infant feeder? My baby's pediatrician told me to spoon feed her rice cereal and not to use an infant feeder, I've read that the use of one can increase the amount of food that the baby takes in each feeding and lead to excesive weight gain, but my mother-in-law insists that the feeder is good and that "she used it to feed my husband". My baby is almost 5 months old. What to do? Sugestions, please!
2006-09-15 18:29:42 · 22 answers · asked by lost in space 6 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
It takes a long time for a baby to learn to swallow solid food, and the older she gets the more able she can accept different types of food.
Using a spoon provides her the opportunity to learn to swallow and handle solid foods. An infant feeder does not give her the same opportunity.
It is difficult with mother's in law, but this is a good time to be clear that you do things your way, and the way the doctor recommends. It is just the beginning of a long-term relationship with your mother in law, and if you can set the precedent now with clear boundaries, it will help in the future with the many other areas of advice she may offer.
I understand the urge of grandma's to intervene, and it is such a natural instinct. Try your best to be respectful and kind when responding to her, by thanking her for her advice. Perhaps you can have a standard answer such as 'I realize how knowledgeable you are, and I guess I Will have to learn my own style of parenting." Ask her to be patient with you, and this will prevent her from feeling hurt or alienated when you don't take her advice!
Been there... both a mom and grandma, .. but the mom knows best!
2006-09-15 19:42:12 · answer #1 · answered by lynnemaria 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I agree as well to use a spoon to feed solids. It's a new skill to help the child develop. I'm sure they get the same nutritional value of what they are eating either way, but it's fun for them to be learning something new and more gentle on their tiny stomach's. It's also fun for us parents to watch them chew their food, and them open their mouths when they want more. Do what you want and what you think is the better answer, mother in law should respect the choice you make. Gently remind her that things have changed since she raised her kids, and what was good back then, doesn't necessarily hold true now. At that age, their main source of nutrition should still be breastmilk or formula, solids should be a top up, so if he only wants a few bites at first then so be it, it will increase with time when he/she's appetite grows and he more comfortable using his new skill. Baby might not have instinct enough to stop drinking and ends becoming too full and have an upset tummy. Good Luck, and do what you feel is right for your baby.
2006-09-16 03:01:14 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Generally, I'd say listen to the pediatrician. But in cases like these, do what you feel is right. I've never used an infant feeder, I'm not even sure what one is, lol. What were your pediatrician's reasons for spoon feeding? Were they valid, did the doctor have some sort of direction for you to go to research it? I'm all for spoon feeding, but weigh your options and don't let your MIL pressure you into using something that was proclaimed 'the way to go' 20 years or so ago.
2006-09-15 18:35:34 · answer #3 · answered by Lissy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have an 8 year old daughter and started feeding her solids with a spoon at 4 months, she's fine. I also have a 4 1/2 month old son whom I just started on solids. I use a spoon for a couple reasons, the weight gain with a bottle or feeder, he's learning how to eat with utensils and also until they are 6 months, the neck muscles are still weak enough for choking to be a hazard.
2006-09-15 23:48:05 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I did both, the difference is that the feeder let my son turn out not to be a eater, I mean he was much more of a drinker till he was three, he lived on liquids no food at all. I would always try to feed him but he wouldnt take the food no matter what and when he gets hungry I would feel bad and just make his babyfood in the feeder and he would sip it soo fast. As for my other son, he was sppon fed since he was three months and a half and he is a healthy eater and drinker. His appetite is much better than his brother too. They are both healthy and both are good eaters now so really it is up to you, if you have the patience to keep trying to spoon feeding them then I would reccommend it, but if not then bottle feeding is good since they are at least eating.
2006-09-15 18:44:16 · answer #5 · answered by mary 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i was told the same thing too but my Dr told me the reason not to feed from a infant feeder is cause they have to suck harder which can cause the jaw to mis-aline if used a lot, causing crooked teeth or an over bite. i used it with both my kids and their teeth are fine. i just mad it more milky than the feeder says to.
Remember that mother-in-laws don't always know what is best and they raised their kids 20 or so years ago not in the past 5-10 years. things have changed sense then. but any advice is always helpful, and can be use full too.
2006-09-15 19:16:02 · answer #6 · answered by Bella's Creations 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always listen to your pediatrician. For some reason Grandmothers always seem to want you to do things their way because "my baby turned out just fine:" If I hear that one more time I think I am going to go crazy. Times change... Technology has changed...There have been cases that babies that have been fed with infant feeders refuse the formula unless there is cereal in it. This can lead to diabetes.
2006-09-16 03:09:32 · answer #7 · answered by TRUE PATRIOT 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, it's important for your baby to learn how to use a spoon and how to chew and swallow food. Do you want to be feeding him from a bottle for the next three years? No? Then teach him how to eat.
At five months, your baby should still be getting his nutrition from breast milk (or formula). If he is filling up on rice cereal, then he won't be getting the more nutritious milk.
The point of feeding solids at this age is not to be filling your baby up with food, but to be introducing him to solids so that he knows how to chew and swallow later on. So he should be having a few bites of cereal with a spoon, then nursing as usual. At five months old, it's an introduction, not a meal.
2006-09-15 21:52:02 · answer #8 · answered by smurfette 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
back in the day when moms started slipping cereal to babies when they were like 8 weeks old so that they'd sleep thru the night, babies couldn't use a spoon. so they had to use a feeder to trick the baby to thinking she/he was swallowing milk--and was mostly--now that your baby is 5 months old there's no need to trick her. she can eat from a spoon and would gain from learning to transfer that food from front of mouth to back and then the voluntary swallow motion rather than learning NOW that it's OK to swallow things that are thick without gumming them around or spending a LITTLE time tonguing them a bit. that's why. baby's old enough, just use a spoon even if it's a touch harder at first.
2006-09-15 18:34:31 · answer #9 · answered by Hot Lips 4077 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What is an infant feeder anyway? It sounds like some ancient method...
Take your doctors advice...there is nothing worse that a mother in law who tries to dictate your parenting!
2006-09-15 18:32:43 · answer #10 · answered by smiley_girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