Posted by
smsm
19 yrs ago
Hi...my little girl would be turing 5 months in a weeks time and i plan to start her off on solids....need some help with what do i start with...kind of confused..should i start with just plain rice cereal since shes not 6 months yet and then move onto veggies like carrots etc.....or can i start her off on banana mixed with breastmilk...
thanks a lot
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Many threads on this but you might also get yourself a book on weaning to give you guide and ideas on what and when to introduce, and also recipes for when they are ready for some "real" foods. Back when my son was weaning (he is now 4.5 yrs old) we were told to wean at 4 months and started with baby rice, then carrots, sweet potato, pumpkin, apple, pear etc. I used Gina Ford's book for weaning and also Annabel Karmel. Hope this helps, and have fun.
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before you even think about what food to start with, perhaps you might want to check with your baby's doctor first. this is because the current advisory is that solids should only be introduced after 6 months. so if your child is thriving well on milk, it's better to wait until her digestive system is more mature after 6 months to introduce solids. just my personal opinion. i introduced solids at 5.5 months, wanted to wait until 6 but because he was taking milk poorly (low intake), i didn't have a choice.
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smsm
19 yrs ago
thanks katclarke and wheelymate....i did check with her doc and he told me to wait till 6 months but i can make out that as shes growing shes also getting hungrier and wants more of me....maybe thats the reason that from waking up one in the night when was she 6 weeks she has moved to waking almost 3 times sometimes...
also with the constant feeding i feel am not able to give sufficient time to the older one...so feel guilty on that account too hence thought maybe i should start sooner....
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Tinky
19 yrs ago
I don't think you need to hold out until 6 months if your baby is showing signs of being ready for solids-sitting upright well,has teeth,watching you eat with interest and "smacking"of lips as you do.All my three started at 5 months and were fine,I would just recommend that you start with rice cereal once a day for about two weeks,only a teaspoon or two and well "watered" down with BM or formula.If baby sticks her tougue out to taste the food and then draws it back in she's ready.If she pushes in out or turns her head away she's not,then leave it for another few weeks.Loads of good books out there.I like Bradshaw and Bramley's The Baby's Table
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I've also heard quite recently that they switched the recommendation from 4 months to 6 months, concern about allergies I expcet. Also, some discussion about starting with vegetables, rather then grains because society seems to be addicted to carbs. Even just a year ago the thought was to start with cereal at about 4 or 5 months, then veggies. I've always heard to introduce fruits last because they like the sweet better and then won't give veggies a chance. I'd wait until 6 months and start with veggies, that's what I'll do with the next one.
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I started giving veggies purees when my little girl was 4 months old and she loved it. At 5 months I introduced her to fruit compotes... She's very healthy, never had an allergy, she's now 2.5 yo and eats everything, from Chinese food, to Indian, Thai, Italian...
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smsm, I was quite hung up as well about waiting till 6mths before solids, but my baby was showing very keen interest whenever he sees us eating. Final clue that did it for me was when he tried to swipe my fork when he was 5 mos 1 wk. According to my pediatrician, the early solids are so small in amt and is mainly to introduce new texture and a new way of eating. It is NOT supposed to replace any of his milk intake. I ended up giving my baby plain baby rice mixed with milk for 2 weeks. The first day was a bit of "iffy", by the third day, I knew we were on the right track and he loves it. Third week, we introduced "first veggies", still mixed with bb rice & milk once a day. Didn't start mixing different types of vegs & fruits till after 6 mos. Also didn't start with uncooked fruits till 6 mos. Different books do vary slightly, but I read Gina ford, Annabel Karmel, which I found very helpful.
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smsm: i also intended to wait till 6 months, but when baby was almost 5 months old, he was showing a ver very keen interest in food. he would stare at all the food on the table and avidly watch us eat.
I started with rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. i sterilised everything, bowl, spoon and any utensils that i had to use.
baby went nuts, he was so happy. For a week or so he had just cereal with milk and then cereal mixed with the water in which carrots were cooked etc.
pureed veg after 6 months.
bananas with BM around 5.5months.
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Started rice cereal mix with milk at 5.5 months with two teaspoons and increased to 2 tablespoons, he nap for 2.5 hours after cereal and bath; he has been naping 2.5 hours till now. Started veggies like carrot, parsnip, potato, sweet potato, pumpkin at 6 months and now at 7 months, he is having a little of meat, chicken and lean pork puree. I believe after 5 months it is time to introduce rice cereal and add on others as you and your baby are ready.
Have fun feeding and enjoy the messy mouth and face of your LO! Take lots of pictures too :)
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smsm, I too started earlier than expected when my daughter literally grabbed my food out of my hands to put it into her mouth. She was 4.5 mths then and a big baby.
I started with rice cereal only mixed with breastmilk. Only gave pureed pear 2 weeks later, to ease things in. She has many allergies so I was extra careful with what I gave her. You needn;t worry if you have no family history of allergies. Pear is good as it helps with bowel movements. I heard bananas cause constipation. After pear, I introduced pumpkin, sweet potatos, apples, zucchini, and carrots.
With rice cereals, do read the labels carefully - some have sugars in them. I think the popular one is the organic type sold in B2B?
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The current thinking on starting solids for the breast fed baby is to wait until they
are 6 months of age. his allows the babies gut a chance to mature and be able to digest solid food better.
Breast milk is a complete food and able to sustain a baby until then .
The exclusively breast feed baby has been exposed to many different foods through the breast milk and his Mothers diet .
Whole foods such as ripe bananas ,avacardos and sweet potatos are great first foods.
You and your baby would be most welcome to come to clinic to discuss this further .
Well baby clinic 2849 1500
Matilda International Hospital
http://www.matilda.org
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smsm, if you can get the annabel karmel book called First meal, there's a schedule there that you can refer to and i find it very helpful. you dont have to buy the book, jsut go to a bookstore and flip through the book to give you a rough guide on how to start.
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I like the Baby's Table mentioned above as well as the food guide for introducing foods from http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/solids2.htm
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smsm
19 yrs ago
thanks a million everybody, appreciate all the replies, much more confident now of starting solilds for my little one...
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