Trying to Start Baby on Soids

This is what my pediatrician and lactation consultant told me and it has work well for us: Baby needs the same amount of BM that you normally give, and only 1-2 tbs of food 2x a day for the first month of being on solids. Then gradually increase that amount to 3-4 and add a third meal in, still giving the same amount of BM. baby's stomach will grow to allow this. You can mix the cereal and food together for the meals.
Good luck. If you give too much food and not enough BM baby can get constipated, If baby is on formula than water needs to be given as well.- per my Pediatrician- I don't know it all... that's just the advice I was given.

You should breastfeed him on his regular schedule, do not eliminate breastfeedings. Eating is more of a sport right now than a real feeding. He probably won't get enough cereal or food to sustain him in any way. When he gets really good at eating, he will start to drop some feedings.

For the 1st year of life, breastmilk/formula is the PRIMARY source of nutrition for a baby. NOT solids, NOT juice.
And, per our Pediatrician, for the first year of life, you still need to nurse on demand. THIS is very important.

Right now, "solids" is just an INTRODUCTION. Not a feast. Not 3 meals a day. It is a "process" that is g-r-a-d-u-a-l-l-y worked up to.

And yes, at this age and for the next few months, a "serving size" IS in terms of "tablespoons" or "teaspoons." NOT jars. So, your son is on par.

Certainly also, a baby's taste buds are also STILL developing.. .their full-range of taste buds are not fully developed yet. Even in as a toddler. Thus they are being acclimated to everything, food wise. No worries. It's normal.

Food preferences is NOT static. It changes ALL time. You just have to not "force" it, and learn what makes him tic.... learn what he likes and can tolerate at this age. You must flex according to the child. THEY are the one's "learning" to eat, and learning about foods.

Their tastes will change all the time... heck, even teens and adults go through this. Right? So, it's NO surprise that a mere baby is too.

No, you DO NOT TAKE AWAY BREASTFEEDING IF HE DOES NOT EAT. THIS IS "PUNISHMENT" AND UN-CALLED FOR AND AT THIS AGE HE WILL NOT UNDERSTAND THIS. You do not use food as "punishment." It is NUTRITION... not a psychological "weapon" or "tool" to make a child eat. Much less a baby. You do NOT use food as a way to do this. It will only later create hang-ups for the child at meal-time. You do NOT want that. It is only harmful.

NOW, as for breastfeeding while introducing "solids." You should always offer breast FIRST. If you give breast after, he will be too full to nurse. AND, giving breast 'after' solids is only done to "wean" a baby from the breast. BUT AT THIS AGE HE STILL NEEDS BREASTMILK and he still needs to nurse. On demand.

This is per my Pediatrician, and per what I have done with my 2 children who were breastfed.

Baby's and children will "refuse" to eat at times. So what. This is their "learning" about foods and the world. Their eating and food likes will change ALL THE TIME. So be prepared for that. It's normal. ALL kids do this... no matter what age, no matter how old or young. This is just the beginning of it... of a child developing.

Whatever you do, it HAS TO BE "age appropriate." Taking away breastfeeding just because he does not eat the solids that "you" want him to...will just make things worse, and he will not understand that his breastfeeding is being taken away or why. He is JUST A BABY. Their cognitive development is NOT at that level. Your baby is not "challenging"... he is normal. ALL babies, ALL children go through this. Their food likes and dislikes will change all the time. So as a Parent, we must "learn" about what our child thrives with.

All the best,
Susan

Keep up the great work on breastfeeding. THey get ALL they need from your milk made FOR THEM. The solids are just to introduce them to textures, flavors... Take cues from them, they know what they need. If it's a teaspoon, that's fine, very common at first. Do you make the cereal with your pumped milk? That helps alot. Take it slow, 6m is on the early side for solids anyway, that's probably why they're not too interested. Have fun with it, just be sure to read ingredients and offer low salt low sugar... choices.

I agree with Ester...

My son's Pediatrician told me that at that stage, there should only be one feeding of cereal a day and after two weeks add a feeding...you need to work up to a full day schedule. His body has to adjust to the amount of food that will be in his belly.

I agree with your doctor, and this is also what my lactation consultant said about solids. They should always be seperate events. If you breast feed in the morning wait an hour before giving the cereal...same thing with lunch when you do add that. You don't want to overfeed solids at this point, it can lead to constipation and gas...not fun.

Don't rush, don't worry if he gets enough right now...let his body tell him what he needs.

Good Luck!

