3mths old???

[Soontobe]

Hi,
My bub is 3mths old (she was also 2weeks over due), she has been on formular since birth. She is a big girl. Lately she has been fussing with her bottle but drinking lots more than before, and seems hungry a lot more (tummy grumbling and winging for bottle) and she has stopped sleeping through. I was wondering if I could start solids? Has anyone started this early? How do you know when they are ready?

I do realise that the say not to do it until 6mths (but the age for solids keeps changing over years Whys that???) , but I know my parents feed me solids at 3mths and I have no allergys and no other problems and never have. I just want to know if other people have done it, as I want to do the right thing.

[Supermum]

Hi there ... it does sound like she's hungry but I'd check with your CHN or GP just to be sure.

I was under the impression that the rule of thumb for solids is four months for formula fed babies and six months for breast fed. I had a severe reflux bub and solids were recommended earlier than usual. It didn't do him any harm but I checked with our Paed before I started.

Good luck and I hope she settles down soon ... for both your sakes:)

[annsam]

Hi, how long has it been going on? If just a couple of days it may be a growth spurt. They have a pretty large one at this age.

Also, how much formula are you giving? How often? Are you sure she is hungry and not teething and associating the bottle with comfort or something similar?

The age for solids changes based on up to date research. 30 years ago babies were started on solids at about 2-6 weeks, 50 years ago it was 18 months. I started DS on solids at 4.5 months but friends of mine have found they have tried at 3 months on rice cereal and found it was the answer to the issues they had been having. You could always try a wee spoonful of rice cereal and see how she goes. If you do decide to try solids, I wouldn't be giving her anything weird and wonderful till 6 months. I would be just sticking with rice ceral and other such starter foods.

[JanetF]

You might like to read these. Your baby has holes in her gut right now which allow food particles through. Once the holes close up (usually in the latter half of the first year) your baby has a lot less chance of developing allergies and problems. She's also at risk of choking since she can't sit up on her own right now.

http://kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html
http://askdrsears.com/html/3/T030100.asp

[Soontobe]

[QUOTE=annsam]Hi, how long has it been going on? If just a couple of days it may be a growth spurt. They have a pretty large one at this age.

Also, how much formula are you giving? How often? Are you sure she is hungry and not teething and associating the bottle with comfort or something similar?

[QUOTE]


To answer your questions annsam,
Its been going on for around 2 weeks, She has 200ml's of formula every 2 and half to 3hours. And she seems to me that she wants more. She's not teething as far as I can see, and she has never used the bottle for comfort as she has a dummy.

Thanks for the replys, still unsure.

[Kaileysmum]

hi soontobe,

My bub's doing the same as you decribed, maybe its just a stage! I was thinking about putting dd on solid, just one spoon full a day of rice cereal, but I read some information on it and Im going to leave it until she's 5 to 6 months. You should check out those links of JanetF, they have good information about solids and why you should wait.

E:)

[Sarie]

Hi!
Both my boys were bottle fed and they both started on solids at around 3months. We started by trying them with pureed foods to see if they were interested and they gobbled them up. I also propped them up in my boomerang pillow so they could sit up enough to eat. Usually so long as she's holding her head well you should be right.
As will all things go by your gut, use common sense and if it's right for your baby go for it!
Best of luck
Sarie

[reAllytee]

I started my bubs on solids just a little older than 3mths but prior to this my pediatrician (sp? bad day :p ) advised to put a teaspoon of rice cereal in bubs bottle to make it a little thicker & fill him up as he was always hungry wanting 200mls every 2hrs & screaming for more as well as having bad wind pains. He advised that as he was such a big bubs he needed more to thrive & the wind probs came from him gulping his food as he was so hungry so i followed his advice & havent looked back ! When bubs did start on solids i was lucky that i had a highchair that reclines so was perfect for that period when he wasnt quite sitting up alone. I just slowly added more rice cereal to his bottle until he was ready to take from a spoon. But im not saying this is the way to go as every baby is different & it is true that not all babies are ready to have them introduced so i would be talking to either your doctor or CHN for ideas & advice before making a change.

[LilShenanigans]

I agree ask your doctor - a sane one :p

I'd probably keep at it, DD had a growth spurt and shes b/f, she just kept clutching at me lol

This thread brought up the thought of my uncle, it was mentioned that my grandmother couldn't handle b/f him, and decided to put him on solids shortly after birth - he took it like a fish in water. He hasn't given up that love either :p

Each bub is dif, every mother will have their own instinct.

if your anything like my grandmother, your nutty and handing out chops to 4month old boys with 5 teeth! :rolleyes:

[Mum2Lucas]

I started my son on farex at 4 weeks because he was so hungry and then on fruits and other stuff at 8 weeks and he's been fine there's been no reactions. He's a much happier baby on them and loves his food but he still drinks heaps of formula too. and now he's 4 months he has solids twice a day and eats a quarter of a jar and 200ml of formula. Most doctors will tell you not to start on solids until at least 4 months but it's up to you if she's hungry farex might help..

[bpato]

Hi soontobe

My Ds is just 3 months old, and we started him on solids a week ago. He kept watching us eating and trying to grab our food, and had started feeing every 2 hours, and wasn't setlling well after his feeds.

We started with rice cearal, and he loved it :D . He knew exactly what to do, there was no tounge thrushing or anything. We are slowly introducing pureed vegies, and nothing untoward has come of it. he has even started slepping through the night, since we started him on them. :D

Each baby is different and ages are given just a guide of when to do things. Go with your gut instinct, as it is probaly right.

Good Luck

Belinda