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I started feeding Andrew around 4 months. He holds his head up well and would not seem satisfied after nursing in the evening. And he gobbled up every bit of food I offered! I kept it to about 1/3 to 1/2 of a small jar. At his 4 month appt. my ped told me to feed him more. Cereal twice a day and fruit/veg once a day. But when I called the nurse practitioner she said no more solids until 6 months. I told both my ped and the np about his excessive crying in the late evening and early morning. What should I make of these 2 different suggestions? And I did tell the ped/np that he's been crying like since birth.

We personally didn't even offer any food for an entire year, just breastmilk. It worked for us. Does Andrew have bowel movement troubles? Maybe he needs more upright time after breastfeeding? Maybe he just needs to breastfeed closer to bedtime rather than having food? Maybe his system isn't ready for food yet? Your son may also be having reactions to ingredients in the food he's getting, although you mentioned his crying since birth? If I read that correctly?? It just may be the thing he does that time of day, some are like that. It's their fussy time.

If you are getting conflicting info I'd just stick with your Ped (especially if s/he is the one you see more regularly so the info remains consistent), rather than going back and forth from one to another, because they both may have their own opinions on what to do and when to offer food other than breastmilk that may be adding to the information you are getting.

Since I don't know your schedule and how you breastfeed and when you offer the food during your day, these are just options on what may be happening.

Dear AndrewsMommy,
Pete-N-Repeats mom makes a good point. Not all infants are ready to start solid foods at the same age. The consensus is that most infants are ready for a graduated introduction of solid foods from as early as 4-6 months. The ability to hold his head up is important because it is better that he sit up (with support) when eating. A baby that stares and grabs at food is probably ready to start. If your doctor gives the OK to start and your baby rejects it, wait a few days to weeks and try again.
Most kids start with iron fortified cereal mixed with breast milk or formula. Place the spoon by the baby's lips, letting him smell and taste. Don't be surprised if this first taste winds up on his chin or clothes, it is just an introduction. Once baby gets used to the spoon, it may be time to add a fruit or vegetable. Wait a few weeks before adding a new food so that you can identify anything he may be allergic to. Some foods to AVOID until later include eggs, honey, citrus, cow's milk. Fish, seafood, peanuts/peanut butter, and nuts should not be introduced until age 2 or 3, as they are relatively more allergenic, especially in families that may have close relatives with food allergies, asthma or eczema.
Fussing, diarrhea, rash with the introduction of any new food should be discussed with the doctor. Of course more severe reaction, such as swelling or wheeze, get medical attention immediately.
All new introductions should be finely pureed until about 9 months of age, when you can add texture and start to transition to more table foods.
Check with your doctor about your childs progress with weight and height at every visit.
Hope this has been helpful.
-Dr. G

Well, i know there are signs when a baby is ready for food. But how do you know if he needs food. Pete: were there ever concerns about the baby's nutritional needs being met?
I'm gonna stop solids until atleast 6 months but I'd like to only offer solids for dinner. I always thought I had to increase the amount of food until it made up most of his feedings by around 12-18 months and then babies only want to nurse in the morning and evening. I'd be very interested to know how food introduction went for you Pete.

quote:

Originally posted by AndrewsMommy:
Well, i know there are signs when a baby is ready for food. But how do you know if he needs food. Pete: were there ever concerns about the baby's nutritional needs being met?
I'm gonna stop solids until atleast 6 months but I'd like to only offer solids for dinner. I always thought I had to increase the amount of food until it made up most of his feedings by around 12-18 months and then babies only want to nurse in the morning and evening. I'd be very interested to know how food introduction went for you Pete.

Check your PMs.....

We just got the okay at Gavin's 4 month visit to start giving him cereal then add foods as well as watered down juice. It took Gavin about a week to get use to the cereal- he was fussy the first couple of days but I think its because it was something new- now he eats it like crazy. I usually try to give it to him at his 11am feeding. He gets cereal then a half a jar of food. We did peas first and he had nasty diapers so we stopped and tried apples he did great with them- so he gets apples and cereal in the am then like 3oz of formula. He gets a bottle every 3-4 hours. In the evening he is usually asleep by 7-8 pm his last formula is usually 6oz at 5pm then we give him 3oz of juice then he's out till 7-8am.

WoW! Andrew doesn't fall asleep til 10-11 and wakes up 2-3 times a night. I'm looking forward to 8 straight hours. Well, I'd settle for 6. Andrew gobbled up his food right away. The first feeding he ate 1/2 jar and probably would have eaten more! He's been less fussy since I stopped feeding him. So, I'm gonna wait as long as I can to start feeding him again. Thanks for your help.

when my daughter was an infant she had a fussy time every night at 7 pm. i always tryed to keep her up till 10 so i could get a feeding in before i went to bed. one night my husband and i were sooo fustrated i put her in bed to cry and she was asleep in seconds. so the next night as soon as she started to get fussy i put her to bed at 7 again. 7 pm was the bed time she choose, after that i put her to bed at the same time every night and she slept pretty good. maybe getting up once mostley sleeping till 7 am.
with that being said have you tryed to put him to bed earlier.
also remember your the mom and if you think your child is ready for solids you know your child better than a doctor that sees them once in a while. i started my daughter early on cereal. i would give her some an hour before she went to bed then a couple hours after she woke up. and i gradually added her veggies then fruits.
even though this worked for me it may not be everyones cup of tea. good luck. and play around a little with his diet.

Andrew gets fussy at 7 pm as well, so I'm gonna try to put him to bed early tonight. I'm just worried that he'll wake up and want to stay up and play just as I'm going to sleep.

My two cents:

Solids are not necessary until after a child is one year old. Breastmilk and/or formula is 100% of what is needed nutritionally for the first year. Solids prior to the first birthday is strictly for practice. It should NOT replace formula or nursing until, perhaps, the tenth month or so.

Fruit juice is ABSOLUTELY worthless. It provides no nutrients. Just sugar. Offer water instead. Your child's teeth will thank me for telling you this in about 3 years.

If you are going to offer solids, regardless, then start with cereal first. As you add things, move into veggies. Steer clear of fruits until after they have developed a taste for an assortment of veggies. Fruit is sweet.... and if you introduce it first, will set the precident that your child may end up preferring sweet verses veggies. Veggies are far more important.

Just my opinion.