Is it safe to start solids at 3 months?

Question

I was worried to begin giving gerber to my 3 month old daughter, but my husbad wants to give it to her because his monther says it's okay. If i say no, he thinks i'm staving her. Do babies really stave because they don't eat gerber foods at 3 months.She likes it but i'm still not sure if its ok.

Answer 1

Breastmilk is all your baby needs until at least four months of age. Most babies will do fine with exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age or longer.

Why start solid foods?

Because there comes a time when breastmilk no longer supplies all your baby’s nutritional needs. (This does not mean, as some uninformed people say, that there is no nutritional value in breastmilk after the baby is six months old.) A full term baby will start requiring iron from other sources by 6 to 9 months of age. The calories supplied by breastmilk may become inadequate by 8 to 9 months of age, although some babies can continue to grow well on breastmilk alone well past a year.

Because some babies not started on solids by a certain age (9-12 months) may have great difficulty accepting solid foods.

Because it is a developmental milestone that your child passes when he starts solid foods. He is growing up. Usually, he will want to eat solids. Why stop him?

When to start solid foods.

The best time to start solids is when the baby is showing interest in starting. Some babies will become very interested in the food in their parents’ plates as early as 4 months of age. By 5 or 6 months of age, most babies will be reaching and trying to grab food that parents have on their plates. When the baby is starting to reach for food, this seems a reasonable time to start giving him some. There really is no reason to start on a specific date (4 months, or 6 months). Go by the baby’s cues.

In some cases, it may be better to start food earlier. When a baby seems to be hungry, or when weight gain is not continuing at the desired rate, it may be reasonable to start solids as early as 3 months of age. However, it may be possible, with help, to continue breastfeeding alone and have the baby less hungry and/or growing more rapidly. But if the techniques used in the clinic do not deal with the problem, adding solids can help. There is no advantage to giving artificial baby milk (formula) and there may be some disadvantages. The baby who is not satisfied completely at the breast may start to take more and more from the bottle, and end up refusing to take the breast.

The breastfed baby digests solid foods better and earlier than the artificially fed baby because breastmilk contains enzymes which help digest fats, proteins and starch. As well, breastfed babies have had a wide variety of tastes in their lives, since the flavours of many foods the mother eats will pass into her milk. Breastfed babies thus accept solids more readily than artificially fed babies. Breastmilk is amazing stuff, eh?

How should solids be introduced?

When the baby is starting to take solids at about 5 or 6 months of age, there is little difference what he starts with or in what order foods are introduced. It is prudent to avoid highly spiced or highly allergenic foods at first (e.g. egg white, strawberries), but if the baby reaches for the potato on your plate, make sure it is not too hot, and let him have the potato. There is no need to go in any specific order, and there is no need for the baby to eat only one food for a certain period of time. Some exclusively breastfed babies dislike infant cereal when it is introduced at 5 or 6 months of age. There is no need for concern and no need to persist if the baby doesn’t want the cereal. There is nothing magic or necessary about infant cereal. Offer your baby the foods that he is interested in. Allow the baby to enjoy food and do not worry exactly how much he actually takes at first. Much of it may end up in his hair and on the floor anyhow. There is no need either that foods be pureed if the baby is 5 or 6 months of age or older. Simple mashing with a fork is all that is necessary at first. You also do not have to be exceedingly careful about how much the baby takes. Why limit the baby to one teaspoon if he wants more? You do not need to waste your money on commercial baby foods.

Be relaxed, feed the baby at your mealtimes, and as he becomes a more accomplished eater of solid foods, offer a greater variety of foods at any one time.

The easiest way to get extra iron for your baby 5 or 6 months of age is by giving him meat. Infant cereal has iron, but it is poorly absorbed and may cause the baby to be constipated.

There is no reason to introduce vegetables before fruit. Breastmilk is far sweeter than fruit, so there is no reason to believe that the baby will take vegetables better by delaying the introduction of fruit.

Respect your baby’s likes and dislikes. There is no essential food (except breastmilk). If your baby does not like a certain food, do not push it on him. If you think it important for him, wait a few weeks and offer it again.

At about 8 months of age, babies become somewhat assertive in displaying their individuality. Your baby may not want you to put a spoon into his mouth. He very likely will take it out of your hand and put it into his mouth himself, often upside down, so that the food falls on his lap. Respect his attempts at self sufficiency and encourage his learning.

What if I am starting solids at 3 months?

At this age, it may be prudent to go a little more slowly. Start with infant cereal or easily mashed foods such as banana. Sometimes a baby will eat better from your finger than off a spoon. Go a little more slowly with quantities as well. But as the baby tolerates solids, both quantity and variety of foods can be increased as the baby desires. Incidentally, why are you starting solids at 3 months?

Solids or breast first?

There seems to be considerable worry when a child is starting solids about whether to give the breast first or give solid food first. If breastfeeding and the introduction of solid foods both are going well, it probably does not matter much. Indeed, there is no reason that a baby needs both breast and solids every time he eats

Answer 2

I am a mother of two but I also am assistant director in a day care facility. Both of mine had solid food form 8 weeks on. I started with rice in the formula. Then moved to more rice less formula in a feeder bottle. Then by the time they were 10 weeks old at 7:30 every night they ate rice and then a fruit and drank a little milk. And neither one of my babies are chunky babies. They are both well in the average on growth chart and well above the developmental capabilities of other children there age. The only thing that I would suggest is to start the baby out on something simple as applesauce. And to stay with fruit until you see how there little tummies will react to it. Always as with anything new you try a baby on stay with it for at least 3 days. Do not introduce anything new until you know how they are going to react to the first thing. But if your child is drinking up 32 oz a day and still acts hungry it is time for something new. And trust me if you feed the baby the heavier stuff at night and just milk during the day 9 times out of 10 they sleep for longer stretch. Good Luck.

