Mother in law fed 4 month old baby prunes!?!?

Question

Hi, my baby girl is constipated on and off. She is almost 4 months. She is breast fed except for 2 oz of juice (apple/prune) per day to help keep her regular. My mother in law decided to give her some pureed prunes to help, since she hasn't gone all weekend. She ended up feeding her a whole jar! She said the baby was eating them down, not spitting them out, and that she was screaming for more. And she finished her bottle after all that. OMG this baby has never even had rice cereal before. I left a message for the ped, but I am having an anxiety attack right now. Is this going to hurt her?????

Answer 1

It won't hurt her. Most doctors recommend 4-6 months for starting solids, and yes, they do say start with cereal, but remember, you've been giving her juice already, which has prunes in it. It's something she's had before. Did the doctor tell you to give her juice? Mine recommended touch of sugar in a bottle of water for constipation. I'd have a long talk with my mother-in-law about not jumping in to do NEW things without discussing it with me first. If you're uncomfortable talking it over with her, tell your husband, and have him discuss it with her, instead. My mom tries to do stuff like this with my son all the time - they sometimes forget they're not the parents, I think. They need to be told that things are not the same as when their babies were little; we know a lot more about diet, allergens, illnesses, etc., than we did 20, 30 years ago, and this new crop of mommies are very well informed about stuff, while grandmothers are not.
Don't freak out about the prunes. She liked them, that's a great sign.
Good luck!

Answer 2

I kind of had the same problem with my mother in law. My baby was about 3 almost 4 months old and she thought i should be giving my baby juice and cereal. I wanted to go by what the doctors were telling me and not what she was telling me. The doctor said not to give cereal or juice until at least 6 months and thats what i intended on doing. I felt that my baby was satisfied with her formula and did not need the cereal when she was that young. I finally told my mother in law that i value her advice and i know she means well but this is my baby and if i feel so strongly about something then it is my choice to wait before giving the baby cereal.

Answer 3

No. many parents opt to start a baby on non-allergenic fruits and vegetables instead of grains. Prunes are one of those non-allergenic fruits. It soundsl ike your baby is ready to try solids.
Prunes would certainly be preferable by spoon than as juice- there is little need for juice in a child's diet if that child is getting fruits.

Answer 4

I think she'll be alright. My friends always started foods early with their kids and they are okay. I would certainly talk to your doc if she is having problems with constipation.

Don't you just hate that when the 'in-laws' feed your babies things you don't approve of. It always drove me crazy.

Answer 5

She will be FINE. It will solve her blockage problem though, thats for sure. I cannot think of a better first solid food than fruit. Apparently she enjoyed them.

Answer 6

No. Now Take a deep breath. She'll be fine. Try not to worry so much. Just tell your MIL not to do that again.

Answer 7

Please don't panic. When your mother-in-law was your age, it was still common practice to give infants solid foods earlier than what is currently recommended. Your baby will do fine.

Answer 8

Got to love Mother in Laws....sigh...

Answer 9

Honestly, she's probably just going to crap.......a lot. I wouldn't suggest doing this anymore but she won't die, promise!

Answer 10

She'll be fine!