Should I start my baby on solids?

Question

My son will be 15 weeks this Wednesday and currently weighs about 13 lbs). Currently, he wants to eat 5-6 oz every 3 hours (sometimes he'll sleep through the night - sometimes he'll only go 3-6 hours and then wake for a feeding and go back to sleep).

Our Peditrician had us start adding rice cereal to his bottle (we only put about a tsp in each bottle) a couple months ago because he was eating too much. My mom and grandmother think we should start feeding him (baby) solids, but I'm not sure if it's too early or not.

Just thought I'd see what kind of advice / suggestions others on here had.

Sits up with support - does this and has been trying to pull himself to a sitting position on his own.

hold head up - does this

opens mouth for spoon - haven't tried

watches you/your partner eating - does this

Doesn't thrust his tongue when food is in
his mouth causes the food to come out. - doesn't do this with his bottle, and haven't attempted spoon feeding of any kind yet.

Answer 1

I'm one of those people who are firm believers in waiting till 6mo for solids. Wanting to eat every 3 hours is completely normal. The sleeping pattern is normal too. Its a rumor that adding cereal will make him sleep longer, but if it works for you and your DR said its ok, go for it. He is on the low end of the growth chart, but I would continue to go with what your DR says. He is still young for solids so ask your doctor first before starting anything other than the cereal. I know it can be tough with moms and grandmoms giving advice. I know its hard to tell mine, no, but times have changed since they have had babies.

BEST OF LUCK TO YOU!

Here is a site for a growth chart so you can track your baby
http://www.mybirthcare.com/favorites/babygrowthchart.asp

Answer 2

I would stick with the doctor suggestion. At 12 months you need to start him on solid food and get him off formula and start cows milk. Formula is only formulated for adequate nutrition for the first 12 months. However you can start solid earlier to get him used to eating it, just keep giving him the same amount of formula the doctor recommends. Give him cereal but not in his bottle, feed it to him with a spoon and when he gets a little older you can add some baby food. Good luck.

Answer 3

I started oatmeal ceral (babies seem to like it better) at night about half an hour before the bed time feeding at 3.5 months and continued that until she had mastered the spoon. At 4.5 months I started Yams/Sweet potatoes and have since moved on to other vegetables. Making your own food is easy btw.
Your baby will let you know if he is ready these are some of the cues...
Sits up with support
hold head up
opens mouth for spoon
watches you/your partner eating
Doesn't thrust his tongue when food is in his mouth causes the food to come out.

Good luck

Answer 4

Six months. That's what we were advised to wait for was the six month milestone. My son was the same way as yours, a few nights (stress the 'few') he'd sleep through, but most nights it would be a five or six hour 'nap' and then he'd be hungry again. But this was not at fifteen weeks, this was at about eight or nine months of age, once he had already started solids. Feeding solids might help your little one, but it sure didn't mine. He's fifteen months old now and he's on a really good schedule. It'll come, you just have to have patience.

Answer 5

No. You may be asking for trouble. Their little tummies are not developed enough to digest solids at this age. Don't start till 4 months. I'm really surprised a pediatrician told you to give him cereal. Alot of older people will tell you to give him solids. It can cause gas and constipation and that's terrible because they will be screaming 24/7. My son always fed every 3 hours. Try to hold off for a couple of weeks.

Answer 6

At 3 months there is no hurry yet. Many professionals recommend that 4 months is a superb time to start up with porridge (cereal), yet a super sort of toddlers are in basic terms not fascinated at that age. bear in suggestions, too, that the child could have the skill to take a seat down up by skill of themselves in the previous you are able to start to grant them solids. What we did with the two one in each and every of ours replace into just to grant them a tiny little bowl and enable them to flavor the porridge. the 1st few circumstances have been in basic terms practice and maximum of it got here superb returned out of their mouths, yet after a pair of days, they have been previous execs! they're going to maximum certainly permit you comprehend whilst they're finished or in the event that they prefer extra, so in basic terms carry on with their cues and you'd be able to't pass incorrect!

Answer 7

I wouldn't start it yet... I think itstoo early to even be giving him cereal but thats up to you. Baby foods, started to early, is a feeding ground for allergies. He's getting all the nutrients he needs from his formula. If he wants more, give him more!