Major problems with solids!?

Question

My daughter is six months old and I started giving her solids. I've only done this three weeks now. I feed her half a jar of veggies and one jar of fruit at noon. Well, the trouble is that now she won't sleep through the night as she did before because none of it is agreeing with her system. I put karo in her bottle in her one night feeding and anytime I feed her solids now I give her fruit juice along with prunes! It's a nightmare because I know she is unhappy from the food. And now everyone is pressuring me when I feed her less but she is NOT adjusting to it and there is no peace at night. They say oh she should be eating more veggies and oh you should feed her two or three times a day but she just started and I don't want to rush her! But especially I don't want her to get in the habit of sreaming all night and I am sure that it has some negative effects on her. Please help! I was up all night in hell and don't know what to do!

Answer 1

First of all, I'd like to point out that all babies are different and will take to solids at different times. Your 6 month old baby may not be ready for solids, compared to other six months olds. Go with what your baby is telling you. If she's having trouble w/ solids, wait a week or two and start again.

From what you wrote, there were a few things that jumped out at me and these are my opinions of why things may not be sitting well w/ your baby.

-Starting solids, you should be giving one food at a time for a few days each time (some ppl say a week if there's allergies in your family, but a few days is sufficient if you don't).
-After giving most foods one time, THEN you can mix two or more foods to introduce your baby to more variety. Don't feel like you need to rush your baby. She is still very young.
-Avoid fruit juice. It's not necessary. Babies are perfectly fine drinking water, breastmilk, or formula w/ their meals. Fruit juice is too high in sugar and now is NOT the time to teach your baby to enjoy sugary foods. You'll be stuck w/ a very picky eater in the near future.
-Last but not least, WHY are you adding prunes to her diet "anytime"? Prunes are a powerful laxative. They should only be used sparingly and only for constipation-relieving purposes. So WHEN your baby has been eating solids for a while and isn't pooping at least once every other day, THEN you can give a little bit of prunes to help the digestion along. Don't use it when you don't need to. There are plenty of yummy fruits that she can eat instead.

The reason I'm stressing the last part about prunes is because I think THAT is your culprit as to why your baby is so unhappy. Her little tummy hurts Mommy! So, nix the prunes and consider all my other suggestions and I'm pretty sure she'll be feeling and sleeping better soon. Good luck!

Answer 2

You know your baby better than anyone. What works for one child may totally disagree with another. You have been doing solids for only a couple of weeks maybe she is allergic to something in one of the baby foods. Maybe you should stop fruits and veggies for a week or two. Then start back up very slowly. Trying one food at a time. It could be that or she may not be ready for baby food yet. There is no law saying at this age you must feed baby food. So though all the info from friends and family is well intentioned it doesnt make it right. Do as you feel is best for your child and yourself. Hope all works out soon.

Answer 3

She may be developing an intolerance to milk based formula. It can cause constipation that doesnt go away. Or it could be that its just not easy enough for her to digest.

She's only 6 months, so technically she'd not gonig to suffer from taking her off the solids for a week or two, and stick with cereal. See if maybe the constipation will pass. If it does, then you know its the food.

If it doesnt, switch her formula to something soy based, stay off the solids, and see how she is in a week or so.

Its one or the other. My first thought would be the formula. Or if you have switched her to whole milk already for some reason it could be that.

If this constipation is daily, and she's not passing anything for more than five days you need to take her to the doctor and find out if she's got some intestinal blockage issue.

Either way, you could probably rule out a lot by calling the doctor.

Answer 4

Speaking as a mother of three, it sounds as if you need to feed her more, not less. Also, if you are nervous and upset, the baby will be nervous and upset. Calm down and stop worrying so much, sweetie.
I started feeding all three of my children when they were six months old. All of them took to it like little piglets. Give the baby a little cereal in the morning, whatever you like for dinner and supper, then give her a little cereal before going to bed at night. This should tide baby over until feeding time next morning. Prunes are okay, but you don't want the little one to become dependent on prunes to help it evacuate.
I doubt she is unhappy from the food, just from the lack of more of it. More important is your general attitude. Calm down, stop worrying, and give baby the food she wants. Don't overstuff her, starting out, just feed her a little bit at a setting of something light like veggies, fruit and/or cereal. Move on to meats as she adjusts to the other, and increase the amount as she is able to handle to more.
Good luck

