I have a 4 month old and was wanting advice about starting my baby on solids. what do i do? :-)?

Question

My baby is 4 months old and just a little over 17 pounds. (was 10 pounds 9 oz when I had him btw) He's having a bottle every 2 to 3 hours and am being told by the moms that hes eating too often and with him being so big he needs more food. I'm a new mom so I really have no idea what to do or when to feed him and that sort of thing.

Answer 1

The first thing you do is wait until he is at least 6 months old. Before that time, he can't digest solids, so it won't do you any good to give them to him. In fact, it *could* result in underfeeding (i.e. starvation). Every health organization (including the American Academy of Pediatrics, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization) recommends waiting for 6 months old before giving solids *regardless* of how big the baby is. Even if your *doctor* says it's okay to start solids before 6 months, she/he is going against the recommendations of her/his own professional organization.

But instead of looking at a calendar, look at your *baby* to know when he is ready for solids. Signs of readiness include the appearance of teeth, the ability to sit unsupported, and the development of the "pincer grasp"--when a baby picks up small objects using the thumb and *one* finger.

If he has at least 2 (but preferably all 3) of these signs, your son may be ready for solids. Offer him *real* food, not so-called "baby foods". Real food is tastier and more nutritious. And you don't have to "make baby food", either. By waiting until he is *ready* for solids, he will have developed the ability to eat. Give him a chunk of banana and let him take a bite. Or grate a small amount of carrot or apple and let him play with and eat it. All of these are good first solids.

The only foods you need to avoid are those that are highly allergenic and choking hazards. The most allergenic foods are dairy, soy, wheat, and egg (and peanuts if you live in the US or if either parent is American). Other allergenic foods are corn, tomatoes, berries and citrus, chocolate, nuts, pork, and fish. These--but *especially* those in the first group--should be avoided until baby is a year old.

Choking hazards are foods that are in pieces the size of baby's throat (or that baby can bite off a piece that size) and are hard, firm, or sticky. So raw carrot, nuts, popcorn, whole grapes, and peanut butter from a spoon could be dangerous. You can "fix" most of these--for instance, grate the carrot, chop the nuts, cut the grapes in half (they're still the same size, but no longer firm), and spread peanut butter thinly on a cracker or slice of bread. Choking hazards should be avoided until the child is 3-5 (depending on who you ask) and should only be eaten *sitting down* when you do offer them.

Please note that when we talk about an adult "choking" on something, we mean coughing it up. This is *not* the case with a baby. If a baby starts to swallow something the wrong way, then coughs it up, it is uncomfortable, but not dangerous. The danger comes when the windpipe is *completely* blocked, and the child can't cough it up.

Answer 2

My baby boy was about the same size yours was. When he was 4 months I was giving him 5 oz of milk every 4 hours. Its best if you can get them to go about every 4 hours. Each baby needs about 32 oz of milk each day. Every time he crys, he may not be hungry, he may just need some "loving" attention. A pacifier helps too, it can give him the same soothing comfort of a bottle without the food. Feeding a baby too much or too often can make them heavier, but I have a very tall baby. But I started him out on powdered rice cereal and mixed in some of his formula in it. I fixed him about 3 teaspoons a day. Just enough to hold him for a while so he wouldn't get hungry. You have to be careful with veggies, they can make him have really bad diaharra. You can always put a little of the powdered rice cereal in anything to thicken it up so that that won't happen. Just take it slow and try plain foods at first. Everythings new to a baby when they are only use to the taste of milk. You could also get some of the rice cereal and applesauce and give him that. Thats all my son would eat for about 2 months. Then I slowly introduced other things in. (the only thing he don't like is banana's.) He is a year old now and weighs 26 lbs and is 32 inches long. Good luck! I for one know what you are going through! (My baby weighed 2 lbs less than your when he was born.)

Answer 3

You really should consult your doctor. All Babies are different. They used to give food to babies quite young, now since they get more reactions to the food, some doctors feel it is best to wait on solids. The first solids are the plain cereals and not oats. Probably rice would be the best. If you child is eating much more then usual then it is probably time to call the doctor and ask about it. It is always best to consult your doctor for these matters. Some doctors will give you pamplets on child rearing and feeding and all. My sisters boys needed solids much younger. They would stay up all night and really were starving all the time. Her doctor told her to start them on the solids earlier then most children. My grandchild did not start very early though. So please consult a doctor about this. Like I said all children are different. There is also a number you can call in a lot of states called ask a nurse. Do not know about your state.. The net probably has many good sources to read too. hope i have helped you some.

Answer 4

A lot of people are probably going to tell you what you are doing is wrong, but don't let them get to you. It is not age that determines whether your baby is ready for solids, there are alot of other factors that play into it that usually arise AROUND 6 months. Solids should not be given before four months as their digestive system is not ready for it, but obviously this isn't really a concern to you as your baby is four months. It is your baby and you know what is best for him. If it has been recommended by two seperate professionals then you are absolutely doing the right thing.I thought my four and a half month old was big at 16lbs. I started her on cereal at four months on doctors advice as she was showing all signs of being ready. She absolutely loves it. I don't really have an answer for you, just wanted to give you some reassurance as a lot of people are probably going to attack you for this.

