I understand that you breastfeed/formula feed in the beginning - but how often and when can you start them on baby food and when can they have water?
2007-02-11 23:42:08 · 8 answers · asked by cfisher4234 3 in Pregnancy & Parenting ➔ Newborn & Baby
You shouldn't start solids until atleast 6 months old if the baby is breastfeed and 4 months for formula feed. Babies don't need water until after their first birthday. Before 1, water will fill the baby up and they won't be hungry for breastmilk.
2007-02-11 23:53:32 · answer #1 · answered by Holly C 3 · 1⤊ 2⤋
Nothing but breastmilk or formula for the first 6 mos, per the AAP.
Baby's tummy doesn't have the enzymes present to digest anything else until around the middle of the first year.
Starting solids too soon can lead to an increased risk of allegies, diabetes and obesity.
No water is necessary. Breastmilk or formula provides all the liquids that baby needs, even in a hot climate. Just nurse on cue and baby will be fine.
Actually, giving water in the first few mos can be very BAD for baby and lead to a serious condition called water intoxication.
Giving too much water too early can also lead to milk supply problems and weight gain problems since you are filling baby's tummy up but not giving him any calories to grow on.
2007-02-12 09:12:18 · answer #2 · answered by momma2mingbu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Water is a bad idea as long as they are on breast milk or formula. Babies can actually get sick from too much of it, and they are getting plenty from the milk anyway.
Most pediatricians will recommend starting rice cereal around 5-6 months. At 7-9, you can start baby foods. The baby food manufacturers usually have a numbering system - stage 1 foods are appropriate for a baby just learning to eat, stage 2 is slightly chunkier, and so on.
If you're interested, there are several good books about making and freezing your own baby food. It can be done well in advance, particularly if you have one of those food sealers.
2007-02-12 07:49:50 · answer #3 · answered by Amanda M 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
If newborns are average wieght.... every 4 hours. Encourage a little water daily after a couple of weeks, the sooner they get use to water the better. If you think baby is content feed milk only for about 4 months then offer a small sloppy teaspoon of baby cereal to begin with, slowly increase. Play it by ear all babies are different....main thing is that they are content.
2007-02-12 07:55:27 · answer #4 · answered by holly 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
You can start you baby on food at 4 months. You can start with cereal and go from there. My doc told me not to give my infant water as they need the formula for nutrients.
2007-02-12 08:07:33 · answer #5 · answered by cinnycinda 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Solids can be started at 6 months and same as water. But it doesn't NEED to be started then. My youngest never started solids until 7 1/2 months and at that point we started him on soft chunks of cooked food (sweet potato, peaches, pears, avacado, etc)
2007-02-12 12:46:25 · answer #6 · answered by Angela G 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
When I was in hospital with my last child ,a nurse told me i was feeding my son to often. I think you should feed your baby when you think he might be hungry, especially if hes unsettled and a feed settles him. As for solids they recommend you wait until 6 months before introducing solids but with both my children i started at 4 months on baby food, the custards, as for the water, it wont hurt your baby especially if its hot
2007-02-12 07:55:11 · answer #7 · answered by mel_leno 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
http://www.babycenter.com/refcap/baby/babyfeeding/1400680.html
2007-02-12 08:10:27 · answer #8 · answered by pinkcloud2015 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