My daughter is about 5.5 months, 24 weeks and is fed expressed breast milk and from the breast. Lately, as in the past few weeks, her intake ramped up dramatically. She used to take 5-6oz bottles of milk, 6-7 times per day. Now she is taking in 6 1/2-71/2 oz at a time, 5-6 times per day. Today she drank an 8 oz bottle, after eating 2.5 hours before. I think she's at 37 -39 oz per day of milk. Which leads me to ask, is this a sign that solids should be introduced? She doesn't have the "tongue thrust" anymore, but she cannot sit unassisted yet. I was going to wait until 6 months, but the increased milk consumption is leading me to believe that she might need a little more. Also, is her picking up a cup, and putting it to her mouth mean that I should introduce the sippy cup? (I'm a first time mom, so I don't know, and they did things differently in the 70s when I was a baby so I can't really ask my mom). Thanks.
2006-12-01 05:01:40 · 8 answers · asked by MomofOneSpnkyGrl 2 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
She may be going through a growth spurt.
At this age, it wouldn't hurt to try introducing solids and see how she does with them. There is a lot of good info at the site below that may help you decide if she's ready to give it a try.
2006-12-01 05:06:13 · answer #1 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She is probably ready for something else like cereal. I would call her doctor and tell him/her and see if she might be ready to start some rice cereal. She doesn't have to sit unassited to start solids. JUST DONT PUT THE CEREAL IN A BOTTLE!!! Please feed her with a spoon. This is what is recommended and I dont get why people still put the cereal in a bottle. As for the sippy cup it's a good thing that you let you play with the sippy cup. I would wait until 6 months to give her any juice in it but you can offer her a small amount of water in the sippy cup if you wish. Again consult your doctor for the best answer.
Good luck
2006-12-01 05:13:34 · answer #2 · answered by Lisa 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds to me like she's ready to try some rice cereal :) Can she sit assisted? As in, is her head control good enough that you can prop up her sides and her head stays straight? I'm guessing it is by now so that together with not having the tongue thrust and her increased milk make me think she's ready. Remember, though, that she'll get most of her calories from your breastmilk until about a year - even when you add solid foods in they're not generally enough to "replace" the milk. Anyway, I think you should try it out! Don't be upset if she doesn't like it at first, keep trying. It takes some babies a while to get the hang of taking food from a spoon :)
Best of luck! Oh, I was also going to say that you could check with your pediatrician - they always have great advice about most kid related things, especially introducing solids!
2006-12-01 05:12:01 · answer #3 · answered by Connor and Logan's Mommy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
most doctors recommend starting solids around 6 months, so your baby is at the perfect age. you can start out with rice cereal, bananas, sweet potatoes, or avacados. just choose one first food, and make sure it is finely mashed and very much thinned out with breast milk. then you can slowly decrease the amount of milk, until your baby can tolerate thick foods. it won't take long at all. and only introduce one new food a week to watch out for food allergies. Check out the book Super Baby Food for some great guidelines and suggestions. As far as the sippy cup, if she wants it, go for it! I would stick to milk only, avoid juice for now. plus, if you get her drinking milk out of the sippy cup this early, taking away the bottle later will be much easier.
2006-12-01 05:08:08 · answer #4 · answered by Rebecca O 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Sure introduce solids....As long as you have her in a high chair when you feed her, you don't have to worry about assisting her to sit, I'm assuming she can hold her head up herself now, so I think she's good to go. You have good instincts...follow them. I introduced solids at a bit over 5 months, and the sippy cup at six months. Took him a few tries with the cup, but he's doing great with it now (almost 10 months).
2006-12-01 05:14:10 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes I would start solids, just some rice cereal with breast milk 2 times a day
2006-12-01 05:09:27 · answer #6 · answered by rye252000 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At 6 months it became counseled that nutrients must be much like a common eating regimen. Cereal and fruit with milk/formulation for breakfast and meat and vegie for lunch and dinner. approximately 2-4 ounces.of each and every good given at each and each meal. sixteen-24 ounces.of milk/formulation each and daily.
2016-12-14 10:26:32 · answer #7 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IF SHE IS EATING THAT MUCH A DAY YOU SHOULD HAVE INTRODUCE SOLIDS A WHILE AGO. SHE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SIT UP ON HER OWN TO EAT, JUST PROP HER UP OR SIT HER IN A SWING OR WALKER. AS FOR THE TONGUE THRUST, HOW IS SHE GOING TO LEARN UNTIL YOU FEED HER? IT ONLY TAKES A FEW FEEDINGS FOR BABIES TO CATCH ON, BELIEVE ME, SHE WILL LEARN. GOOD LUCK
2006-12-01 05:07:14 · answer #8 · answered by purpledragonflyjrh 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