Answer 5

Usually doctor's recommend you start with rice cereal because it is least likely to cause an allergic reaction. Then you can start on gerber or which ever brand you prefer the stage 1. You want to give each food for a few days to make sure there is no allergic reaction and by the time you go through each veg and fruit you can then move to 2nd foods and around 7 months is a good time to start meats and then if it seems like baby isn't getting full enough you can move to 3rd foods which are chunky and make baby feel more full.

You can give cereal in morning and at night and give foods(Fruit or Vegs) for lunch and dinner. Doctors recommend you give bottle 1st because it is most important nutrition then foods. Also gerber.com has a lot of resources and meal ideas.

Answer 6

Wow! At my son's 6 month appointment, he was 16 pounds 8 oz. You have a big boy! My doctor had told me I could start my son on rice cereal around 3-4 months. Actually if you buy the baby cereal it tells you how to make the baby's first feeding right on the box. I have two sons. I started both of them on cereal at 4 months. I started by nursing them (or give a bottle) and then when they were done I'd give them the cereal. I did that until they were used to the cereal. Then I started giving it for breakfast, mixed with breast milk (or formula). After a week or so of that, I started baby food at dinner time (in addition to the cereal for breakfast). Stage 1 foods (1 jar). Give the same food for 3 days so you can see if they have allergies. I alternated fruits and vegetables. My doctor said keep feeding them until they don't want anymore. Usually you can tell when the baby is done. They turn their heads, cry, or spit it out. After a week or so of that, I added lunch. So it was: breakfast: cereal Lunch: 1 jar of fruit, 1 jar of veggies (but he didn't finish the whole jar). Dinner: cereal, veggies. Once he was eating pretty good, I added meats at dinner time and stopped the cereal at dinner.

Answer 7

well as for starting solids. Like other peopel have said rice cereal in a bottle. The split tip nipples work great...you know the ones with the "X" cut hole. My second son was a pig and i started him on solids at 4 moths old. He too was having bottles every two to three hours. So i made a very runny consistancy of rice cereal and formula, and spoon fed him. Thats the trick really. If they take to the spoon they are ready. Also, try ARROWROOT cookies. They are really hard, but when the saliva hits them they turn to mush. So, even though i sat with him while he sucked on a cookie, to avoid choking, he ate those good too. or try gerber baby food, that good too! If he doesnt take to solids, make his bottles bigger, and slowly change his habits by extending the time before feeding. Like when he starts to get fussy, keep him busy for 15-20 more minutes, and slowly put him on a routine of four hours. This will help the sleeping thru the night too!!!!:) This feeding could also be comfort feeding. Like us ladies right before our period, we turn to comfort fods, and sometimes, maybe hes just bored and wants to suck. thos are my tips for you, hope tey help. These all worked for me.

Answer 8

WOW! 17 lbs! Another baby to remind me how SMALL my daughter is. She weighed 7 lbs 3.5 ozs at birth and at 17 months old weighs only 19 lbs! :-)

Anyways, now for your question. Start with veggies and go through each one (cereal in the morning mixed with formula, it is better then water) and then start on the fruits and go through each one. Feed each one to your baby for a week to be sure there are no allergies and go on to the next one. You can feed previous ones while you are feeding the new one, don't feed two at one time. Meats last! Your baby IS ready for solid foods (four months is right time to start cereal, five months for foods, and 6 months for meat, but you can start foods now).

The funny thing is, I didn't do the above. I tried but my mom called me stupid and started buying her OWN baby food and gave it to her, lucky for me my daughter has NO allergies. I wish I could have done the above! My daughter had cereal at two weeks (in her bottle), spoon fed cereal at two months, and started on baby food at 3 months. Start with Stage one though, I did do that. If you find it isn't filling, just add some cereal for now. I did.

DON'T give cow's milk until a year old! Stay on formula (or breastmilk). I started letting my daughter taste (or sip) milk from my cup at 10 month, she got one cup a day at 11 months, and then full switch by her first birthday. I know that is a long ways down the road, but most babies have a problem with the sudden switch and I found that eased my daughter into it perfectly. Except I drank 2% and the WIC office had her on whole milk. I had to ease her into whole milk (but that only took a week).

Answer 9

Don't listen to other people...everyone and their mother has so many opinions about everything you do with your baby!! I have some people in my life like that..I just wanna tell them to shut up...I started my daughter on solids when she was just over 4 months old..My doc told me that she usually doesn't recommend giving babies solids until at least 5 months but if I thought my daughter was ready I could start her out with a little rice cereal mixed with breast milk/formula and she loved it...my daughter is just over 5 months old now and eats stage 1 fruits and veggies made by Gerber and she still eats her rice cereal she loves it all...just talk to your doctor and do what YOU think is right for YOUR baby...Good Luck!

Answer 10

You should talk to your baby's doctor but it also helps to get advice from other moms. Have you tried cereal? Not the ones with fruit or flavors but just plain baby cereal. That's a start and it keeps the baby's tummy full for longer than the bottle. I wouldn't put it in the bottle but feed the baby with a spoon. I think eventually I started to mix in baby food (fruit or veggies) with the cereal. Hope that helps.