If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
(this was also posted to mkb)
Just to preface this, I have absolutely NO desire to start Christopher on solids at anytime in the near future. He certainly isn't showing any signs of readiness, and the thought of him even being close to old enough bums me out!~ He'll be 4 months old next week! That said, things are truly awful here at home while I'm at work. He just won't take a bottle anymore. I've given up my new supervisor job to go back to my old floor, where I can be more flexible and work some 4 hour shifts instead of 8 hours shifts. Not working is unfortunately not an option, but luckily I'm only gone a few nights a week. Though with 4 hour shifts, it'll end up being 4 nights for now. At this point, he freaks out whenever he even sees a fake nipple heading in his direction. He SCREAMS, sometimes cries for 2 hours, and this is a normally very mellow baby. It's breaking my heart and is terribly stressful for everyone who's home, most especially for Christopher. I've asked my hubby about trying a cup or syringe but he says that won't even work, because by the time he picks Christopher up at 5 pm, he's gotten to the point where he's already hungry and starts screaming pretty quickly thereafter, and he'd choke. We're going to try the avent spout this weekend and see if that helps. What I'm wondering is exactly why the recommendation has been changed from 4 to 6 months. I know all the reasons for waiting, and the signs of readiness. As I said, I know that he's not ready now and will NOT push it. However, 2 more months of this is going to be hell on my family if things don't get better. I'm wondering if maybe 5 months is a feasible time frame if he seems to be ready. Has it been found that allergies are more likely before 6 months, vs say maybe 5? Is it that baby's gut is more ready at 6 months than at 4 or 5? How likely is it that baby will have problems if food is started a little earlier than 6 months, but well after the former recommendation of 4 months? Christopher's 4 month appt is next week and I'll talk to his MD about it then, but was wondering if you all have any thoughts. laurie mommy to Jessica, 28 months and Christopher, 16 weeks *This email address is now valid* |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Laurie wrote:
That said, things are truly awful here at home while I'm at work. ....... At this point, he freaks out whenever he even sees a fake nipple heading in his direction. He SCREAMS, sometimes cries for 2 hours, and this is a normally very mellow baby. BTDT. I'm sorry this is so hard. I did no pressure introduction of solids at 4 months for this very reason with Hunter. He'd have nothing to do with it so it didn't work anyway ;-) My sitter tried a syringe and cup without much success. She did have luck (about 2 ounces usually) with the platex bottles and sippy cup nipples. Hunter chewed on the sippy cup nipple and she squeezed the bag from the outside. A hungry baby is miserable. If I were you I'd introduce the mildest solids possible at 4 months to see if he'd take them and get a little in his stomach. Some babies are stubborn enough not to a take a bottle, period. In looking back I wish I would have tried formula of all things. He could drink water out of a cup fine at 6 months but would still refuse to drink EBM from one. I introduced cows milk at 11 months and he drank that (not much but he did drink it). He might have taken a bottle if it had something other then EBM in it. Perhaps he just felt like the EBM came from mom and nowhere else? Wishing you luck. It did get better for him at around 6 months even though he still wasn't eating solids. I'll warn you....he reverce cycled ;-). -- Nikki Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2) |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Laurie wrote:
What I'm wondering is exactly why the recommendation has been changed from 4 to 6 months. I know all the reasons for waiting, and the signs of readiness. As I said, I know that he's not ready now and will NOT push it. However, 2 more months of this is going to be hell on my family if things don't get better. I'm wondering if maybe 5 months is a feasible time frame if he seems to be ready. Has it been found that allergies are more likely before 6 months, vs say maybe 5? Is it that baby's gut is more ready at 6 months than at 4 or 5? How likely is it that baby will have problems if food is started a little earlier than 6 months, but well after the former recommendation of 4 months? Christopher's 4 month appt is next week and I'll talk to his MD about it then, but was wondering if you all have any thoughts. I'm probably a little more easy-going on the time to start solids and would rely more on the child. They used to wonder if breastmilk was adequate for nutrition, which I think led them to take the earlier time over the later