Strange advice from Ped??

[meiram]

At my dd's 6 month well visit, I asked her ped about starting solids (she had already had a little cereal at that point).  Anyway, he said to view her nutritional needs as a big pile of calories and that it didn't matter where she got the calories from as long as she got enough.  I am not exactly following his advice in this area.  Her main food is still breastmilk, with some solids once in awhile.  Just thought his advice was a little off, maybe he isn't the best fit for us after all.  Has anyone else been given such advice?  

[energy_train]

My daughter didn't start solids until about 8 months and even then it was still mainly breastmilk.  She nursed several times up until 12 months when I cut her back to only morning and night. She did eat other foods more and more by about 10 months.  My friends and I have discussed this and many of us see different peds and every one is different. Some say it's OK to start solids at 6 months others recommend waiting until they are ready and wanting it, etc.  I don't think there is a magic time for solids, it's when your child is ready.  Hope this helps!

[wannabenana]

I'd find another pediatrician!

[meiram]

Yes, I just thought it was strange that he thought she could meet most of her nutritional needs through solids or breastmilk, my choice.  I was expecting him to say that she should have mostly b/m and a little food now and then.  He didn't seem to care if she just ate food.  Perhaps I misunderstood him.  

[energy_train]

I guess I wasn't looking at it from the standpoint of not taking in enough milk, I was looking at it as he didn't care if you started feeding her the solids.  Maybe it was just miscommunication between both of you but if you aren't comfortable, DEFINATELY switch peds.  Good luck.

[Tanker Chic]

Similar thing happened to me. I took my son the pedi to have his ears checked because he wasn't eating well.  I didn't get to see my regular pedi because it was a late appt, so I saw one of her associates.  He said Jacobs ears were fine and then we began a conversation about Jacobs eating habits. I told him Jacob has never been a big eater and goes in and out of the phases where he eats even less.  He asked if Jacob had started solids (at the time jacob was just over months) and if so how, did he like them.  I told him I feed Jacob some cereal and veggies once a day and that he loves them.  He will eat as much of it as I give him.  He has never turned away from it.  I finally stop because the portion I prepared for him is gone, and I don't want to over feed him.  The dr said, if that is what he likes, give it to him.  He said to increase it to twice a day and give him as much as he wants.  I asked about jacob getting enough fluids and he said as long as he was drinking formula the rest of the time, he was good and that baby food has a very high fluid content.  I still haven't increased it to twice a day. I'm waiting until he is 6 months (Aug 11).  I also still make a set amount of solids (a little larger than before) and if he is still hungry after that, I give him formula, not more solids.  Although he often turns away from the formula, but would keep eating the cereal if I kept shoveling it in.  But his advice did give me some relief.. i'm not so stressed about it anymore.  

[babyscience]

My ped said as long as he gets at least 20 oz of formula or breastmilk a day try not to worry about it.  My ds is almost 8 months and some days he will have almost 30 oz whereas others just over 20 oz.  I feed him 3x a day, first 2 feeding are about 2oz of veggie or fruit, then dinner is 4 oz.  He is a big eater, but I can tell sometimes he just doesnt want the formula.
I dont think that this is something to switch peds over.  It could be just a misunderstanding or even if he did feel it wasnt a problem, just dont listen to his advice.  If he is an overall good Dr than I would stay with him.

[deanne11]

I was kind of given the same advice at my son's 9 months check up.

My ped told me Jake looked great, he's growing great.  His iron levels were awesome....don't change a thing.

This after I expressed concern that he wasn't taking in as much formula as he used to.
(He's currently only drinking 18-24 oz a day)

She said, don't worry about it.  He's 10 months old on Monday and well I do worry about it.  I make sure to mix his dry cereal (with DHA) in with formula.

I actually didn't listen.  I cut back on even more solids (which was little to begin with anyway) and his formula in take improved the past few days...

[deanne11]

But 6 mos and 9 mos.....are totally different....and so very far apart in a baby's world

I would tend to agree with what my ped. said for a 9 mos old before I'd believe that for a 6 mos old.

[meiram]

Thanks, ladies, for your input.  I am just going to go with my gut and encourage b/m first even though dd wants it the other way around.  

[wannabenana]

Good choice!