Need some help on starting solids w/ 5 month old?

Question

I want to start cereal feedings w/ my 5 month old daughter. Is it better to feed in the mornings or at night and when giving cereal do you give a bottle too? Please help! Maybe if some of you could tell me your schedule w/ the baby. That would help so much. Thank you so much for helping!

Answer 1

Yes, always feed a bottle before feeding solids b/c at this age, milk is still the #1 source of nutrients...cereal, fruits and veggies are just to supplement. Also, many of the books that I read (after I started feeding solids) say to start in the morning b/c that is when the baby is more receptive. Well, I started at the evening feeding, and my son was more than ready to start solids!

Here's my somewhat schedule (when he was 5 months):
6:00a - nurse
9:00a - bottle and cereal
12:00p - bottle and cereal
3:00p - bottle
6:30p - nurse and cereal
1:00a - nurse (as of last week, my son has dropped this feeding...yippee!!)

Answer 2

Well it's really up to you, but I would recommend starting in the mornings. Because especially when you are giving them new things, you want them to allow it to go into their systems during the day. Becuase if you do it at night, then they might not like it or get an upset stomach, or whatever. And I know you're not supposed to do this, But I put a lil' bit in her bottle, and then I was feeding it to her.. How my schedule went was I would feed her a lil rice cereal for breakfast and her formula, but you gotta b careful with rice because it easily constipates, so I would mix it up with apple juice or water. Then for lunch I started her off on a stage 1 baby food. I believe they tell you to start off with the green baby food, peas or green beans. It's 50/50 if they're gonna eat it because they're not used to the texture or the taste, so just let her sample it and let her decide if she wants it.. maybe a bite or two. And then see if she gets an allergic reaction or not. This is important so don't introduce a lot of new foods at once. And then at night you could still give her a bottle, but sprinkle some cereal in it... But really you just make your own schedule up around your baby's feeding. But it's better to introduce new foods in the day and just a bottle at night. good luck....

Answer 3

It's a good idea to start in the morning because A: then if there happens to be an allergic reaction it wont be during the night, and B: because baby's are generally happier in the morning after having a good nights rest and they are more willing to try different things.
Yes you do give a bottle, in the beginning you start with only a couple of tablespoons of cereal and then go on with your regular daily schedule of feeding. Although don't expect her to eat all of it, most of it will be all over her face and bib until she figures out how to eat off a spoon.

Keep giving it to her in the morning for a couple of weeks and after she learns how to eat it slowly increase the amount. After she is used to it you can move her cereal feeding to night time if you like, or lunchtime, whichever you want. "They" do say that your baby should be eating about 1/2 cup of cereal broken up into two feedings a day before you should move on to feeding her anything else.
Hope I helped, good lucj and remember to have fun and relax, she'll be more apt to accept it if you don't force it on her and have fun!

Answer 4

Has your baby's doctor given the OK to start cereal? I gave my son rice cereal at 6 months in the morning with some of his formula, and he still had a bottle, but just not as much. After about a week on just the cereal I gave him peaches, and a few days after introducing the peaches I started to mix it with his cereal. I also gave a couple of tablespoons of cereal at bedtime so he would sleep longer.

Answer 5

I've made all my daughter's baby food and it's really easy. I bought rice cereal, but made everything else. At first, offer a small amount (1/2-1 teaspoon) of solids once a day after a breastfeed. After a week or so, start fruit and vegetables one at a time. Wait at least 4 days before the next introduction, looking out for any reactions. Pureed pear, apple, pumpkin, zucchini, sweet potato, potato, carrot, banana, avocado and broccoli are good to start with. Once you have introduced a food, you can combine it with others (eg pumpkin and broccoli or sweet potato and zucchini). I've always made up batches and frozen it in icecube trays so I always have food ready for her. Always supervise your baby closely while feeding to avoid choking - my daughter's never had a problem with it. Good luck and congratulations on choosing to make your own baby food. My daughter loves her food and won't eat commercial baby food. She spits it out because it doesn't taste like real food!

Answer 6

When starting to offer solid foods the best time to start is when baby is not very hungry so she will be open to trying new things. Be patient though offer a couple bites if she won't take it give her a little bit of a bottle and then try again.

Oh and feeding baby solids at night does not help them sleep any longer.

Answer 7

Hi Hope this helps my daughter is 5 months old:

I give her:

7:00am- 7 oz bottle of formula

8:00am- 3 tablesoons of (rice or corn pablum) mixed with her formula

8:30am- I try to give her some formula but if she doesn't want it I don't stress as I mix her pablum with formula so she gets some there

9:00am- nap

11:00am- 7-8oz bottle of formula

12:30-1:00pm- 1/2 jar beginner vegtable 1/2 jar beginner fruit

1:30pm- 5-6oz bottle of formula

2:00pm- nap

4:00pm- 7-8oz bottle

5:00pm- 1/2 jar beginner vegetable 1/2 jar beginner fruit

5:30pm- 4oz bottle of formula

7:00pm- 5-6oz bottle of formula

9:00pm- 5-6 oz bottle of formula

9:15-9:30pm- bed and she sleeps through the night till 7:00am the next morning

* I was told by my doctor a child of this age only needs 24 ounces of formula a day so don't stress!!*

BEST OF LUCK AND ALL THE VERY BEST!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 8

5 months old. By that age I was feeding them both morning and at night. I suppose its up to you. If it sleeps the entire night through without waking, Feed him in the morning. If he doesnt, feed him at night.

Answer 9

Hey there, I have a boy who is 6 mo old and eating solids already heres what you can do: