My daughter is 5 months old today and we have been giving her rice cereal for 3 weeks now. She's doing great and eats 2 TBSP. at around 6 and then gets the boob afterwards. What I'm confused at is when do we give her cereal more than once a day and when to start introducing new foods. Any advice would be great!!!
Hi G.,
I started my daughter on some solid foods at 1 week shy of 6 months. I first gave her carrots, then a week later tried peas. A week after that I gave her sweet potatoes. Many people advised to start babies on vegetables first, prior to introducing fruits. Pediatricians typically state that you should introduce a new food every 5-7 days, so you can identify an allergic reaction to a specific food, if there is one. Good luck!
We started at 4 months and our rule of thumb was when she wanted more, we gave her more. We introduced new foods at least 3 days apart to see if she had reactions. Most the time we waited a week in between to be sure. Our daughter is a healthy weight at 8 months with no problems with solid foods. Hope this helps! Good luck!
I am learning about this myself with my son. I guess it depends on who you ask but the way I understand it is to intrduce new foods one at a time that way if there are any reactions you can find out which food caused it. Since you still give him the same amount of formula or breast milk I think you offer cereal or baby food (fruits and veggies first) twice a day. I think it depends on the individual child and just reading their cues. I'll find out thoug-we are starting baby food with my five and a half month old this weekend!
You can start her on solid foods anytime now. In addition to the solids you can still give her the rice cereal.
I like the book, "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. She is a little crazy but you don't have to follow all of her advice, but its a good starting point. She has foods and amounts for each month. It at least gave me a general idea of what a lot of people are doing, and then I could tweak to my needs.
I personally started with cereal once a day, then after a few weeks moved to twice a day (and a little baby food fruit at breakfast and a little baby food veggie at lunch-using the 3 day wait rule for each new food) and then by 6.5 months we were at 3 x a day. What really matters is that she is still getting about 30 ounces of formula/breastmilk a day or 5-6 breastfeedings. If she starts going down , then you can start cutting back food.
Have fun! :)
My daughter is also 5 months old. We have been introducing solids for about a month now. My doctor told me to start with the orange vegetables and alternate between vegtable and fruit. I do the same food for 5-6 days to make sure that she is not allergic. I then go to the next. I only give her half of a stage one at a time though. My doctor told me that at this point we are just looking to see if they are allergic and that they really just need their milk. I don't plan on going to more than one time a day until she is 6 or 7 months. I hopes this helps!
You can start solid foods any time now. Give a few tablespoons at each meal. It doesn't really matter if you start with veggies first or fruits as long as you only try one new food for about 4 days before going to something else. This makes it easier to test for allergies. Personally I would try veggies first. Kids are less likely to develop a sweet tooth and not like veggies. Plus many fruits are too acidic for little tummies and may cause hives. Some first veggies to try would be carrots, squash, peas.
Some of my favorite references for starting solids (and infant/toddler nutrition in general):
"Child of Mine - feeding with love and good sense" by nutritionist Ellyn Satter
Some links from Ask Dr. Sears.com - this one is an overview of things like recognizing when your child is ready for solids, good first foods, etc.
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T032000.asp
www.wholesomebabyfood.com - good recipe and food prep ideas
and above all, remember that there's no need to hurry the transition to solids, just 'go with the flow' of your child's interest/readiness - she's still getting all the nutrition she needs from nursing (and will all through her first year of life) so any solids are just a bonus :-)
Pick up the book "Super Baby Food' or "feeding your Super Baby' it's something like that...anyway it give you complete schedules for feedings and portions as well as a list of which new foods to introduce each month etc. I love it.
Don't worry about it--totally let her set the pace. For the first year, food is for experimentation and fun. She's getting her nourishment from you.
Dear G.,
I would goto your family pediatrician and get their advice.
But, as far as what, when, how much????
If she seems hungry... I would gradually add more feedings!
As for what else can you feed her?
The first foods they recommend after rice cereal is fruit, then about a month later they recommend to add in some strained vegetables! At about 9 or 10 months... you can start adding strained meat!
As for the fruit business.... I would start with banannas - but, if she doesn't like them, don't be surprised... you should try a taste yourself, then you'll know why! LOL
I would then try peaches, apricots, etc.
In about another month, add some vegetables!
o' something else you can try.... you can add some jelly to the rice cereal, my little ones used to always love that.... strawberry or grape... YUM!
(little secret for you)
Anyway, much success!
Most Sincerely,
Aristokatz
You can offer her food whenever you are eating. If she's interested, great. If not, no worries. You don't really have to regulate for her.
Buy the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron and listen to your gut. My daughter didn't start solids till she was 9 months old (just wasn't interested) - so I haven't followed the book exactly (not even close) but it does help as a reference point for when I have questions.
WAIT!!
She really does not need solids now. Early introduction of solids is associated with an increase in food allergies. Infants do not need to be introduced to foods until 6-7 months. Relax,,, you have so much time ahead.
Infants only need food for experimentation for the first 9-11 months. By the time children are one year of age, the goal is 3 meals and 3 snacks each day, and 16 ounces of milk, breast or whole.
When you do introduce solids, remember only one every 5-7 days to watch for an allergic reaction.
A.
Hi G.,
We didn't even start cereal until 6 months, so there's no pressure. Especially if you're breastfeeding. At six months you can start with yogurt, but you really have to watch for allergies. Pureed banana or other really mushy food with a lot of water in it so it's like liquid. We started at 6 months yogurt, then with really pureed avocado and yogurt-that's a great food. Best thing to do is get the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. That book tells you EVERYTHING! It's a little gung ho-I certainly do NOT have time for all of what she says, but it is really great and has all the guidelines. Also she has a web site, Superbabyfood.com.
Have FUN!
I think you can start whenever she's ready, if she appears to be hungry, try giving it to her twice a day once week, than add in some other type of food, than move onto three days a week. She'll let you know when she's getting hungrier and when it's time to feed her more.
good luck
K.
the first lady gave good advice. also check out Baby Super Foods, gives good info. good luck.
Hi G.,
I asked a question on Mamasource about solids and someone sent me this link from Babycenter:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...
It's an age-by-age guide to feeding your baby and it has been a great resource.
Jen
