my son is 5 months old and I have not introduced him solids yet.need advice.?

Question

He remains hungry and I am only breastfeeding him .His doctor told me to wait till he's 6 months old.Otherwise he might become obese or have other health problems.She says that is what American academy of pediatrician suggest now.Is this true?

Answer 1

THAT IS INSANE! Both my daughter and son was introduced to solids at 4 months. She (my first) was a very large baby (but she was already large by 3 months so it was before the solids.) As soon as she started walking so dropped weight like crazy. Now at three yrs old she very well porprtioned. My son is very small for his size. He was skinny and short. He is 19 months in 12 month clothing if that gives you clue. When he started eating adult food though you could tell he gained a little bit of weight. Though he is still in the 25th percintile for weight. It's not the baby food that makes them over weight it's the adult food. Unless there is a health concern to dely your child from baby food, then I say go for it. Worrying about obesness at that age is insane (which my doctor assured me of for my daughter b/c she was my little budda. If you don't feel comfortable listening to a stranger over a doc (which I don't blame you) Then at least get a second opinion from a 2nd doctor. No other doc in world would tell you to keep a perfectly healthy baby off food. But both of my kids started ceral at 4 months and veggies at 6 months. If you do try to introduce you child to food without doc instructions please start with rice cearal watered down like crazy. Very slowly thicken it up. Always go 2 wks before introducing anything new to be sure there is no allergies. Introduce Mixed ceral last. (Rice is easiest to digest, mixed is hardest) Never introduce solids before 6 months. Those were my docs instructions to me. Sorry this is so lenghty, but I hope it helps. Good luck

Answer 2

I was absolutely devastated at the thought that I was potentially making my child obese as I started solids at 5 months...but the thing is....the baby is hungry. If the baby is hungry then give him some food, he may just need a little bit of baby rice once or twice a day with his milk, this may make him relax a bit, sleep better and a bit happier. I see where your coming from, and it's difficult enough listening to all the advisors out their where babies are concerned, but if he's obviously hungry...give him a little bit.

Answer 3

The doctor is correct...however, why not try giving your son some rice ceral mixed with brest milk? Just a small amount (like a 1/4 cup of ceral mixed with enough brest milk to make it really smooth & milky once a day may make a big difference for you. Each child is different. With my first we started ceral when she was 6 months old, my second was 5 months old and my third was about 5 months....Just don't go nuts and try a bunch of veggies & fruits right away...good luck...

Answer 4

I've always read and been told my my Dr.s to start solids at 4-6 months. If your 5 month old is acting interested in your food it shouldn't be a problem to start foods. Breastfed babies have a tendency to be leaner toddlers, kids, and adults. One of the theories is that they have developed the skill of eating until they are full and then stopping. Whereas a bottle fed baby may be engouraged to eat past the point of being full to finish off the bottle or a certain number of ounces. So, I wouldn't worry about the obesity thing too much.

Answer 5

If you can wait 6 months, great, but I believe the accpetable age range is between 4 and 6 months. The longer you can wait, the better, but a little rice cereal and breastmilk at 5 months is very common.

Answer 6

Yes, breastmilk is the only thing a baby needs until 6 months. It is okay to introduce rice cereal at 5 months though. You just mix it with some breastmilk and feed it to him by spoon. This may help him.

Answer 7

I have a 6 mo old and at her 4 mo check up she was having that problem as well. Her pediatrician said it was perfectly fine to start feeding her infant cereal, as long as it is the single grain and not a mixed variety (it's too hard for them to digest). I'd start with the rice cereal. good luck!

Answer 8

If your son is still hungry, then he DOES need food other than breast milk....
Try small amounts of rice baby cereal mixed with formula or breast milk. NOT hot, just warm & leave it spoonable but NOT thick. Mix in small amounts of strained baby fruit & do NOT attempt to feed him this way until you have breast fed at least enough to make him happy & calm him down, otherwise he will get upset & so will you trying to get him to eat. Just breast feed him enough to quell his hunger & then hold him like you do when you breast feed, sitting up a bit more, & take the mixure in a spoon & touch it to his mouth, then put it in his mouth. GO SLOWLY... This make take a little practice, but once it hits the tummy & he feels full & satisfied he may start chowing down.
As not to waste anything, just mix small amounts, like a 1/4 cp. TOTAL (cereal, formula, fruit). Don't make it too watery either...
Good Luck!!
This will also help you determine what he may like & not like. I did this with all three of mine, using baby bananas, apricots, peaches, pears, etc. Just a teaspoon or so. This held them a LOT longer & they did NOT need to be fed as often. I started mine around 4 or 5 months I believe & none of them are obese & none have ANY health problems. Just be sure to go slow, sit him up a bit more than if you were breast feeding & do not try to feed him while he is REALLY hungry. Soon you will be able to sit him in a baby seat & feed him from the spoon. I didn't breast feed after 6 months with ANY of my boys & the transition to solid food came easy when I did it this way......
Good Luck to you....

Answer 9

You have a good doctor. If he's still hungry then just keep nursing and nurse more often. Some babies need to nurse often- the every three hours thing is a myth. Rice cereal, squash, and mashed bananas are not going to make him any more full- they don't have nearly the calories of breastmilk. Just make sure to nurse as often as he wants to, and make sure you are drinking enough, eating enough, and resting enough.

Answer 10

I would start by giving him rice cereal, than in one week try a veggie. each week after that introduce one veggie every four days(to make sure he is not allergic). When you are finished the veggies, move to fruit and do the same. It is better to do the veggies first b/c he may not want to eat them after eating the good tasting fruit.