This is what I used as a guide for how much my son was getting at the first stages of 'solid foods'. According to the chart it's 3 to 9 talbespoons over 2 to 3 feedings...
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

I think your baby knows what is good for him and veggies are definetely better than cereal. My daughter is the same way. In regards to the serving size, it sounds pretty normal at this age. 1-2 Tablespoons is alot for that little tummy. Baby will surprise you as his appetite and stomach start to increase. Here are some healthy suggestions for that little palate.
Try blending some raw fresh apple w/ skin in the food processor/Magic Bullet with a little splash of water. Also, one of my daughters favorite is sugar snap peas blended very well, the only hassle was the podding of the peas, but they are so healthy and prevent constipation, are full of vitamins and protein. These were great starters for my spirited little girl. I would definetely breastfeed him if he refuses to eat. Solids takes a while for babies to get used to, take your time, before you know it he will be trying to eat off your plate.
Best of luck.
E.

1-2 Tablespoons is a serving for a 6mo old. That's plenty. Breastmilk is still the primary nutrition and the solids are for learning to eat even more than the actual nutrients. I have always done breast separate from solids, but it can be combined.
Try the book Super Baby Food as a resource - great information on what your baby can eat each month, what to add to the diet, how often, how much to feed, etc. You can use it even if you do not make your own food, although it is a book about making your own which is exceptionally easy. I just made cubes of steamed asparagus and carrots mixed with chicken and sweet potatoes for my 9mo old yesterday. He loves the homemade food!
Good luck!

I always did liquid feedings and solids together. My babies feedings were pretty close to typical mealtimes by that age (about 4 hours apart), so I gradually added solids for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (just to give you an idea of the routine we had). I usually did liquid first, then solids. If your baby isn't really interested in solids, I wouldn't worry at this age. They still need their primary nutrition from breastfeeding or formula for the first year, so don't worry. It took both of my babies a little while to "warm up" to solids. Your baby will get all that he needs from breastfeeding, and he will eventually love solid food. Think of the solids as more of a "bonus" and not such a necessity at this point. And take lots of pictures!:)

Babies get all of the nutrients they need from breastmilk for the first year. Eating solids at 6 months is just practice and/or playtime for them - totally not necessary for survival. My daughter refused solids until she was 9 mos.
I wouldn't use any punishment/reward systems with feedings because it puts a lot of negativity on eating in general - and at 6 months he wouldn't understand anyway.
As far as the preference of squash over rice cereal, he's using his instinct - rice cereal cannot be digested properly till 7-8 mos so the squash is better for his body right now.
He is doing all of the right things, so just follow his lead.

both my daughters refused to eat solids until they were at least 7.5 and not really until 8m. My 9mo barely will eat, one day loves food and another day doest want it. It is mostly practice right now.
My oldest really didnt start eating regularly until 15mo
Dont freak about 6mo not eating yet, it is just for fun and texture.
and my 9mo is so fiercly independent she wont eat unless she feeds herself, so mealtime is a messy event. She will actually seal her lips tight and only wants what she put in her mouth.

My daughter was the same way. She's almost 2 and will still only eat a handfull of actuall food in an entire week. I throw most of everything I cook for her or buy for her away. I asked the doctor and he said that a baby will regulate themselves and try to feed her everything and when she's hungry she'll eat. She's obviously not malnurished but is skinny. Just the way she is I guess from what the doctor said. Good luck but I would not worry too much. I worried all the time and all for nothing.

How about waiting a little longer between feedings? My ped says that the baby won't starve him/herself. At times when my 8.5 month old refuses to eat solids I don't give her the breast I just play with her, wait longer and try again. Sometimes it can take up to 4 hours but then she eats! Also try different foods, maybe instead of rice cereal give him oatmeal. Good luck!

Keep feeding him the same amount of breastmilk - that way you know he's getting enough breastmilk. That's his main source of nutrition at this age! He may take a long time to really "eat" solid foods. For a while it is all just about experimenting and discovering. Try a cereal/fruit in between 2 of his morning nursings and then later another cereal/veg in between 2 of the afternoon times. However I would not introduce too many new things at once. You need to watch for reactions or signs of allergy. Maybe try cream of rice cereal - it's creamier than the traditional baby rice cereal. (It's near where the cream of wheat is)and mix it w/ breastmilk. Don't worry! One day suddenly he'll decide he can't get enough of whatever you're feeding him! :-) BTW If he doesn't even seem into it, you can wait another month. It won't hurt him a bit - nursing is the main thing he needs until 1 yr.

