Is it time for solids?

Question

My baby is 9 weeks old and eats as much as 40 ounces a day. She is not overweight, in fact, she's right in the middle as far as averages go. I hear all different opinions about when to start solids but I feel that at this point(since she's eating soo much formula) it would be ok to start her on solids. I know to start with cereal and then move on to jars of food, testing them one at a time as to avoid allergies. I just want opinions. Do you think it's too soon to start solids?

Answer 1

I definitely think you should ask the doctor. But I started my son on rice cereal at about the same age because he had an insatiable appetite. (I didn't ask the doctor.) I made the cereal very very thin, just a little bit thicker than formula and he did just fine. It was messy but he got the hang of spoon feeding rather quickly and I started him on jarred baby food at 4 months because he was trying to grab food off my plate ( a sign they're ready for solids.) He got his two bottom front teeth at 5 months so I continued to slowly introduce new foods. He is now almost 7 months old and feeds himself crackers, drinks from a cup (with my help and a sippy by himself. Bottom line is sounds like your little one maybe developmentally ahead and may be ready for cereal. And remember just because the doctor recommends something or advises against something, doesn't mean they're 'right' and your 'wrong.' You should take into account what your doctor says but you know your child much more intimately than some one who sees them every couple of months!! I haven't really done anything by the book with my son and he is developmentally advanced for 7 months; he's been crawling since he was 51/2 months and is now pulling up and trying to walk. all babies are different!!! trust your instincts!!

Answer 2

I would wait. I am in the same boat, my brat is two months old today and she has an appetite. I've dipped her binky in a few things (potato soup broth, red sauce) to let her have a taste, but she isn't getting real food for at least two more months. It has been proven that feeding an infant too early can make them obese later in life. My MIL feed my boyfriend cereal when he was two weeks old and he is over 7 feet tall and 450+ lbs. Just about everyone I know who's mom fed them early on is a bigger person all around, lol. Plus, if baby isn't drooling a lot yet, she's definitely not ready. Drooling has nothing to do w/ teething, it's actually baby's body getting ready to digest foods. So after they've been drooling real bad for a couple of months is actually the best time to start introducing solids. Good luck!

Answer 3

It's way too early to be thinking about jarred food. It is up to you if you want to start putting a LITTLE cereal in her bottle. Don't put much at all. No more than a half ounce or a couple tablespoons. I know that the pediatricians say not to give them anything solid until they are 4 months old. But I do know that babies vary. I would go ahead and give her a little cereal, but only like one bottle w/ cereal a day. If you give it to her at night, she may even sleep through the night. But don't try to give her very much cereal in her bottles, and stick to rice cereal. Don't make her bottles thick. When she is ready for something thicker than a little cereal she is ready for spoon feeding.

Answer 4

Our pediatrician told us to introduce baby cereal and purees between 4 and 6 months - recommended 4 because our baby was large (He is in the 90th percentile for height and weight and is 5 months old now). He also started showing an interest in (ours - when we were eating) food just before 4 months.I am breastfeeding so this wasn't an option for me since my son wouldn't take a bottle, but some people I know start off by mixing just a little bit of cereal into their babies formula/bottle. You can criss-cross (? not exact terminology) cut the nipple so that the thicker formula/cereal mixture can be sucked out easily... That is the way I would go... Also, talk to your pediatrician.

Answer 5

The amount that she is eating a day is fine. She might not reallyl be as hungry as you think she is. Try offering another comfort when she cries for a bottle. Dont force her to finish off the bottle either. Let her develop her own ability to know when she is full.

9 weeks is way to early to start on solids. She could still develop an allergy by starting too early. You should wait until 5-6 months before introducing solids to her. Good luck.

Answer 6

She is really do young for solid foods but I use to put rice in the bottle with the formula it makes it thicker and feels them up more, my doctor told me to do it actually for spit up but it helps them get fuller too. So if you want to but some rice cereal in with the formula when you feed them. Only put 2 teaspoons in with a 6oz bottle of formula though. See if that helps. The baby should only eat every three to four hours!

Answer 7

I wouldnt start her on solids until she is 4mths first introduce baby cereal then you can introduce veggies and fruits. My ped. recommended at 4mths to start feeding her veggies and fruit but of course that was after a couple weeks of her eating baby cereal now I just add fruit to her cereal because I know she wouldnt touch it now without flavoring. My daughter also drinks about 32-36oz per day and is eating solids, and drinking juice now.

Answer 8

Yes. She is too young for her little digestive system to handle it yet. Wait till 12 weeks. Give her all the formula she wants in the meantime.

Answer 9

She is too young.

Regardless of her appetite, her digestive system is simply not developed enough to handle solids. It won't be until she's about five six months old.

In the meantime, feed her however many ounces she needs.

Answer 10

you aren't even supposed to introduce rice cereal until at least 4 months. i would talk to your doctor first. that's seems really young. babies develop their chewing and swallowing reflexes over time. giving it too early could cause choking.