time. Plus, there's been an evolution where time for starting solids has moved later and later. While waiting longer does seem to reduce the incidence of allergies somewhat, an awful lot of the studies compare four months with earlier rather than six month with earlier. So all in all, I'd prefer to wait until six months, but I wouldn't stress out particularly between 4 and 6 months *IF* the baby was ready, willing, and able to eat solids. Both my boys started a bit after four months. They were just desperate to have some food--not so much because they were starving or anything. I think they just wanted it. They were trying to grab food off our plates or intercept it on the way to our mouths, etc. When we tried them with a bit of cereal or banana, neither had any tongue thrust reflex and neither had any tongue thrust reflex or tried to spit it out. In fact, both gobbled up whatever we'd give them greedily--no getting half of it all over their faces or having to coax them to eat. I think they were ready and they sure wanted it. Did it increase their risk of allergies? Perhaps. There are certainly allergies in the family. Neither has any food allergies. Adrian has some very mild asthma and both have mild seasonal allergies. With Genevieve, I'll once again try to wait until six months. If she's not in danger of impaling herself on my fork, we'll wait. But if she's as eager and ready for solids after four months, I'll do it again and not fret too much. In your case, if Christopher has all the readiness signs and takes to solids well, I wouldn't worry too much if he starts a bit earlier than six months. It sounds like it would certainly help if he's refusing bottles. Best wishes, Ericka |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Hi Laurie,
As you know I have three kids. They are 10, 8 and 6. Less that six years ago the recommendation was to start solids at four months. I was religous about that becuase I knew that babies stomachs are immature and that their gut wouldn't be able to handle it. Now its six months. Why the change? I know technology increases at the rate of speed and they know more now than they used to know and blah, blah. So, try a little nonallergenic cereal at the latter end of four months and see how it goes. If he is not interested, then you know you will have to wait a little longer and see. The biggest reason I have found that they are waiting, is allergies. Do you have allergies in your household or family members? If you stay away from allergenic food, I suspect that Christopher will still be fine. However, is Christopher possibly holding out on the bottle because he knows if he screams hard enough you will eventually show up? Good luck Laurie on what you decide. -- Sue mom to three girls Laurie wrote in message t... (this was also posted to mkb) Just to preface this, I have absolutely NO desire to start Christopher on solids at anytime in the near future. He certainly isn't showing any signs of readiness, and the thought of him even being close to old enough bums me out!~ He'll be 4 months old next week! That said, things are truly awful here at home while I'm at work. He just won't take a bottle anymore. I've given up my new supervisor job to go back to my old floor, where I can be more flexible and work some 4 hour shifts instead of 8 hours shifts. Not working is unfortunately not an option, but luckily I'm only gone a few nights a week. Though with 4 hour shifts, it'll end up being 4 nights for now. At this point, he freaks out whenever he even sees a fake nipple heading in his direction. He SCREAMS, sometimes cries for 2 hours, and this is a normally very mellow baby. It's breaking my heart and is terribly stressful for everyone who's home, most especially for Christopher. I've asked my hubby about trying a cup or syringe but he says that won't even work, because by the time he picks Christopher up at 5 pm, he's gotten to the point where he's already hungry and starts screaming pretty quickly thereafter, and he'd choke. We're going to try the avent spout this weekend and see if that helps. What I'm wondering is exactly why the recommendation has been changed from 4 to 6 months. I know all the reasons for waiting, and the signs of readiness. As I said, I know that he's not ready now and will NOT push it. However, 2 more months of this is going to be hell on my family if things don't get better. I'm wondering if maybe 5 months is a feasible time frame if he seems to be ready. Has it been found that allergies are more likely before 6 months, vs say maybe 5? Is it that baby's gut is more ready at 6 months than at 4 or 5? How likely is it that baby will have problems if food is started a little earlier than 6 months, but well after the former recommendation of 4 months? Christopher's 4 month appt is next week and I'll talk to his MD about it then, but was wondering if you all have any thoughts. laurie mommy to Jessica, 28 months and Christopher, 16 weeks *This email address is now valid* |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
