Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Abby's pediatrician would like her to start with rice cereal for one week at "breakfast" time which I of course interpret as her first feeding of the day (usually around 5-6 am). Mind you she is on 4-5 ounces per feeding at the moment and I don't think this is enough for her. The instructions were:

1 tablespoon of rice cereal to 3 tablespoons of formula to be eaten with a plastic coated spoon from a bowl. Next week, we apply this to her LAST feeding and slowly add baby applesauce and fresh bananas. Simple enough. Right? WRONG.

Hmmm. So I make this concoction and try to feed it to her while she is screaming this morning. It did not look like something that should be served with a spoon and she was having NO part of it. She wanted to eat and she wanted to eat IMMEDIATELY! She looked at the spoon as if to say:

"W T EFF is this Mom?"

So I poured the formula with the rice cereal into her bottle so she could at least get the calories the doc wants her to get. the rice cereal was obviously blocking the hole in the nipple. We were both frustrated so I dumped it and gave her straight formula.

Thoughts/Questions:

Do I tough it out and make her get used to a spoon? If so, how do I get her used to it without traumatizing her? She doesnt know how to pull it in and swallow. To do this at her first feeding just seems unfair to her if she only wants to gobble down a bottle.

If I am to use a bottle with this, do you suggest getting a faster flow nipple so the cereal can make it through? With formula, she dribbles a bit which indicates to me that perhaps the slow flow (we use Playtex drop ins) is a little too fast anyway. Im concerned that a medium flow nipple will be too fast too then again the cereal needs to get in.

Do I supplement the "cereal" with more formula after she has finished it to be up to her regular 4-5 ounces?

Do I hire a nanny because I can't figure this out for myself and I should based on the fact that I care for other people's children and a daily basis and have been doing so for the past 13 years? I really feel like I should know better.

I'm not calling the doctor's office on Christmas Eve. This is not an emergency and a few days of trial and error won't hurt her. Any suggestions of things that worked would be appreciated. TIA and Happy Holidays!

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Ok, well, I think she is still a bit young, she is just about 4 months, right? She is going to have to get used to it.

But I would not give it in a bottle. Cereal is for practice with the spoon, if you think she is still hungry, then maybe up the oz in her bottle.

ETA: Cereal/babyfood are just "practice" the calories that the Dr wants her to get are in formula. Baby food has barely any!

Message edited 12/24/2008 10:56:23 AM.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Breathe

I never gave cereal first thing -- always a bottle first. They are too hungry first thing in the morning and I wouldn't want DC to be upset.

So give bottle first.

Then make the cereal as you see fit. DS always like a thicker cereal.

Babies push their tonuges (I know I spelled that wrong) forward. Eventually as they get teeth they learn to push their toungue (seriously cannot spell) backwards --- so your first few weeks/months of feeding are very very sloppy - Abby will probably wear more than she will eat, and that is OK. At this early stage, it's just an introduction to texture and flavors. It's not a replacement for BF/Formula until much much later.

Keep introducing the cereal to her each day. Eventually she will 'get it'

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

OK...here are my thoughts...

First, I'm obviously not a doctor, but I believe that cereal at this point is not for calories, it's to get her used to the texture, sensation, experience. As a result, I don't think there was any reason to put the rice in the bottle.

Secondly, I would give her her usual bottle (keep on giving her the typical amount) at that hour if she is very hungry. Once she is up for the day, I would give her the cereal.

It may take a while for her to get used to the spoon, but that's the point of these early feeding sessions. What worked for me was putting a very little bit on the tip of the spoon, then letting her "suck" the spoon into her mouth a bit. I would sort of angle the spoon into her mouth as I would a bottle.

I remember FREAKING out when my older DD started cereal--my head was spinning. Three years later, I still haven't hired a nanny and so if I can figure this out, I'm reasonably sure ANYONE can!

HTH and good luck!

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

The concept of a fussy eater in my family is surreal. Considering that all of the women in my family were morbidly obese at one point in their lives proves once again that they gave me the wrong kid at the hospital. Shes a petite lil thing. All of her weight is in her cheeks.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Posted by Elbee

Breathe

I never gave cereal first thing -- always a bottle first. They are too hungry first thing in the morning and I wouldn't want DC to be upset.

So give bottle first.

Then make the cereal as you see fit. DS always like a thicker cereal.

...

Keep introducing the cereal to her each day. Eventually she will 'get it'

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Hire a nanny, this stuff is better off left to the professionals!

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

I just started Emma on rice cereal...she is almost 4 mths; our Ped wanted us to start it before her 4 mth appt.
I have been toughing it out with the spoon...for the most part at this stage, they are really just getting used to the "motions" of eating...ie, when the spoon comes to your mouth, open up.

Emma screams pretty much through the whole feeding, but I've read to keep on with it...they aren't used to it and obviously having different textures in the mouth is probably weird the first like 10 times.

