What should be the feeding schedule for a 5 month old starting solids?
You want to listen to your baby really, but, as a base you can introduce a little bit of food once a day, after a milk feed. Ideally, this will be home cooked and mashed veg or fruit. You can buy baby cereals, but they are better for later and, always read the label. A better alternative is to blend normal porridge oats. Don't use cows milk, just breast or formula.Over time, increase the amount of food offered to a child until they are on your schedule, the amount will be small for a while. In a month-two months, they are going to be on three meals a day.In our house, we have always frozen food in ice trays for them for lunch, then you just pop out however many you want, whatever combination you want. The baby gets fresh food and a varied diet, the parents get super easy baby food and it costs barely anything. Once an established eater, a few weeks after starting, our kids have always had whatever our dinner is. I have an awesome picture of my eldest covered in spaghetti Bolognese at 6 months.Another family tip is with the dinner, give them more than they will eat and let them feed themselves after the first spoon or two. By the time you are on this meal, they have already had decent solids and milk. It is a great way to work on hand to eye co-ordination and they will get enough in, remember, they only need small amounts at first.Don't shy away from finger foods, par boiled carrots are great for teething and nutritionally good. If you can, cook for your baby and introduce lots of new flavours and textures whilst they are young, though introduce new things one at a time in case of allergies.This has always worked for us, we are on our third. I took advice from my step mum (still do) who is a paediatric dietician. Enjoy your baby, solids are lots of fun. Don't stress about specific schedules, listen to your baby and increase over time. Oh, nearly forgot, now is a great time to introduce a cup with a meal. Only use water or breast/formula milk for it though (juice is really bad for teeth, amongst other things). They will get it, some faster than others. Both of my girls preferred a hard spout, but babies are different. We have both in for our son already and we will be weaning in 4 weeks.
Starting 3 1/2 month old on solids?
Wait for a few days and see how he handles it. Rice cereal is known for causing constipation. Most babies don't react to it, so doctors often suggest it for a first food, but I'd move to oatmeal if he seems to have any problems (check with your doctor first, of course.) As for the zantac and the taste, you might be able to have your pharmacist mix in a yummier taste. Call and ask them. Pharmacists often have flavors that they can mix into things like that and it may help your baby like it better. Usually they DO have colors though, so keep that in mind. You may also want to try giving him baby's tylenol 10-15 minutes before the bottle if he's teething and it's hurting that bad. Also make sure the nipples are higher flow as that will make it so he doesn't have to suck as hard. From a lot of books, I'm probably a bad mommy, but honestly when my baby started on solids then I waited a week to make sure she was handling it, and then went onto other approved solids. Mashed banana, sweet potato, squash... one at a time of course to make sure she wouldn't react. The idea at that point wasn't to get them in her but to let her try them. Our doctor didn't see anything wrong with it (she was 4 months old, she's almost a year now) and told me it was perfectly fine so long as I wasn't adding salt and making sure it wasn't too thick for her to handle. Add: As far as I know, bananas don't cause constipation but relieve upset stomachs and often help to stop constipation. As in, my mom always gave us bananas when we were having the runs and it always settled our tummies and fixed things. It shouldn't cause the runs. And don't feed soy if you can at all avoid it. Soy interferes with so much nutritional absorption and should be a very last ditch effort in feeding any baby. If it IS lactose, then lactose-free formulas are available. You could try that.
Mommies, school me on the pros and cons of starting "solids" at 4 vs. 6 months?
My girl is going to be 4 months old tomorrow, and I am still undecided about when to start her on rice cereal. My pediatrician has recommended starting at 4 months, but I know there is a lot of debate about if it's better to start at this time, or wait 2 more months. My daughter is very close to sitting unsupported and she opens her mouth and chews on things, which I have read are good indications that a baby is almost ready for food. What have your experiences with starting solids been and which do you recommend? Additional question: If I am exclusively breastfeeding (no formula but sometimes she'll have a pumped bottle of breastmilk), is it ok to mix the cereal with formula?
How do I give solid foods to my 4 month old baby?
I only want to point out that an experiment was done with older children (I suppose 3 years or less) who were given a huge variety of food in a room from which to eat. They binged on one food and then another and another, making their way around the room. Over time, they ate a balanced diet. Kids are very much more intuitive than adults, as their lives depend on it and they have so little experience denying or ignoring their intuition. Speaking as a grandparent, but not as father of my own infant, it makes a lot of sense to let the baby decide, and if you believe a desire for solid food is taking a long time to develop, certainly don't push it on a child who has not molars and front teeth. Why would nature require solids prior to having the teeth to chew? Breast milk, if available, is Nature's ideal food for a baby. Don't cut it short for reasons based on reasoning. Use your own intuition, which is strongest when you are in your heart. If your baby cries, s/he has some unmet some physical or emotional need(s!). Do not ignore crying. Deliberate manipulation, as in a two or three year old having a temper tantrum, is unknown to a toddler. They cry for a reason. Your intuition, being born, like wisdom, of the heart, will be accompanied by a compulsion to provide the baby what it needs, which, like all communication in people of any age, involves not just content, but how it is delivered. In fact, you will find as your infant matures that the delivery is often more important than the content. Therein lies a cue to the deeper need, not only of babies, but of people of any age. Your relationship with your infant is forming right now. Now is always "now" regardless of age. If you use your heart to know these things, and more, then you will know fulfillment of motherhood, parenting, and deep love and respect.
Breastfeeding moms and introducing cow's milk?
My daughter turned 1 on Saturday, and I've been wondering the same thing-Do I need to introduce cow's milk since I'm still nursing, will she tolerate it, etc. I work full time and honestly, I'm ready to be done pumping. So I've decided to introduce cow's milk for her to drink at daycare, and I'll exclusively nurse when I'm with her-No cow's milk when I'm around lol. The first time I offered her cow's milk (from a sippy cup) she refused it. I guess she just didn't like the taste. Yesterday she was given milk from a bottle at daycare, and she took it just fine. She's never had anything but water from a sippy cup (which she's great with), so it may have been confusing to her. She has her well baby visit on Thursday, and I'm going to discuss my plan with the DR just to make sure it's OK. She's really good with solids and not a picky eater, so I'm not too worried about her diet lacking nutritionally.
When can kittens begin eating wet food?
Around 4–5 weeks, they’ll get interested and may try to eat it. Their actual food however is still their mother’s milk.Around 6 weeks, they CAN survive without milk, but it’s still the healthier option. After 2 months, milk gets increasingly less important and they shift to solid food, both wet and dry. At 3 months, milk is basically comfort food: they love cuddling up to their mom for a snack, but that’s all it is. Usually mom wil have started weaning them at this point, ie refusing to lie down so they can suckle, perhaps even making irritated noises to shoo them off.If you have a kitten of less than 8 weeks, buy cat formula from the vet.