Starting Solids

[sugabeanzs]

My twins are 5 months. (They were preemies so 3 mo adjusted). My doctor gave me the go ahead with starting solids. He wants me to put my one daughter on prunes to help with her constipation. I did not get any instructions as he was in a rush. *ugh* doctors.

How often should I feed them? What should I start with? I know rice is the main thing but they already get that in their bottle (well, now it is oatmeal because rice made them too backed up). I also hear that the only reason one starts on rice is because of allergies. There is no nutritional value there.

Do I give them a bottle before or after? I mean I know they will not be full on just a little solid food. Any advice would be appreciated.

[woodcliff]

Hi there! wow. That is intimidating "oh, just give them prunes"
Yes, sure...you'll have to cover the house with plastic

Yes, start slowly...I'd still start the rice cereal for 3-4 days, making it not lumpy/smoother...if they eat a tablespoon each you are lucky! don't push it...

What I did was give 1/2 the bottle to take the 'edge' off of hunger, then try some solids, then give the rest of the bottle. Introduced new foods every 4 days or so...but I did rice cereal for 3 weeks...before anything else.

Frankly, I just went with how the babies reacted...ie: first thing in the morning, bottles as usual, then some solids 3 hours later... and back to my 3 hr cycle with them...but if they were ever hungry between feedings I'd give bottles.

Introducing solids changed our sleeping schedules for 2 mos (went from sleeping 7-7 to oh no, up too often to count)...they just seemed to not get enough food, and it took us all time to make the necessary adjustments. I now give a bottle late at night, that helps them go until 6 or 6:30 every morning...still not ideal, but better than getting up at 3 am, these babies are normally good sleepers so I know it was the solids that screwed things up.

Best of luck to you...there's lots of info online and in books, but nothing really helped me except trial and error

[Warren Dew]

They don't need to get full on solids. You just want to get them used to the idea at first.

I'd start them on barbecued spare ribs, but that's just me. Our daughter was eyeing our ribs so intently at five months, but we weren't sure they were safe. Now, and month and a half later, we've let her try some, and she'll gum one for an hour. We're going to order the wet style of ribs next time and see if she can actually get more of the meat than the tiny amount she gets now. If we'd let her have one when she first wanted one, she's probably be a lot more enthusiastic about solids now.

There is supposedly a standard order - rice cereal, other cereals, vegetables, then fruit - but our doctor says anything but eggs, peanuts, and honey is okay.

[CT_Michele]

Suga- Here is what my dr told me

He said to still feed them bottles as normal. Pick two of the feedings (we do lunch and dinner) and do 1/4 of cereal and pour in about an ounce or 2 of the bottle they would be having at this time. I found out that 1/4 of cereal was way too much to start, so I have been doing 1 tablespoon of cereal with 1-2 tablespoons of formula.

Because of the constipation, I was also told to feed her prunes or pears. So I did. I called to ask if since she was able to eat those if i should stop the cereal, and they said no, babies need the cereal for the iron in it. He said they will continue with cereal even when eating baby food. He described it as adults having more than one item on their plate for dinner.

So now what I do is the cereal with the formula mixed and i add the prunes or pears to that, all mixed together. The only reason i am adding the baby food is strictly for the constipation. oh, I also feed her some of the solids by spoon, then give her some bottle, then more solids then finish the bottle. I was told give the solids and when they don;t want anymore, give them the bottle.

They say to only introduce one baby food at a time to make sure there are no allergies. I was told four feedings (which is 2 days) of the same food before trying a new one. I have did each food for 3 days just to be sure, and like i said, only prunes and pears right now.

It has been a slow go since we started a few days ago, but as she is getting used to the cereal, she is doing better and better with it. Good luck, get your camera ready, buy some more bibs and don;t wear any nice clothes

[sugabeanzs]

Well we tried it last night and I tried again with Kenzie this morning as she did not want her bottle. Well they just spit it right out. They still have the pushing out reflex with their tongues so I do not think they are quite ready. I will try with Brooke again tonight with prunes since she is just so constipated or I am just going to buy some Gripe Juice to see if that will help.

We are doing barley and oatmeal in the bottle (rice made them too backed up) and we have been doing this for a long long time. Kenzie can not have the oatmeal because it gives her the runs.

I just wanted to see if Kenzie was just tired of her bottle or what also but I do not think that is the case. She just wants to play and talk and not eat. I mean she eats when she is hungry but she is only getting like 20 oz a day...maybe (I mean maybe) 25. Her sister is a chap and eats 5 oz each time. We do every three hours. We will try solids in a couple of weeks again. I may start playing with things in their mouth (like chewies or something)

[Mandy J]

Hi,

With Ellie I started with rice only for evening meal for a week, with a bit of milk before and the rest afterwards. 2 weeks later we introduced breakfast (baby porridge) and 2 weeks later we did lunch (rice again) after that we started doing rice with avocado for a few meals, then rice with broccoli etc trying different veg with the rice. After another few weeks we started mixing the veg i.e sweet potato and cauliflower and would add cream cheese or butter for the essential fats that babies need.

When she was finally ready for a few lumps, we added some baby pasta or some flaked fish (cod or haddock) and some grated cheese. We have now just started adding things like minced lamb.

At the start I always offered a bit of milk after the feed, to make sure she wasn't still hungry, until I learnt how much she needed.

So Ellie now has:

7.30am B/Feed
8.00am Porridge made with 1/2 small bottle and has the other 1/2 to drink afterwards
11am Large Bottle
1pm Lunch
4.30pm Small Bottle
6pm Dinner with dessert (fruit or yogurt)
7.30pm Large Bottle

I also offer her 1 snack item around 5pm to nibble on while I am cooking her dinner i.e a rice cake. If we are out for a meal, I will give her a slice of tomato or a chip (fries!) to try to feed herself with, but have to keep a careful eye on her as she tends to put to much in her mouth and start to 'gag'

Today I bought some chocolate to try...but I've eaten it all while she wasn't watching...lol...she really isn't ready for it yet!!!!!

Mandy
x

[sugabeanzs]

Thanks so much! I tried the prunes again today just straight up as I was rushed and forgot to add it to rice...tomorrow I will try that. However, Kenzie ate it straight up! She chewed and swallowed!! Brooke, I think, just hates the taste. She makes horrible faces when I give it to her. So tomorrow I will try it with a little rice or barley.

[bdantonio]

My first child had massive bowl issues use barley not rice.. barley is the only cereal with fiber so it will help.. Mix pers in with the cereal. Also you can go to walmart n get a feeder bottle you put the food in the bottle till they get use to the taste their is even a spoon that attches to the bottle that helps. The spoon goes in their mouth like normal but it has holes in it so if they suck the food cums out. It works. I had both my kids on food by 3mths. No kid eats prunes.