In article ,
wrote: in oz its still 4-6 months. depending upon readiness. Nope, not as of June. It's 6mo in the new nutrition guidelines. Details at www.nhmrc.gov.au (they will even send you a nutrition book free). -- Chookie -- Sydney, Australia (Replace "foulspambegone" with "optushome" to reply) "...children should continue to be breastfed... for up to two years of age or beyond." -- Innocenti Declaration, Florence, 1 August 1990 |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Naomi Pardue wrote in message ... What I'm wondering is exactly why the recommendation has been changed from 4 to 6 months. I think the recommondation actually says something like "babies don't need solids until they are six months old." Which is not the same as saying that a baby who is showing signs of readiness will be harmed by being given them before that time. And certainly plenty of babies ARE ready for solids before 6 months, and do fine on them. I think you have to look at your own situation. If Christopher will take some solids, and it enables him to get through your work hours without becoming miserably hungry (and maybe he'd even be willing to take some EBM from a cup once he's been reminded that food can come from sources other than mom) this strikes me as an entirely sensible solution. (Shaina would never take a bottle from anyone but me, but DH was able to feed her solids without trouble. We started her at 5 months, per the 4-6 month recommondation current at the time.) Just avoid the allergenic solids and I think things should be fine. Naomi CAPPA Certified Lactation Educator Thanks Naomi; I've read all the responses and will apply to more when I get a chance, but you have all been very helpful! laurie mommy to Jessica, 28 months and Christopher, 16 weeks *This email address is now valid* (either remove spamblock or change address to to e-mail reply.) |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Laurie wrote: (this was also posted to mkb) Just to preface this, I have absolutely NO desire to start Christopher on solids at anytime in the near future. He certainly isn't showing any signs of readiness, and the thought of him even being close to old enough bums me out!~ He'll be 4 months old next week! That said, things are truly awful here at home while I'm at work. He just won't take a bottle anymore. I've given up my new supervisor job to go back to my old floor, where I can be more flexible and work some 4 hour shifts instead of 8 hours shifts. Not working is unfortunately not an option, but luckily I'm only gone a few nights a week. Though with 4 hour shifts, it'll end up being 4 nights for now. At this point, he freaks out whenever he even sees a fake nipple heading in his direction. He SCREAMS, sometimes cries for 2 hours, and this is a normally very mellow baby. It's breaking my heart and is terribly stressful for everyone who's home, most especially for Christopher. I've asked my hubby about trying a cup or syringe but he says that won't even work, because by the time he picks Christopher up at 5 pm, he's gotten to the point where he's already hungry and starts screaming pretty quickly thereafter, and he'd choke. We're going to try the avent spout this weekend and see if that helps. What I'm wondering is exactly why the recommendation has been changed from 4 to 6 months. I know all the reasons for waiting, and the signs of readiness. As I said, I know that he's not ready now and will NOT push it. However, 2 more months of this is going to be hell on my family if things don't get better. I'm wondering if maybe 5 months is a feasible time frame if he seems to be ready. Has it been found that allergies are more likely before 6 months, vs say maybe 5? Is it that baby's gut is more ready at 6 months than at 4 or 5? How likely is it that baby will have problems if food is started a little earlier than 6 months, but well after the former recommendation of 4 months? Christopher's 4 month appt is next week and I'll talk to his MD about it then, but was wondering if you all have any thoughts. The American Academy of Pediatrics says it's ok to start solids between 4 and 6 months. It also says babies don't need solid food until they're 6 months old, but that's a long way from saying you shouldn't start solids earlier if the baby's ready. Whether your son is ready to start solids at 4 months is another question. I offered solids to my now-7-year-old when she was 4 months old. She wouldn't have anything to do with them. I offered solid food to my son at a little past 5 months, and he loved it. There are physical signs of readiness, like the baby no longer has a tongue thrust reflex that makes him spit out the food. However, some babies just don't like solids so early - I think that