Also, keep it very runny the first few feedings, until she can swallow well...it should be mostly formula vs cereal. As she gets the hang of it, gradually increase the consistancy.

After Emma's cereal feeding I usually will follow up with the her usual 5 oz in a bottle...and my chunky monkey will eat it all!

Good luck and hope this helped!

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

If she is only on 4-5 ounces per feeding, I'm confused as to why your ped. is adding cereal for the calories? The formula has more calories than cereal and typically you up the formula intake. 4-5 ounces per feeding isn't very much for that age. Obviously you have to do what you feel is right, but if it were me, I would hold off on the solids and up the formula intake. Otherwise you just have to keep trying and she will eventually grasp the concept of the spoon. I wouldn't put cereal in a bottle though, it's a choking hazard.

Also, I wouldn't start out with breakfast at the first feeding of the day if she is starving and wanting the bottle. I would do it at the next feeding in the AM, or I would do the bottle first, then cereal after.

Message edited 12/24/2008 11:09:14 AM.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Posted by Summerrluvv

If she is only on 4-5 ounces per feeding, I'm confused as to why your ped. is adding cereal for the calories? The formula has more calories than cereal and typically you up the formula intake. 4-5 ounces per feeding isn't very much for that age. Obviously you have to do what you feel is right, but if it were me, I would hold off on the solids and up the formula intake. Otherwise you just have to keep trying and she will eventually grasp the concept of the spoon. I wouldn't put cereal in a bottle though, it's a choking hazard.

Also, I wouldn't start out with breakfast at the first feeding of the day if she is starving and wanting the bottle. I would do it at the next feeding in the AM, or I would do the bottle first, then cereal after.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

I can't feed Landon cereal first thing in the morning. He gets his cereal at his second feeding around 10:30, when he is not as starving.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Message edited 12/24/2008 11:23:23 AM.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Posted by FelAndJon

Hire a nanny, this stuff is better off left to the professionals!

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Posted by Goldi0218

Posted by Summerrluvv

If she is only on 4-5 ounces per feeding, I'm confused as to why your ped. is adding cereal for the calories? The formula has more calories than cereal and typically you up the formula intake. 4-5 ounces per feeding isn't very much for that age. Obviously you have to do what you feel is right, but if it were me, I would hold off on the solids and up the formula intake. Otherwise you just have to keep trying and she will eventually grasp the concept of the spoon. I wouldn't put cereal in a bottle though, it's a choking hazard.

Also, I wouldn't start out with breakfast at the first feeding of the day if she is starving and wanting the bottle. I would do it at the next feeding in the AM, or I would do the bottle first, then cereal after.

I guess I was mistaken. He wasn't concerned with her weight. She had been sick recently and they wanted her to have calorie intake THEN. I am thinking the texture thing is what they are looking for THIS time. Thanks though! She doesnt really take much more than 4 ounces. I prepare her bottles for day care in 5 oz amounts in the event she wants more, it's there and they don't have to open a new bottle.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

I started Jonathan out with cereal at 4 months as well.

I was also told to give him the cereal for "breakfast." However, I was told that breakfast meant after his morning bottle.

Since the baby is not used to eating with a spoon you have to feed her when she is calm and not starving.

Give her her morning bottle first. Give her the cereal about 1 hour before it's time for her next bottle. This way she will be patient enough to wait for each spoonful.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Leslie, Betty's post reminded me that the ped told me to offer the cereal about an hour to an hour and a half after the first morning bottle.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

I am going through the same exact thing as you; I was told to give DS, who is 4 1/2 months old, rice cereal 2x per day. He hates when I try to feed him. They say 2-3 tbsp, which seems like way too much. So I use about half of that.

From what I understand, the idea is just to get them used to the spoon feeding. So I don't push it if he is not into it, I just try to "sneak" in a few during his bottle.

It's rough, but I try to tell myself that they are just little babies with little bellies and they need time to adjust

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

What everyone else said...but I also want to add that you know her best and just because the ped said "breakfast" doesn't mean you need to do it in that order. If she is calmer in the evening, and you're not rushing out of the house to get to work, it certainly doesn't hurt anyone to do it then. Then once she gets the hang of it, you can do the mornings as "step two." I always found nighttime to be more relaxed with my kids, you just need to try out different things and see what works.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

I give the cereal about an hour and a half after the first bottle at 7-7:30.
Also, play around with the consistency. My DD didn't like it runny at all and has preferred thicker textures from the beginning.
It's all trial and error, you're doing great!

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

It will get better.

The first few times I fed Ethan we were both covered in vomit. He hated having to eat from a spoon.

Now, fast forward almost 5 months and he will eat anything and everything I give him.

Re: Advice for transitioning to solids/food (long because I am feeling narrative today)

Posted by Goldi0218

Posted by FelAndJon

Hire a nanny, this stuff is better off left to the professionals!

If I weren't already married, I'd propose to you.