Answer 5

Do what you feel is right for your baby, don't listen to anyone else. Mother's know best about their children. My Mom kept pressuring me to feed my baby solids but my son's prone to allergies. I finally started giving him solids at 6 months of age. I started with 1/2 a jar of veggies for lunch and 1/2 for dinner. Their stomachs are as big as their fists, and to begin they dont need much food. I would give him the same veggie for 5 days in a row and if he digested it fine then i would introduce a new one for 5 more days, when I was through all the veggies I gave him fruit. Remeber its stage 1 foods. About a month later I started giving him a full jar at lunch and 1 at dinner.
Like I said do what feels right for you and you're baby will be fine.
As for the cereal, he didnt start eating cereal until 9 months, every time I gave him cereal he would vomit, most babies start eating cereal at 3 months. So do what feels right with your baby, not what people tell you to do.

Answer 6

You should have started with cereals instead of fruits and vegetables. Start using rice pablum first. It can be made with formula as the milk product, and it should be a bit runny so that it is easily swallowed.

When you see if she does well on that you can start adding the pablums that have different fruits already in them. These are much tastier than the rice pablum, and are still easily digestible for babies.

Wait until she is a few months older, and tolerating the cereals before you reintroduce vegetables and fruits.

And if her bowel movements are that affected by what she is eating it may be a medical problem that should be followed up on with your paediatrician. You shouldn't be giving her karo without his knowledge.

Answer 7

Start over. Introduce one food every couple days. When she starts to get really fussy again, then you'll know which foods are really bothering her. I wouldn't put any more Kayro in her bottle again, and lay off of the juice for a while. I wouldn't give her cereal as it can cause constipation. Just go slow, you'll be able to read her cues, and she'll let you know what makes her sick and what doesn't. If it is still an issue after you "start over" call her pedicatrician, they'll be able to help you out further. Good luck! PS if you have to stop for a couple days that's okay too!

Answer 8

You should have started her on RICE CEREAL first and only that and then move onto the other cereals.........then you start with veggies.............then meats............then fruits........

you have to only give a little at a time and slowly increase the amount of food you are giving them.......
their tummies are so sensitive.....
and you only give ONE FOOD AT A TIME and watch for any reactions to them........if they react to it......then don't give it to them for a few days and try again!!
1 jar of food is WAAAAAAY too much food to give at one time when they are starting out.....
and you still need to leave room for milk.......


Why are you listening to other people what does your pediatrician say??

Here are some good resources.....
don't listen to other people....
go with your daughter's cues.........
and your own maternal instinct......



Pediatric Society (American and Canadian) recommend that you do not start solids until the age of 6 months........

Don't be in a rush to start your child on solid foods....you will have a TON of opportinuty to do so.......
you'll be feeeding this child till he's 18!!!

Age: Birth to 4 months------------
Feeding behavior
• Rooting reflex helps your baby turn toward a nipple to find nourishment
What to feed
• Breast milk or formula ONLY •
Your baby's digestive tract is still developing, which is why solid food is off limits for now.

From 4-6 months------------
Signs of readiness for solid food
Your baby probably won't do all these things — they're just clues to watch for.
• Can hold head up
• Sits well in highchair
• Makes chewing motions
• Shows significant weight gain (birth weight has doubled)
• Shows interest in food
• Can close mouth around a spoon
• Can move food from front to back of mouth
• Can move tongue back and forth, but is losing tendency to push food out with tongue
• Seems hungry after 8 to 10 feedings of breast milk or 40 oz. of formula in a day
• Is teething
What to feed
• Breast milk or formula, PLUS
• Semi-liquid iron-fortified rice cereal, THEN
• Other grain cereals like oats or barley

Answer 9

Try taking her off of solids for a week to see if their is a change.If not maybe something else is bothering her.If it is solids keep her off of them for another mth & try again.If it continues talk to a doctor.She is only 6mths she is not going to suffer this young with out it.Her formula will give her everything she needs for now.Not every baby takes to solids at 6mths.This is just the time that most people start.Does she like cereal.If she does maybe you could just feed her that for now.Maybe the juice is not agreeing with her stomach.Try giving her water instead.Juice has alot of sugar & babies this young don't really need it.Don't force her to eat.She is still young & will eat when she is ready.Don't listen to every one else.This is your baby & you know what is best for her better than anyone.Good Luck!!

Answer 10

If the solids aren't agreeing with her....STOP giving them to her! Just because she is "X" months old doesn't mean she needs them. Wait a bit and try again when she is a little older. Formula or breastmilk should still be her main source of nutrition at this age anyway.