Answer 3

I have 4 children and all four of them were eating Gerber cereal (mixed with formula) and stage 1 fruits before 3 months old.
You are not starving your baby if you choose not to give her food, babies are fine on formula till about 4-6 months old. I just found that it kept them satisfied longer. I gave them some in the mid morning and some in the early evening, about an hour or so before bedtime. They used to go at least 6, sometimes 8 hours between feedings (which meant sleep for mommy--yay!).

Answer 4

You are not starving your baby...

It is actually recommended that parents wait till children are at least 4-5 months before they are fed solid foods...this is to prevent food allergies in children...

Little babies need milk as their primary food source...

http://www.americanbaby.com/ab/story.jhtml;jsessionid=MWNK3D4OEPDDTQFIBQNSCAQ?storyid=/templatedata/ab/story/data/1581.xml&catref=AB27

These are general feeding recommendations meant to assist parents in planning healthy meals.


Birth to 4 months:
5-10 feedings of breast milk or 16-32 oz. of infant formula


4 to 6 months:
4-7 feedings of breast milk or 26-40 oz. of infant formula

Infant cereal (rice, oatmeal, or barley) and infant juice can be introduced.


6 to 8 months:
3-4 feedings of breast milk or 24-32 oz. of infant formula

Strained mashed food, including cooked vegetables (avoid corn and peas), such as carrots and green beans, and fresh or cooked fruit

Infant juices in a cup



http://www.channel4000.com/food/10812719/detail.html

Starting your baby on solid foods might seem complicated, but it doesn't have to be difficult. Most infants are ready for solids between four and six months. Good ways to assess if your baby is ready include:

Baby can sit with little support.

Baby has an appetite that isn't satisfied with breast milk or formula alone.

Baby shows an interest in your food.

Baby can move food from the front of the mouth to the back.

Introduce one new food at the start of the meal. Cereals are a common first food. Make sure you allow enough time for the meal since it likely will be slower than normal. Use a small spoon with a long handle and offer your baby teaspoon portions at first.

For questions regarding feeding your baby solid foods, consult a registered dietitian.

Answer 5

you do what you are comfortable with and if you are that worried than you might want to talk to her doctor. I have a 5 month old and he has been on solids since he was 3 months but all babies are different the only reason I started solids that early was because his doctor told me too and milk was not enough for him he was a big baby and still is and now he eats a jar of fruit or veggies a day at dinner time he eats a 1/2 jar and 5oz milk. some people think you should wait until six months but it is up to you good luck

Answer 6

all the health profesionalls will tell you to wait untill six months! i have had four babies and i have always started around 4 - 4.5 months. however I do knw quite a few mums who have started as early as three months. None of their babies have suffered any ill affects. but I would say that if you start too early there is more chance of your baby being overweight.If you are formula feeding and your baby seems unsatisfied then you can increase the amounts or try hungrier baby milk. If you are breastfeeding then your baby will soon let you know when she is ready by feeding far more often, but still not appearing satisfied. I would advise against jar food when you do get started though. Its not unusual to find that they get very used to the texture and taste of jar fod and then when you want them to eat your food blended up they won't touch it! begin with simple flavours well blended into a puree and gradually introduce new tastes. After six months your baby can eat virtually everything you do (avoid salt!) Even before six months all my babies ate roast dinners, spaghetti bolognaise, caulliflour cheese ect. tell your partner that it is a little too early and you want to wait another three or four weeks. good luck and I hope this helps.

Answer 7

Some people say if you give your baby solids before 4-6 months they are more likely to have allergies to foods. I started my son on rice cereal at 4 months and he really didn't like it. He is 9 1/2 months now and loves food! And no baby food - real fruits, veggies, and his favorite right now is pasta. And, he has had no allergies...So do what you think is best, but if you can wait one more month - it doesn't hurt.

Answer 8

Hi i started my 3 month old son on solids last week as i felt he was ready, there will be a lot of people telling you to wait but its you and your husband who knows your baby's needs the best. My son was having 8 oz of hungrier baby formula every 2 hours and was still hungry in between feeds. I decided to try him with just a few spoonfuls of pureed fruit and he absolutely loved it so all i can suggest is that if you feel ready just try her and see how she gets on. After all if you do and she doesn't take to well you can just stop and try at a later date.

Answer 9

No they wont starve! As long as you are feeding them breastmilk or formula they are fine! Most babies will start solids at 6 mos but there are some that start earlier. If shes not pushing the food out with her tongue, then shes ready for the baby food. If she is, you should probably wait a few weeks and try it again.

Answer 10

What does your doctor say? It is your decision as a mother and you should talk with your doctor about what is right for your child. dont let other people talk you into doing something that you may not be comfortable with. babies stomaches are not fully developed at three months, feeding solids this early would do more harm than good. my sister started her daughter at seven months, this was what they (including dr.) thought would be best due to her high level of growth and mobility. we have started our children after 10 months and have had no problems with allergies, etc. our doctor said it best "there is nothing like a mothers instinct". if your having doubts then stop. there is no need to rush a child.

Answer 11

If you want to start with solids this young the best is to start with rice cereal. Her little tummy may not be able to handle veggies or fruits just yet,also they say starting solids to young may lead to food allergies later on.
Our 6.5 month old is now on solids and I have found that the sodium levels are really high in Gerber products. Heinz products have less sodium but the same nutritional value.
Your baby will not starve if you wait on solids (its actually best to do so ) however you may need to breast feed or bottle feed more often for their little appetites do grow