I'm not sure if I should continue to feed solids to my 7 month old daughter or to hold off for a while? She is mostly breastfeed but gets one or two bottles of formula a day bc I literally can't produce enough (yes, I've tried everything to help production). I'm thinking of waiting a week or two without solids bc first off, she really doesn't like it. Anything pureed she rejects and she doesn't like any of the cereals. She will eat chopped up things or food like peas where she can feed herself. She appears very interested in food but just picky. My biggest worry since she started solids is that she barely poops, it's like every 4 days or so and now shes really constipated for the last week. She won't really take any water or juice to help her either.
I've already called the doctor and switched formulas but she's still constipated. What should I do? If any one has information on healthy bacteria that might be the cause I'd love to learn more. Or does anyone know if giving solids when they're not ready can cause food allergies? Or maybe im just Overreacting? All suggestions welcome.
Formula is very constipating. Could you switch to goat's milk? Pear juice was suggested by my pediatrician for constipation. Also, cucumber works very well for my daughter.
She is not ready for solids yet. She could be started but just on rice cereal and maybe some other kinds. Other solids are not for her yet. She should be ready to start other solids about 2 months from now.
I would hold off on solids. Theoretically, your baby gets all the nutrient she needs from formula and/or BM. Check with your doc though.
Her body is adjusting to the food. Abbey H. Has great advice. Stick with the high fiber foods like prunes, peas, etc. Sometimes they need to try foods several times to develop a taste for it. My daughter needed to eat pears and prunes several times before she liked it. Now she gobbles it up!
Some bids aren't ready for solids for much longer. My first wanted food at 4 months and was fine. My second didn't have an interest until 10 or 11 months. My friends kid wasn't interested until nearly a year. Every baby is different and they really seem to know when the time is right.
This is all very normal. No need to worry! Small amounts of pureed prunes or pear juice can help with the constipation. Keep offering water that will help if you can get it in. Purees were a struggle for us too. My LO is very independent and did not want to be fed.
I hear you! I cant have one day pass without DD having a poop or I worry. Give her more fruit & veggies, even cut up prunes, grapes. I was worried about food allergies & starting solids, but the local dietician told me that the common thought these days is to introduce sooner than later, opposite of my last DD, I held off on solids until she was 7 months. Try adding some apple/prune juice to her diet each day. I dont know anything about formula, so I have nothing to suggest about that.
Hi J.,
See if she'll take some avocado. It was the first solid I fed my daughter. Nutrient dense and one of the best things you could give her. I held off on cereal until she was around 9 mos to 1 year. Their little tummy's can't break it down. It makes them sleep because they're working so hard to digest it. You can alternate the avocado with a little sweet potato.
Good luck,
N.
there is a movement called 'baby led solids'. a lot of the kids skip purees and move straight to feeding themselves finger foods, usually a little later than six months. I started both my kids on water first, as they would steal my cup and I helped them drink from that... =)
I am doing the baby food/purees, but I try to work with the baby. Sometimes he is just not into it! =) If you are buying it out of your money, I would probably hold off for a while. If you get it free then it is really good when added to soups, stews, and casseroles! =)
Good luck with your little one!
R.
My younger son refused to let us feed him, so he received very little baby food. I did not really push solids with him until he was 7or 8 months for that very reason. He did great with finger foods! Anything I could think of that he could pick up with his fingers and wasn't a choking hazzard. Cut up fruits and veggies, pasta, cheese, wheat bread, rice, yogurt. Usually I just gave him the same thing his older brother and I were eating.
Our older son is the one prone to constipation. When we fear he might be headed that way we increase the fiber. Apples, applesauce, prunes, some cerels are high in fiber. If you fear she's constipated, avoid bananas, cheese and yogurt, as they can make the situation worse.
Good luck!
Our 2nd was strictly bf till 9 months. Even then, there were days he choose to only nurse. Our 3rd is almost 8 months and has had 3 spoons of baby food total so far. *The only reason I even tried it was because he is "high maintenance" so I thought I'd see if he liked it.* He didn't. So now he gets nothing but breastmilk.
I'd just quit again. She'll let you know when she's ready!
Good luck.
You don't HAVE to start feeding at 6mo... it's just STRONGLY recommended that you *don't start prior* to 6 months.
Babies digestive systems develop at different rates. Bell curve. Small percentage can eat solids happily at 3mo... a small percentage still can't at 1 year. About half can at 6mo. The majority can -to a degree- by 9mo.
You're looking at signs that your baby's digestive system isn't matured enough yet for solids. Back off for a MONTH or two... and let that little system mature. Feel free to give her tastes of things when she's reaching for it, but there is no need whatsoever to push it. Unless you enjoy sleeping problems, gassiness, constipation, crankiness. Which I rather doubt. ;)
Prior to WWI & WWII infants were *never* started on solids prior to 1yo unless the mum lost her milk and there was no wetnurse about. Rosie the Riviter & crappy formulas (that did almost more harm than good) led to mums getting ingenious about feeding solids very very young. It became a trend and solidified with the women's rights movement (because formula was better but still dangerous)... but there is NO scientific reason to start under 1yo EXCEPT for convenience / you baby showing signs that they're ready.
Even if their digestive systems are ready... you want to keep up the formula for at LEAST 1year... there's just not enough nutrition in table food for them to grow as much as they need to. Hence the whole 'primary food source needs to be breastmilk or formula to 1 year'.
Have you tried small pieces of pear or cantaloupe?
Here are some other ideas (scroll down to top 10 fruits):
http://www.articleclick.com/Article/Fruits-that-aid-Const...
Hope it helps :)
