How Much Solids?

[Anonymous]

My twins will be 6 months on Wed. My pedatrician agreed with me at our 4 month visit to wait on solids since they were 10 weeks early. We said we would discuss it again at their 6 month check, which is Monday.

Recently, Connor has become more and more interested in food. He stares wide eyed whenever we eat something. He holds his head up great and has no tongue thrust, so about a week ago I decided to give it a try, but just with Connor since Kaylee has shown little interest so far. Since they both have had cereal in their bottles since they were 2 months old I figured, what’s the difference if we start? So about a week I basically spoon fed Connor some of his bottle. I took a tsp of cereal and mixed it with his formula till it was just slightly thicker than his bottle. I really was just looking to see how he did with the spoon to mouth thing. He did great.

After that I was still deciding if I should do it. Finally Saturday I decided, why not. So Satruday I mixed a tsp. with formula till it was about pancake consistency. On the back of the package it said to feed the bottle first, but that didn’t make sense to me, so I just gave the cereal. He loved it, and apparently found it quite funny. Every time I the spoon got close, he laughed. He did quite well, I didn’t see his tongue once, but he didn’t even eat half before he got really fussy. I’m thinking he wasn’t getting full fast enough.

We were out all day Sunday, so I did cereal again tonight for dinner. Same thing, 1/2 tsp. but this time I gave him about an ounce and a half formula with his zegerid first. This seemed to help as he ate all the rice and didn’t really loose any! But he also had his bottle. I started with 8 oz, mixed some with his cereal, and he ate the rest. Is this too much?

Is it normal to eat solids and a whole bottle? My little guy is already a little porker, and he was gaining weight too fast. Should I feed him more than 1/2 tsp. at a time of cereal? I’m sure my ped will answere these questions, but thats a week away.

Also, since he’s used to rice, and we know he doesn’t have allergies to it, what’s next? I’m thinking I can move to the next food faster because he’s so used to the rice. I have oatmeal, wasn’t sure if I should try that.

Sorry this was so long!

[hellbennt]

kristin,

since he’s already getting the rice, I wouldn’t feed him any ‘more’ by spoon- just my own opinion here…there is no ‘rule’ that you have to start w/ cereals

very good first foods are avocado and banana. just mash them up with a little formula & experiment, much like you describe you did w/ the cereal, to find a good consistency…

here’s a link to get you started: https://www.infantreflux.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=451&am p;am%20p;am%20p;PN=3

and here’s: Chart for sequence of introducing solids to the allergic child: http://www.hallpublications.com/title2_sample2.html

[Anonymous]

Kristen:

Abby had been showing interest in food also about a week or so ago so our doctor said to try bananas or sweet potatoes (Gerber). We tried the bananas and she loved them. He said that because she was already getting cereal in her bottle, we could proceed right to trying some different types of foods. We usually just do it when we eat supper and she really doesn’t eat much of it but she enjoys what she does eat. Makes it more of a social event for her than anything. I guess I figure that as long as she is still taking formula alright, it doesn’t hurt to introduce some real food.

They really seem to be growing up when they start eating food – much more fun!!

Robin

[Anonymous]

Thanks Robin and Laura.

I know at this stage the solids eaten are really more for practice than for calories. But since my ped says Connor has been gaining weight too fast I just worry that since he likes the “real food” but still has the same amount of formula if that means he will be gaining weight even faster.

Laura…The chart is really good, but do your or anyone know how much is recommended to start with? I’m going to try banana’s I think. I agree…it’s just too much cereal, but how much? Do I let him have the whole jar? 1/2 a jar? 2 jars if he will eat it?

[Anonymous]

I don’t know if this helps at all, but when I started giving Myles solids I did give him cereal but I also started to decrease the amt. of cereal in his bottles. Does Connor need the thickening to keep it down or because he gags?

Maybe now that’s he’s getting older he can handle less cereal in his bottles.

When I started to reduce the cereal in Myles’ bottles (at about 6 – 7 months) I did it gradually so he didn’t really notice the difference. Now at 9 months he is only getting 1 tablespoon in an 8 ounce bottle, down from 4 tablespoons.

[Anonymous]

Connor was getting 1 tsp. per ounce. We went down to 1 tsp. per 2 ounces for a couple of days and he did fine, so we went down to 1 tsp. per 3 ounces. He started to do what I call his “reflux cough” but we kept that amount for 2 days. When the cough didn’t go away we went back to 1 tsp per 2 ounces. The cough went away. That was about 2 weeks ago, but we did increase his zegerid at the same time, so I could try it again, but I’m hesitant.

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