Rushing baby or what?

Question

A friend of mine has a little boy and it seems to me like she is rushing him into things. He is only 6 months and she has been feeding him cereal since 3 1/2 months, veggies since 4 1/2 months and now at 6 months, though he can't hold his own bottle, she is trying to make him hold a sippy cup. The baby crys a lot, and I think its cause she is pushing to much into his tiny stomach. What do yous think?

Answer 1

seems too soon for all those foods to me. 3 mos, he should still be drinking formula. if she introduces him to too many things at once he can have an allergic reaction and not know which food caused it. doesnt sound like she knows what she is doing. 6mos is still young, she shouldnt be forceing him to do anything.

Answer 2

Nutritionally, a baby only requires formula and/or breast milk until around 6 months old. The more solids a baby eats the less breast milk or formula he will consume thus depriving him of the nutrients his body needs. Babies are not able to show signs of being full when being fed solids like they are when drinking from a bottle. With a bottle or breast feeding, he can simply stop sucking. With spoon feeding, the food is continually being put in his mouth and he does not have the skills to close his mouth and turn his head away or push the spoon with his hand. So it is quite possible to overfeed a baby before those skills are developed. Early introduction of solids has been linked to an increase in food allergies and obesity. It is a common misconception that has no scientific proof that feeding cereal at night will help a baby sleep longer. While some parents will swear it does, babies begin to sleep longer at night with or without the cereal. Babies do cry often as this is their main form of communication. However, by 6 months, most babies begin to notice the world around them, can be easily entertained with a simple toy or a friendly face, and begin to show non-verbal signs for some of their needs. His crying should be decreasing by now. Many 6 month olds are barely able to sit well on their own which is a prerequisite skill for holding their own sippy cup. While he may be able to drink from it now, it should not replace his bottle feedings or breast feedings for a few more months. If you are able to discuss this with your friend in a way that does not come across as accusatory or seems to imply she is being a bad mom, then I would do so. She may take whatever you say the wrong way. Some parents do feel a need for their child to be the first and the best at things and it can cloud their judgement.

Answer 3

Oh dear god, I might have a brain aneurysm!

The American Academy of Pediatrics has guidelines for feeding infants. For the first SIX months an infant should have ONLY breast milk or formula. She is out of her mind! Not only is this infant not ready for the food she has forced on him, he is in no way ready for a sippy cup.There isn't a sippy cup that's made for a 6 month old, and there never will be. Most kids start sippy cups after 12 months, not a 6 months.

There is guide at Gerber that is very informative. Here is the link and perhaps you could print it and show it to her.
http://www.gerber.com/phase/feeding?phase=7

There are loads of books and website that have information on what food to give baby and WHEN to feed baby certain foods. You might ask your mother, grandma, or aunt to talk to this person, she doesn't sound very bright and needs another mom to talk to her asap.

That infant is not ready to digest the kind of food she is feeding him. No wonder he cries! The poor thing is miserable because he's unable to digest what she's forcing down his throat.

Someone needs to educate her before she feeds him a cheeseburger Happy Meal with a coke.

Answer 4

I agree that at 3 1/2 months that is way too young to be starting any kind of solids. You will have people that disagree with me, but it is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics that infants be fed only breast milk or formula until the age of 6 months, because their distestive systems are not developed. Feeding solids too early has been linked to life long digestive problems.

It sounds as though she is pushing him a little, but I have seen 6 month olds hold, sippy cups. However if they aren't ready to they shouldn't be pushed.

Answer 5

YES!!!! I am the mother of five children, so I know what I'm talking about. Any pediatrician knows that that is just wrong! You really should try talking some sense into her, or besides stomach upset the baby will end up with emotional problems. The first 2 years of a persons life is his base, the main thing he needs is to feel loved, secure, and accepted. It's ok to use your motherly instinct sometimes and not just go by the books, but this is ridiculous!! Please make sure the mother is also not suffering post partum depression. If its her first baby she could be feeling very overwhelmed. Do something quick for your friend and especially the baby.
Good luck, and I hope things work out for them both.

Answer 6

I agree, I think she is rushing her son. My daughter is 5 month and she just started veggies(for 1 have the doctors consent) My daughter is just starting to hold her own bottle and once she masters that than I am going to try her with a sippy cup.

Answer 7

well most babies start infant cereal at 4 months ( so 3.5 isn't that early)

But yes, 6 months is too early for a sippy cup. You know she'll probably get angry with you if you try to tell her that (although we all know you have good intentions). She probably has good intentions too, but new first time moms can be a little umm... well you know what I mean LOL. Maybe you could try to find an article about how sippy cups at that age are chocking hazards, and show it to her.

Answer 8

My children started eating cereal at about 4 months, fruits at 5 months and veggies shortly there after. My son took to a sippy cup at about 7 months.

I'm sure he is ok but, if you are worried then I think that you can gently offer your opinion.

Answer 9

I fed my son cereal at two months and generally started veggies around 4-5 months. I see no problem with this. He will get the hang of the sippy cup eventually and ALL babys cry alot. Sounds like his mother is very protective and loving and wants the best for her child.

Answer 10

I started feeding all my babies cereal within the first month(they were hungry babies) but she needs to be taking cues from him. If he can't hold his own bottle yet then she is definately trying to push the cup too early....although you can't blame it solely on the mom cause doctors(as well as the elderly) like to push with the whole bottle break, potty training thing.

Maybe you could just suggest to her that she wait a little longer then try again(it is possible for a 7 month old to drink from a sippy...I know cause my oldest daughter broke herself of the bottle then)

Answer 11

Personally I think starting solids that young borders on abuse, but I am sure she found some quack doctor who says it's ok.

Unless you want to loose a friend there isn't much you can do. But don't follow her example when/if you have kids of your own.

Although my babe started drinking from a sippy cup at 6 months, but that was on his own. We largely did that because he kept trying to drink out of our bottles of water. Also at 9 months he drinks out of a real cup. Though he also spills most of it ;-)