Introducing solids and juices

Well today was Jack's 4 month well baby and he's 16lbs and 27inches and was cleared for solids. My husband is returning shortly so I will wait for him so he can see all the faces Jack will make.

Now the doctor's here on base just **** so I pulled my son out of the base pedi office after they told me he has spina bifida (which he doesn't) and now he gets seen by my Family Pratice Doc who is a civilian which may not be ideal but it works out well because he knows the family and is an awesome man. So pretty much today he just told me start with rice cereal then go to oatmeal then go to veggies then fruits and then soon we'll be onto cherrios down the line in a few months and that I could start giving Jack juice (either baby juice or 1/2 water have 100% juice)

But he gave me no explanation of how! He told me he believes that you have to go somewhat by your own mother intitution and him and his wife died each of his 5 children differently so to ask other Mom's and just do what works best for us. He is great with my son and looking for problems and checking his milestones he just might not have the advice that a pedi would have for a FTM as much (which some people told me is a Godsend and others told me well that just stinks..)

Basically he is out of practice.. lol

So pleas explain to me if you can how you did things and when you moved to stage 2... etc.. and how did you do juices...

Feel free to be detailed! I'm the first of my friends to be a mom and well my mom is 26 years out of practice!

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Re: Introducing solids and juices

I introduced juice in a sippy cup.. it didnt take that long for him to figure it out.. As far as jarred foods.. in the Am it was pretty much 1st feeding bottle only, he'd go back to sleep till nine, at nine it would be a jar of fruit and cereal, top it off with a little bit of a bottle.. lunchtime, cereal and a veggie, and a half of fruit, and a bit of bottle... in between Breakfast and lunch I would have the cup.. and in between Lunch and dinner he would also have his cup.. I am not sure how old he was at this particular time (he's 2.5 now!) But I remember it being right after he got used to the introduction of solids.. Your little one will let you know what he likes and dislikes.. try to enjoy! And make it fun! Oh--As far as cheerios, I just put a couple on his high chair tray,a nd he fed himself.. the first time he saw them his eyes lit up like "jackpot" and he tried stuffing like ten in his mouth at hte same time!! LOL.. Seriously, start like two at a time to see how he reacts... I had to put one in his mouth for him to "know" what it was LOL... Congrats on this awesome Milestone!!

Re: Introducing solids and juices

First congrats - 4 months! wow! what a cutie!

here is my run down.

I started with rice cereal in a bowl. made it very, very soupy at first. Started with a tablespoon of cereal mixed with formula. Fed with a spoon. I fed him in his bouncer or stroller at first until I set up the high chair.

Slowly as he got use to it added more cereal and made it thicker. Did use some mom intuition there and read baby's cues - he tells me if it was too thick. After a bit, I moved on to oatmeal - as much as he would eat at what thickness he would eat. After a week (can do it any time after 3 days straight or oatmeal, I like to use one week for allergic reactions - but that is my perference), I went to barley.

Once I finished all three cereals, I started with fruits (again preference - one can argue either way fruit or veggies first). One a week, two feedings a day (Ithink I started twice a day??). Once one fruit was fine (no allergic reactions), I would mix and match - one for dinner one for lunch. I would do a half a jar of fruit and then how much cereal he would eat - once in the morning and once in the evening. My dr recommended doing it 1-2 hours after a bottle - hen they are hungry but not starving for best results. Then, I went to all stage 1 veggies - one a week. I would do fruit and cereal for breakfast, veggie and cereal for dinner. My dr said if the baby ate more than 32 oz of formula- give more cereal/solids. At young age she said don't go below 24 oz of formula.

Did this until I finished all Stage 1 and moved to stage 2 because he could eat the bigger quantities. At about 6 months, I started three meals a day. breakfast and lunch stayed the same. I add a stage 2 meat mixture for lunch with a small bottle - in place of one of his normal big bottles. At 6 months, my dr said I could try pastina and mashed potatoes as well (no butter). The big thing as I go to Stage 2 is new ingredients, reading labels and testing for 3 days before trying something new - not sure when to stop that.

Little by little I have been increasing solids. Now he eats 1.5 jars for lunch.

As for juice, I don't give it. I feel it isn't necessary. I do give water in a sippy cup here and there to hold off between bottle and him to get practice with the sippy cup.

At 8 months, my dr said I can begin to introduce some dairy as a snack - cottage cheese, yogurt and vanilla ice cream. So in a few days I will start. I have given his a taste of ice cream last week.

Hope this helps.

Message edited 9/28/2005 3:28:27 PM.