need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

DD's right now at the time that i said I would begin her on solids (6 months), however, I had decided that I would wait until after her Dr appt on Wednesday so that I could ask her about it.

I'm rethinking waiting now only because DD seems so hungry! When she eats sometimes she'll pull off and start crying. I don't know if it's her teeth bugging her or if she's still hungry.

So I'd really like to just start her on solids TODAY rather than waiting another 5 days and wondering if she's hungry.

My question is - do you think it's ok not to wait for a doctor's go-ahead? Would it be smarter just to deal with this and wait till I talk to the pediatrician? or is this more of a mother's call? Also I read somewhere that the baby should be double their birthweight and I have NO CLUE if she's there yet (since she's not being weighed till Wed). Why would I need to wait until she's double her birth weight though??? What's the point. I've heard of people starting their babies on solids at 3 months and I find it hard to believe they'd be double their birth weight already.

Any insight would be so helpful right now.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

i think its fine to start. i didnt want to wait until the 6 month appt either. instead i called and spoke to the ped and he said to start on oatmeal and told me exactly the measurements to start. you should try that.

btw...love your picture!

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

First neither of my DS's were double their birthweight when I started solids.

Second, unless you have concerns on how to start or what to start with or your baby was premature and you have questions etc. IMO this is a mothers call. When DS #1 was 13 months I went to the ped and she was like did you start cows milk yet....I hadn't becuase I thought I had to wait for the go ahead from her. I learned then that sometimes I have to just do what I think is best.
DS#2 I started solids at 3.5months becuase I thought he was ready. He was on cereal for 2 weeks prior to his appt. When I went the ped asked if I started solids, I said yes and she said "oh good, just keep going through the fruits and veggies..."

If you think she is hungry I personally wouldnt wait.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

how is she with Bowel Movements?
My DS doesnt go every day so I skipped Rice and went to Oatmeal. Which he HATED so I then moved after a week of fighting with him to Multi Grain. I did Applesauce and Pears and Sweet Potatoes prior to Bananas.

All this was due to the fact that rice and bananas are binding. But most people do start with Rice cereal first. I liek to start with cereal first because you can control the consistency. You can make it more like soup or more like oatmeal depending on how your DD takes to it. My first DS liked it more pastey from the first bite. My second DS needed it more watery for a week or 2 until he got hte hang of the whole spoon thing.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

IMO-I'd wait for the ped. He told us to start feeding her at the 4 month appt. He said to do 1 cereal per week for 3 weeks: rice then barley and then oatmeal. Just for breakfast and lunch. Then after the 3 weeks of 1 cereal per week, to add fruit: do 1-2 new fruits per week of 3-4 days on one at a time. Then he said to add veggies (same instructions as fruit). Then at 6 months to add dinner. We gave her fruits/veggies from previous weeks for lunch&dinner. We introduce the new food at breakfast.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

you are the mom and if your gut is saying that she looks hungry give her cereal and see if your gut is right and the crying stops , you have to do what you feel comfy doing dont worry about the "FAKE RULES" they are mere guidelines what worked for others. rice cereal /oatmeal is not an allergen so there is nothing to worry about

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

I think its fine. My DD will be 6 months on the 8th and I haven't even made her appointment yet but I think I'll start her on solids this weekend. She only poops like once a week as it is so we're going to skip rice and start with oatmeal.
I did rice with my other two kids for only couple of weeks and it made my DD1 so constipated, so I'm not even bothering this time.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

I started earlier than 6 months, on the advice of my ped. My DS was big and was eating a lot of formula. She gave me a max to not let him go over per day. If he hit that before his 6 month appointment, she told me to start cereal. I started at 4 or 5 months, I think, but only stuck with cereal until the next appointment (DS saw them monthly until 6 months).

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

My ped gave me the go ahead for cereal at 4 months but mother intuition told me she wasn't going to be ready so I tried it and she just wasn't ready. I started her at 5 1/2 month, I skipped rice and went right to oatmeal and it really helped with the hunger. I think 6 months old is definitely old enough to start solids. You could call your ped if you are really concerned but I think this really is up to you. Just start off small and see how she does, some peds prefer to start with rice while other say its doesn't matter so either oatmeal or rice. Hope it helps her feel fuller.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

Go for it! We did that, DD didn't like it, we tried again in a week and then she was down w/it

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

Baby Led Weaning!
Look into, the best thing in the world if your EBF. Its so respectful of babies needs, so easy on mom, and leads to healthy eating habits as baby grows up.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding

thanks guys. I went to the store and got her some rice cereal to start with, but now I'm wondering if I should start with oatmeal instead, as she does not poop every day (sometimes she'll go a few days without). Hmm.

I don't know. I'll probably just try it out and see if she even likes it either today or tomorrow.

Thank you for all your advice. I definitely appreciate it. I was feeling a little overwhelmed with all of the "rules". Sometimes I'd just like to follow my own intuition and not worry about what I'm "supposed" to do, ya know? But at the same time I only want what's best, so it gets confusing.

Re: need some wisdom from BTDT moms about feeding