg like pumpkin,sweet potatoe I gave her the same thing for a few days to c if she reacted then moved on to a new veg I still gave her farax just added a veggie meal as well.
If u want u can start on fruit or custard i just did veg cos my mum and mchn told me to, somthing to do with baby not liking the taste of veg after they eat lots of sweet things.
Feeding 2 must b a lot of messy fun:D

[KatiesMum]

:hugs: hun.

Firstly - because your kids were prem, the development of their little tummies and digestive system is likely to be a little bit less advanced than other babies their age, so if in doubt - I would wait.

Its not going to hurt them to wait a while longer, but it may cause some issues if you do it to early IYKWIM.

Mainly - go off the signs they are giving you.

Are they
- interested in food
- reaching for the food on your plate
- opening their mouth and hoping for some :laughing:
- sitting up well
- lost the tongue reflex thingy
- feeding more during the day coz they are hungry

sorry - I cant remember what the other signs are, but go off these rather than just off their age.

As for how to introduce solids, everyone has different opinions on what to give first and how to give it.

Personally - I gave Katie some farex from about 5 months but she didnt really like it much. About 2 weeks later I tried just giving her vegies and she loved them, so we just went with that.

We started with just once a day, at morning tea time-ish. Especially when you are introducing new foods, its a good idea to do it in the morning so that you can observe them for any reactions.

Introduce one new food at a time ... and then wait a few days before introducing something else.

Good luck - and have fun!!!!

:flowerz:

[Jezzy]

I have exactly the same question my boys are 20 weeks corrected 11 weeks and my CHN advised trying farex in their bottle which i have since decided against due to choking risk. i am not sure when to start solids for their actual age or wait for corrected age???
Dont know if i feel confident enough to try farex on a spoon yet??

cheers tina

[macca27975]

Jezzy - I know what you mean, my kids had an issue with their swollow and breathing when feeding and use to get all confused and sometimes go blue and hold their breath it was a little scary at times but the bigger they got and more developed they became the better they got. The nurses in the NICU put food thickner in their bottles you could also use Farex, this made the forumla thicker and slowed them down when feeding until they could handle the flow themselves. I have now stopped the food thickner and bubs are doing really well and I couldn't beleive the weight they put on whilst on this.

Farex in their bottles will just make them go longer between feeds oh yeah put on the weight also :laughing:, it will only make the milk thicker, as long as it is not lumpy the kids want have an issue drinking it, you may have to get faster flow nipples for their bottles but I guess it will get them use to the taste before they need to use a spoon. Happy to chat more if needed

[Issabee]

Hi
If your babies are ready for solids you will know. By the sound of it they are loving it! I tried to start my dd on farex at 6months (4mths corrected) because of poor weight gain and she still had the tongue reflex going so I couldn't get any into her. I kept trying every week until at 7mths she swallowed and we haven't looked back since. I struggled with constipation for the first month as I was still breast feeding her. The week I stopped breastfeeding and put her on bottles she no longer got constipated. So much for the theory that your body produces enough liquid for the babies needs!