My baby is now 8 months. She took to cereal no problem at about 6 months but we have been struggling a bit with other solids. So now I just add a teaspoon or two of the solids (bananas, carrots, squash, etc.) to her cereal mixture. My plan is to gradually increase in order to help her develop a taste for solids. I also add a couple teaspoons of plain yogurt to her mixture as my ped. told me it contains the same amount of "milk fat" as breastmilk/formula. I was happy to hear about that supplement because we were having a hard time getting baby to drink the minimum number of ounces for her weight.

We give her a bottle approx. 30 minutes before feeding so things are a little spaced out. No particular conviction associated with this routine, it's just kind of how we have evolved.

Best to you!

I just went through the same thing - and am still sort of going through it. After some initial success with the rice cereal around 6.5 mos, she refused to eat solids at all. My daughter is now 7.5 mos, and it still takes strategic planning to get her to eat solids. This is what is currently working: In the mornings: Switched to oatmeal, add apple juice and a little water to the cereal, and feed it immediately before bottle. She still actually drinks the entire bottle, even after filling up on oatmeal. I have to feed her a little oatmeal on the binky first or she won't take the spoon. In the evening, she gets a veggie, again right before the bottle . . .same thing with using the binky as a "spoon" for the first couple of bites. Some days she doesn't want to eat either one. I tried feeding her solids at different times, after the bottle, etc., and none of that worked.
Your baby might change his mind tomorrow or next week! I would still breastfeed no matter what - that's his primary source of nutrition, and solids are just a training ground right now. Also around 6 mos. babies start needing extra iron, and the cereal helps with that. Also, I have to say, since she eats solids, the giant leaky poop explosions have stopped. So that's another reason to keep trying. :)
-R.

Food at this stage is purely for experience, its not necessary that they eat anything other than breastmilk for the first year of life. Dont push your baby to eat solids, if he's not ready.

Its been a long time since I had to deal with baby food, but I do recall not starting my daughter on rice ceral until five months, and it was just a little bit with dinner, the other foods, was not started until at least 8 - 9 months old, and its one food at a time, the mildest ones, do not mix the foods babies are esay to be allergic to foods, and if you mix them you won't know which one they are allergic to. The tummys are very sensative, doesn't take but two bites to full them up, plus the baby might not like the squash.. yuke..

You've got some great advice from the mamas that I can only echo...breastfeeding is still your son's primary source of nutrition...so keep up the good work! Solid foods is purely for the experience and to start developing these eating skills to prepare him for "real" solid food around the age of one year. At six months, you're really feeding them more liquid food than solid foods. I made my son's food but bought a jar of stage 1 foods to get a sense of the consistency...it's very fluid. I needed to "milk down" much of the food I made because if it was too thick or textured than my son wouldn't eat it. Some great first foods...bananas, mangos, sweet potatoes, avocado, butternut squash, green beans, apples, and carrots. These are all very sweet, mild, and/or creamy tastes for young palettes. Also, once your son has established the taste of something then mix it with something else to get him used to eating combinations...carrots/apples, squash/apples, banana/avocado, sweet potato/anything. They only eat a very small amount to begin with...look at the stage 1 bottles, they are only 2 ounces. They are also eating only one solid meal a day at this point. I think I added a second meal around 7-8 months and the third around 9 months. Finally, I agree with your pedi about making breastfeeding and solid food separate. I would bf and then give his meal about a half hour later. Good luck, congratulations, and enjoy...the adventure is just beginning!

S.,

Breastmilk is a complete food for babies. Solids are for fun and for practice until they are closer to 1 year. Breastmilk has about 20 calories per ounce. You aren't going to get that kind of compact nutrition from rice cereal or squash. The basic idea, especially at 6 months, is that you shouldn't give them enough solids to reduce their breastmilk intake. Breastmilk is still 99% of their nutrition at this stage. Neither of my kids liked rice cereal. It tastes like cardboard and constipated them. Actually getting a 6 month old to eat a tablespoon or two of something at one sitting is quite a bit. You've got to figure their stomach is about the same size as their fist. I pretty much did the "baby led" approach to solids. I offered healthy foods and let them decide how much and what. Your baby will get increasingly interested in solids as he gets closer to 1 year old. And as he develops enough motor control to shove it in his own mouth.

So if he doesn't eat solids, by all means breastfeed him. You aren't spoiling him. You are feeding him the perfect food. I pretty much always "topped off" my kids by nursing them after they ate solid foods. It really is hard at this age for them to get anywhere near enough calories from solid foods. Eating is supposed to be fun, not a chore at this point.

:-)T.