Feeding my baby solids?

Question

My daughter is 4 1/2 months. She's on rice cereal but I am switching to oatmeal cereal once the rice is gone. It's healthier. Anyway, I gave her prunes the other day. And today I gave her pears. Hasn't started veggies yet. When would you suggest to start veggies? I am going to ask her doc but would like your opinions as well.

And right now she gets cereal & fruit twice a day (b-fast & dinner time). She has no set time when she gets this because she wakes at different times every day so how do I get her on a good feeding schedule? And when do I add a third (lunch) feeding time in? And what would I feed at lunch? Cereal & veggies maybe? Or fruit & veggies or can it vary? PLEASE HELP me with this because it's driving me insane.

Answer 1

You're actually suppose to start introducing the veggies first because they are the worst tasting if that makes sense.  Babies have to acquire the taste for them, as where fruits are sweet so they're going to eat them.  When I started my babies on solids, I just started introducing them at breakfast and then at lunch and then at dinner.  For lunch vary what you give your baby so your baby can get a varitey of nutrients.  It'll all come together I promise!

Answer 2

Go easy on anything that could be hard for a baby to digest properly(no gas or constipation) Bananas,Rice,Apples & Tea(BRAT) in small amounts to avoid difficult bowel movements. You didn't mention if your baby is on formula or not. My son had bad stomach problems until we switched to Lactose Free ( and low fat) milk and formulas.We thought he had colic, but switching to the Lact.Free,Low Fat stopped the problem immediately. This happened at 3-4 months.

Answer 3

The only thing that I know about giving babies new foods is to make sure that you give them different things one at a time.  You should stick to one fruit for a couple of days to make sure that they aren't allergic to it, and then try something new.  As far as when to give her vegetables I'm not sure.  I am going through the same thing with my baby and all that he has had so far is rice cereal, rice cereal with bananas, and pears.

Good luck hopefully someone will give you the answer you are looking for.

Answer 4

I would have started veggies before fruit. If you think she is hungry for lunch thats when I would start her. As far as schedule I would feed her four hours after the last meal or when ever you eat.  I would not wake her to eat. For lunch I would feed veggies and fruit.  

Answer 5

My daughter will be 4 months on the 18th and I just started her on rice cereal a couple of weeks ago as it seemed she was still hungry after breastfeeding.  I would mix a few tsp. with breastmilk once a day and she gobbled it up.  After three days (she seemed fine during the day, but a little more hungry later in the day), I increased to same amount twice a day (10 am and 4 pm) after being like that for a few days, I began to increase the amount every few days.  She is now eating 2 tbsp with 1.5 oz breastmilk twice a day.  I also purchased the oatmeal cereal, but I read that it was good to start with rice and then move to oats and/or barley.  I plan to introduce the oats by mixing it with the rice for a few days and transition slowly to just oats.  As it is, my daughter has very regular bowel movements so I don't want to over stimulate.  I plan to make my own baby food, I have read some books on the subject.  I don't plan to introduce any other solids until 6 months, although I have read that they can be introduced as early as 4 months, depending on the individual baby needs . It is recommended to begin with either or as infants can prefer the taste of veggies as easily as fruit.  It is recommended to "wait until six months before introducing the following: carrots, spinach, beets, turnips, green beans, mixed veggies and bananas as they contain nitrates and can cause children to develop methemoglobinemia, a condition in which blood cells do not transport oxygen efficiently, after six months they do not pose a risk since infants are then able to handle nitrates in their diet".   Anyhow, for the introduction of veggies, I plan to do the same.... mixed with cereal at first then slowly eliminating the cereal to just the veggie, I have read that this could lessen adverse reactions.  I plan on (as suggested) introducing one new veggie a week.  My daughter is not on a schedule really as far as naps and playtime goes.  However, I do try to feed her and put her to bed for the night at the same times.  I am keeping her on a three hour feeding schedule because as adults we are supposed to eat every three hours to maintain a level GI so I figure the same should be for her.  Of course this is just the preliminaries, she will eventually have breakfast, lunch and dinner with snacks in between.  Anyhow, a typical day goes like this...

7 am - breastfeeding

(nap and/or playtime)

10 am - Cereal followed by breastfeeding

(nap and/or playtime)

1 pm - breastfeeding

(nap and/or playtime - any errands are done in this block as well)

4 pm - Cereal followed by breastfeeding

(nap and/or playtime)

6:30 pm - Bath  and pj's

7 pm - breastfeeding followed by quiet time, we read a book

7:30 pm - she is put down to bed for the night, she will wake up between 3:30 and 4:30 and receives breastmilk and goes straight back to sleep

In the end, you know your baby better than anyone and if it seems right to you, odds are it is and if it gives you a sketchy feeling inside... hold off.  I don't think anyone has the right or best answer, every baby is different and every doctor has their own opinions... and with the internet and all the books available, I think moms today are more confused then ever!  It's nice to have a forum like this to know that there's other people in the boat with us!  Good luck!! =)  Happy feeding!

One more thought.... could the formula you're using be the cause of consipation?

Answer 6

My son did not start solids until he was 6 months old.  Started with rice cereal for about a week (continued with milk and solids) and then we started the vegetables - the reds/oranges including:  carrots, sweet potatoes and squash and then the greens including:  green beans, peas, etc...  Please make sure that you are doing one by one for about 2-4 days to make sure that your little one is not allergic to any foods.

After the vegetables, you typically go to fruits.  All stage 1 at first and the STage 2 after 6 months old.  At this time, I stayed with Rice cereal until I had the chance to introduce oatmeal.  Again, give it a few days before you start anything else new.

My son is now 9 months and finishing stage 2 shortly but here is our schedule that we used after 6 months of age:

6:30 AM - Breastmilk or 6-8 ounces formula

***baby may nap again or stay up***

8:30 AM - 3-4 Tblsp cereal ( in mixed form) with 2 oz of fruit

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM - Naptime

12:30 PM - Breastmilk or 6-8 ounces of formula

1:00 PM - 2 oz fruit (used leftover from AM) and 2 oz veggies

3:30 PM - 5:00 PM - Naptime

5:30 PM - Breastmilk or 6-8 oz formula

6:00 PM - either 1)  cereal and 2 oz veggies or 2) cereal and meat (> 9 months) or combo meal with rice and other food

9:00 PM - SLEEP

What I have read is that the baby should eat about a 4oz jar at each mealtime (this was around 8 months so in your case, maybe less).  

I hope that this helps you at least within the upcoming months.

Answer 7

Solids shouldn't be introduced until 6 months.  Cereal is said to be an exception, but my daughter didn't start that until 6 months either.

My daughter's pedi recommended I move up from one solid feeding per day to two solid feedings when she was 7 1/2 months old.  When she does start eating lots of solids, just try to give her lots of variety, but make sure you only introduce one new food every 4-5 days.