When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

I EBF now. For the first 6 weeks of his life I supplemented with formula (2-6 ounces per day) because he was born at over 11 pounds and was losing way too much weight in the hospital. So, I gave in to the doctors. He's gaining nicely now and the pediatrician said I can start cereal. I asked if there was any nutrition I'd be keeping from him if I continued to breastfeed for longer. She said cereal wouldn't be nutritionally different at this time.

Now MIL is complaining her 'big boy' needs solids. Um, he's gaining a lot of weight and I specifically asked the doctor if I was hurting him by still BF. I feel like I gave in at the beginning because I was scared. But now MIL seems to be recruting DH to the 'give him cereal' team. He's only 4 1/2 months.

When did you begin other things? And if you did, were you using formula before that or breastmilk? TIA!

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

We started Lily on cereal at about 5 1/2 months. We were going to wait until 6 months, but she started to show interest in food and was able to sit up on her own, so I thought she was ready. And she was.
If he's not showing interest, you can hold off a bit longer. All the cereal really does is teach him about a different way to eat. And if BM is keeping him satisfied right now, no need to force him to eat anything else!
They also say the the earlier you feed, the higher chance they have of allergies.
Trust your instincts. You're his mother! And you're doing a great job so far!

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

We didn't start Logan on solids until about 5.5 months.

He was EBF for the first 3 months then I had surgery and couldn't BF anymore so we moved him to all formula.

Most doctors say it's okay between 4-6 months.

I knew Logan was ready when he was watching us eat with a great deal of interest and he was up to 40 oz a day of formula.

Trust your instinct on this.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

Caden too is a big boy. We started solids at 12 weeks at the suggestion of the pediatrician. He was simply a hungry baby. He was hungry all the time and basically bottles alone werent doing it for him....While I see no harm in starting solids this young I dont see anything wrong with waiting as well. If Michael is happy with his bottles and doesnt seem like he is looking for more than hold off if you want to.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

Kelly, you're going to get many different answers to this question. I am going to show you the arguments for delaying the start of solids until at least 6 months, and I'm sure others will give you the reasons that they started when they did.

link

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

First of all...I think it's awesome that you're EBF!!

MILs are from the "old school." I believe my MIL just gave my DD a cookie at 7 mos. I'm sure it's not harmful, but that's just how it was done back then.

If your pediatrician thinks your son is doing fine, then keep on doing what you're doing. I gave both my girls cereal at 4 mos. Each was BF. One for 3 mos. and the other for 5.5.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

DD started cereal when she was 3 1/2 months- and started veggies when she was 4 months.


We've been mostly formula feeding since birth.


ETA: (I hit submit too quickly). I give you so much credit for EBF. I think the point of starting the cereal is to get them used to swallowing food instead of sucking- even though the cereal does not provide any additional nutrition. I don't think its neccessary to start cereal right away- so many mom's don't start cereal right away- and honestly, I was shocked when the Dr told us to start cereal. I thought it wouldn't be until 6 months. But, DD is/was really petit and the doctor thought she could benefit from putting on some weight. So in the end, I decided to start cereal and solids- but if you feel like not rushing it, then dont!

Message edited 1/4/2008 10:25:35 PM.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

My DS is just over 4 mo. and is EBF but, like your son did get a bit of formula early on when I had an infection. I asked the dr. about starting solids like cereal and he told me not to. I didn't ask why...maybe I should have?

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

Kelly, don't let ANYONE push you into something you don't want.

You are going through exactly what I was going through.

DD was initially put on formula at the hospital after a CS & her being in NICU...milk didn't come in, was supplementing w/ formula for a week or so. THEN it all worked out w/ nursing & I stopped the formula. She's been on BM ever since, no formula.

FF to 3 months & my MIL starts saying how big she is & how she'll be on cereal any day now. I told her we're in no rush & in the back of my mind knew I wanted to wait as long as possible. At her 4 mo. appt ped says she has the ok to start, but he said the US is the only place where we give our children cereal & baby food, in most other parts of the world the child is on bm until 10-11 months & then goes straight to table food. He sort of backed our decision to wait.

I held out until 5.5 months b/c she is obviously doing fine on bm (she's a chunka & no problems w/ reflux, gas, etc.) but at that point she was starting to grab at food if she was in my lap and she was taking 7 oz at a feeding no problem. She's been on it now for 2 wks (& loves it...although the last 2 days she's having constipation issues).

Kelly, do what you feel is right. If i listened to my MIL (& how we were on cereal at 3 weeks & how it'll make them sleep through the night & how they need something more than bm/formula, DD would have been on it at 3 months!!)

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

this is one of those things that has changed a lot since we were born! My MIL tells me all the time how my BIL was on cereal within a week of being home from the hospital.

don't let anyone force you into anything! do what you and DH feel is best!

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

Taylor is 5mths (3 adjusted) and is taking cereal in the bottle and once during the day via spoon. For her the ped wanted us to try becuase she is developing at a close to full term rate but it was at our discretion-she did say that by 6mths she should be eating some kind of solid though.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

the 70s were a much different time - remember mothers drank and smoke when pregnant too.

my mother had both my sister and I on cereal at 1-2 weeks!

Both my sons were 10+ (both lost close to a pound in the hospital - but that wasn't even 10%) but gained quickly on BM alone. My ped had us start cereals at 3.5 months both times - it helped to satisfy their big appetites.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

5 1/2 months. He was EBF. They get the most nutritional from breast milk and formula. Eating cereal from a spoon is to teach them how to eat for the future.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

if you want to give him a different textrure, you can freeze teh bm and give it to him like a slushie so that he is still getting bm, just w/a different texture to it!

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

I EBF for the 1st 6 months and only then did I introduce one veggie, once at lunch.

I am still BFing and she gets 3 meals a day, now at 7 months and I have not introduced any other form of drink.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

We didn't start cereal until 5.5 months, and just started with veggies yesterday. DD is 6 months old.

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

My DS was a strictly formula fed baby and we started solids at 4 months. He did great, no problems. His nutrition was still primarily formula and remained that way till 10 months (he then started eating tons of solids).

Re: When did you start something other than breastmilk or formula?

I posted something similar last week when our ped. recommended we start rice. We had such a terrible time with it that I stopped it. She was a miserable child on it-gassy, constipated and screamed all day long-totally not like her. We chose to take her off and I'm really glad we did and aren't going to try again until 5 or 6 months. There are so many good reasons to delay it another month if you wanted to. She is doing fine on BM so why rock the boat?? I think if your DS isn't starving then just continue doing what you're doing-a great job!!!