Seeking Advice on Starting Baby on Solids

My son had the same problem so I took him to his doctor ( first time mother ) and he told me to give him baby oatmeal and he was 4 months when I started him and within 2 days him bms were back to normal if not a little bit more stinky. Hope all goes well.

Hi B.,
Soild readiness signs are:
1. Baby can sit Independently.-not propped up.
2. Baby no longer has a tongue thrust reflex. (Pleople who are ready to eat know how to swallow- Babies who's bodies are still tongue thrusting are trying to protect baby from eating things they are not ready to digest.
3. Baby has mastered a pincer grasp and can pick up food and independently get it to thier mouth.
4. Baby swallows food the first time it enters the mouth.

Your baby is probably not ready to eat soilds and this is normal for her age.
I wish you well.
Take care,
R.
Doula and Mom of Ben 16yrs and Daniel 12yrs

Hi B.,
please don't take the advice to feed her any solids.
She is way to small, just like the one mom said, if cerial, then as thin as formula, and then just the last bottle before going to bed at night, so she sleeps better through the night.
You can damige her digesting system like this.
One mom gave you advice on when your child should be ready.
A.

B.,

Have you discussed this with your pediatrician? He/She will be able to give you sound medical advice for this situation. I wouldn't worry too much about not having her on solids right away. My pedi told me that all the nutrition a baby needs for the first year comes from breast milk and/or formula. She also suggested using prunes to help with any difficultly with bowel movements.

You can try putting some light Karo Syrup (1 tsp) in her formula or some prune juice to help loosen things up. Rice causes lots of constipation, that's why my daughter was only on it for a few days, then I switched her to oatmeal. And I would not water down the formula, if its not mixed right, your baby won't get her proper nutrition. Also, don't give too many bananas either, it has the same affect as the rice cereal does.

well, you can try mixing a jar of pears or applesauce with the dry rice cereal and feeding it to her that way (about 1/4 a cup of cereal is all she'll need). If you are giving her oatmeal, make sure it is the single grain formula for babies. Also, I would suggest that she get a bottle of water to drink during the day as well (at about 6 months, she can start practicing with a sippy cup). When she is grunting like that, it is unhealthy for her. I would recommend a little pear juice (about 2 oz of juice with 2 oz. of water) because pear juice is less likely to cause stomach cramping than apple juice. Best of luck!

How much cereal are you giving her? YOu can just do like 2-3 tsp at the most. If you want you can give some prunes to make things move along smoothly.

One bottle a day of 1 oz dark corn syrup and 4 oz water should keep her "going" nicely. This worked with both of my kids. The hard bowels aren't necessarily from solid foods, they are probably caused from too much iron so maybe you can start her back on some fruits and veggies instead of iron fortified cereal. I hope this helps!

Rice cereal is binding. It's goes along with the BRAT diet that is used for diarrhea. I would just try some barley cereal mixed very thin with formula. It usually does the trick with my 6 month old and did with his two year old sister at the same age. Also, if you do decide to try prune juice or apple juice (both have a laxative affect), be sure to mix them with equal parts water. Babies shouldn't have straight juice yet. If you still have problems for more than a day or two, call your doctor. Also, not all babies are quite ready for baby food at 4 months. My doc has said to start between 4 and 6 months. I know a few breastfeeding moms, who've waited even longer. Good luck.

My son went through the same thing. I took him off solids for a few weeks and then started him back on them again slowly. Just a little bit in the morning mixed with some apple sauce. Once I did that he was just perfectly fine. We went through a stage where is was constipated for 3 weeks. He was on Karyo syrup the entire time. We also had to give him enemas to help him as well. It was not a fun process but once his system got use to the solids we haven't have a problem since.

I would recommend mixing the cereal with prune juice, pear juice or maybe apple juice? to try to help the bowels along. That's what our pediatrician recommended. Also, you can just feed the baby prunes/peas/pears...P's Poop, B's Bind. :) Hope that helps!! :)

In my opinion she is too young for solids. I'd quite them totally until she is at LEAST six months old, can sit unassisted and does not have a tongue thrust reaction when feeding her solids. The recommendation these days is what I just said, not 4mos. We started our oldest at 4mos and he did have some problems that I believe were caused by the early introduction to solids. Some old school doctors still say 4mos, but they're not up to date.

(just read the other responses ... please do not give your baby karo syrup. if she's getting constipated, her body is saying she isn't ready for the solids. don't push it. also, do not water down her formula.)

It is normal for her to have more solid stools, but it is NOT normal for her to strain or spit up. How thick is her cereal? It should only be about the consistancy of her formula, very thin. Then gradually thicken it week after week. You may also try putting a tsp. of mineral oil in her cereal. It doesn't have a taste, but is oily. It will make her stools softer and lubricate things so it will be a little easier for her. If you are still having trouble, I would talk to her pedi. She may just not be ready.

Try mixing her rice cereal with apple juice instead of formula, the formula is high in iron (which babies need) and so is the cereal. Iron will "stop up" babies just like it can us mommies. Always follow the manufacteruers directions on mixing formula and cereal (liquid to solid).

Hope this helps.