was the case with my daughter. She was bigger and more physically advanced than my son at months, but he was the one who wanted my food. Clisby Clisby |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Nikki wrote in message 3f33c292$1_2@newsfeed... A hungry baby is miserable. If I were you I'd introduce the mildest solids possible at 4 months to see if he'd take them and get a little in his stomach. Some babies are stubborn enough not to a take a bottle, period. In looking back I wish I would have tried formula of all things. He could drink water out of a cup fine at 6 months but would still refuse to drink EBM from one. I introduced cows milk at 11 months and he drank that (not much but he did drink it). He might have taken a bottle if it had something other then EBM in it. Perhaps he just felt like the EBM came from mom and nowhere else? Wishing you luck. It did get better for him at around 6 months even though he still wasn't eating solids. I'll warn you....he reverce cycled ;-). Thanks for the warning! I'm going to play it by ear and see what happens, but at least I have a potential back up plan in my pocket. THanks Nikki! laurie mommy to Jessica, 28 months and Christopher, 16 weeks *This email address is now valid* -- Nikki Mama to Hunter (4) and Luke (2) |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
Ericka Kammerer wrote in message ... In your case, if Christopher has all the readiness signs and takes to solids well, I wouldn't worry too much if he starts a bit earlier than six months. It sounds like it would certainly help if he's refusing bottles. Best wishes, Ericka THanks Ericka. He's really not showing readiness signs now, but I'll see what happens over the next several weeks to a month. laurie mommy to Jessica, 28 months and Christopher, 16 weeks *This email address is now valid* |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Solids; 4 months vs 6?
"Laurie" wrote in message et...
(this was also posted to mkb) Just to preface this, I have absolutely NO desire to start Christopher on solids at anytime in the near future. He certainly isn't showing any signs of readiness, and the thought of him even being close to old enough bums me out!~ He'll be 4 months old next week! That said, things are truly awful here at home while I'm at work. He just won't take a bottle anymore. I've given up my new supervisor job to go back to my old floor, where I can be more flexible and work some 4 hour shifts instead of 8 hours shifts. Not working is unfortunately not an option, but luckily I'm only gone a few nights a week. Though with 4 hour shifts, it'll end up being 4 nights for now. At this point, he freaks out whenever he even sees a fake nipple heading in his direction. He SCREAMS, sometimes cries for 2 hours, and this is a normally very mellow baby. It's breaking my heart and is terribly stressful for everyone who's home, most especially for Christopher. I've asked my hubby about trying a cup or syringe but he says that won't even work, because by the time he picks Christopher up at 5 pm, he's gotten to the point where he's already hungry and starts screaming pretty quickly thereafter, and he'd choke. We're going to try the avent spout this weekend and see if that helps. What I'm wondering is exactly why the recommendation has been changed from 4 to 6 months. The recent edition I have of Dr. Spock says 4 months is fine. He has a really practical, less medical, approach to the whole thing. He considers the 4 month old time frame to be about play and getting comfortable from what I understand. I know all the reasons for waiting, and the signs of readiness. As I said, I know that he's not ready now and will NOT push it. However, 2 more months of this is going to be hell on my family if things don't get better. I'm wondering if maybe 5 months is a feasible time frame if he seems to be ready. IMO, 4 months vs 5 months is a total wash. Now allow me to hedge that by saying that I have NO research on allergies to back me up. Allergies do not run in my family, despite being started on cereal at 2 weeks old myself. I would add family allergies to your thoughts when examining this. Has it been found that allergies are more likely before 6 months, vs say maybe 5? Is it that baby's gut is more ready at 6 months than at 4 or 5? How likely is it that baby will have problems if food is started a little earlier than 6 months, but well after the former recommendation of 4 months? Christopher's 4 month appt is next week and I'll talk to his MD about it then, but was wondering if you all have any thoughts. laurie mommy to Jessica, 28 months and Christopher, 16 weeks *This email address is now valid* |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
6 month old schedule question | Penny Gaines | General | 2 | August 1st 03 10:09 AM |
Reason for weaning from bottle at 1 yo? | Truffles | General | 38 | July 13th 03 09:18 AM |