Solids question

[Rockett]

I started DD,who's 5 months, on rice cereal yesterday(on the advice of a CHN) because she had started to lose weight on breastmilk alone, and is a slow weight gainer,she's only just reached 6kgs,so I have a few questions.
This morning she had diarrhoea(sp?), (only once) is that normal when first starting solids?
Also,she doesn't seem to like the taste, she will eat it but screws up her face, I can't blame her,it tastes awful! :eek: So how long should she be on rice cereal before I give her something else to try? And what food is best to give her next?
And how many times a day?
Thanks :)

[Briannabear]

It is normal for their poo to change once they have solids. Keep an eye on it though - if you are concerned, see your CHN.
Its also normal for them not to like the first taste of the solids. Persist and she will get used to it. What are you mixing it with? Try mixing it with a bit of expressed breast milk. It makes the transition much easier.

Dont be in a rush to introduce new things for her yet. Keep her on rice cereal alone for a while. It might not seem interesting to you but its all very new to her! If you introduce new things too quickly its too much for their little system to handle.
We kept Brianna on farex and EBM for weeks. We then introduced a bit of pureed steamed pumpkin into the farex at her night feed. After a while we increased her solids to twice a day - now she has it 3 times a day. Take your time to do this though, you dont want to create problems with intolerances and allergies later on.

Feel free to email or message me if have any questions! Good Luck!

[suziebear]

Hi We started Jayden on solids very early as well. He was well and truely putting on weight and very healthy but just looking for more. We started with the rice cereal for the first week and then I added some pureed pumpkin and then potato. I also cooked up my own apples and pureed them and added to cereal for breakfast. From four months I added the tins of food from Heinz that are suitable for babies over 4 months and he did really well on them. I had to add something. He really did not like the taste of rice cereal on it's own and still doesn't but mix it with just the littlest of flavour and he loves it. Good luck. :)

[TwoBlue]

we were mixing apple with Sams rice cereal from quite early on because he just wouldnt eat it (after about a week of trying it plain) !!! he LOVED it with a little bit of apple and from then on no probs with any foods.

Good luck

[jarrahsmumma]

hi all,
our son did not like the tase of rice cereal much either, but after a week i tried some pear and then apple which he quite liked. there is also the transition from sucking food down and eating which can take a little while to get used to for a lil' bub.

i stated with mid morning once a day feed for 4 weeks then two feeds mid morning and 4-5pm. as he turned 6 months i have started 3 feeds a day before milk. These times are approx i just went with his flow, if he seemed hungrier consistantly then i would start giving more solids at a feed.

it can be really confusing at the time and difficult when they just want to rub their hands in mushy food and wipe it through their hair :) but they soon get the hang of it all. be prepared for a lot more clothes washing :)

good luck, it's a great adventure

peace
natalie

[Rockett]

Thanks for your replies girls,I'll wait a bit and then start to add pumpkin or apple :)
Also,dumb question,but are rice cereal and farex the same? I didn't see "farex" brand for DD's age at the shops so couldn't compare them.

[Briannabear]

Heinz make both Farex and Baby's first Rice Cereal. They are exactly the same. Farex have follow on cereals too - which you might have been looking at.

[kailensmum]

Just a suggestion for those who don't like plain farex. Farex also have banana and pear flavoured cereal from 4 months. I haven't had any probs with bub having plain farex, but i just thought he might like it for a change. He loves it, but he does get smelly farts from it. :D

[wattle]

My little one hated the taste of farex too, and even more with EBM mixed in. So I just went straight on to avocado. Its nice and mushy, not too sweet and he loves it. He's been eating it once a day now for about 3 weeks and is delighted with that. I think I'll stick on that for a little longer before adding new foods.

[Chickadee]

DD didn't like plain rice cereal but loved the banana one. She wouldn't eat bananas though, and still doesn't!

[TwoBlue]

Heinz banana rice cereal was VERY popular with my man....

and he is a HUGE banana fan :)