Aa
need help figuring this out!
i posted thisd in the newborn forum but got no answers.
I am a first time mother, and I have been researching this, but cant come to a conclusion. I have no idea when to start giving Cole water or baby food, people food, or what kind or juice or cereal. im so confused. He is almost 4 months old. any lists or ideas from other mothers out there? thank you
I am a first time mother, and I have been researching this, but cant come to a conclusion. I have no idea when to start giving Cole water or baby food, people food, or what kind or juice or cereal. im so confused. He is almost 4 months old. any lists or ideas from other mothers out there? thank you
Pediatricians tell you to stay away from juice. This is little/no nutritional benefit and sets the child up for problems in the future. Fresh fruits and purees are better. If you choose to give juice, i think you can do a couple ounces a day, and when they are closer to 1.
A baby that young does not need water. When you make a bottle, think of how much of it is water and how much is powder. They get plenty of fluids through formula/breast milk.
The AAP recommends starting solids between 4 and 6 months. It is not to fill a child, but rather introduce him to different tastes and textures. Many babies are not ready until well after 6 months, and that is OK too. A child is ready when they can sit well unsupported and shows an interest in food. They also have to be developmentally ready, meaning having lost the reflex to push everything out of their mouths with their tongues. They do recommend waiting until 6 months with breastfed babies, as they can maximize the advantages/benefits they receiving from breastmilk.
They recommend you start with single grains, although I am starting to read different views on this. Many babies refuse it because it is so bland. As the others have said, you should introduce only 1 new food every few days. This way, if the child has a reaction, you will know what caused it. If a child is allergic to something, they often won't react during the first exposure, but rather after subsequent exposures. Try different textures if the baby is interested but refuses. My first had to have hers super runny. My second liked it thick and pasty. Neither of my girls were ever able to handle stage 3 foods. It's a puree with soft chunks in it, but that seems to throw them for a loop. My 1 year old (with only 2 bottom teeth) can eat everything, including steak, but still can't handle Stage 3 foods. Some people now recommend more nutritious foods like meats and veggies since rice cereal has no nutritional value. The APP does not have a stance on which specific foods to introduce first- just the guidelines of 1 at a time.
This is a recent publication by the AAP:
http://www.aap.org/publiced/br_solids.htm
It is brief and outlines their recommendations.
AAP's stance on juice- "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that fruit juice not be given to infants under six months of age. The nutritional value of fruit juice does not compare to the nutritional benifets of whole fruit"
A baby that young does not need water. When you make a bottle, think of how much of it is water and how much is powder. They get plenty of fluids through formula/breast milk.
The AAP recommends starting solids between 4 and 6 months. It is not to fill a child, but rather introduce him to different tastes and textures. Many babies are not ready until well after 6 months, and that is OK too. A child is ready when they can sit well unsupported and shows an interest in food. They also have to be developmentally ready, meaning having lost the reflex to push everything out of their mouths with their tongues. They do recommend waiting until 6 months with breastfed babies, as they can maximize the advantages/benefits they receiving from breastmilk.
They recommend you start with single grains, although I am starting to read different views on this. Many babies refuse it because it is so bland. As the others have said, you should introduce only 1 new food every few days. This way, if the child has a reaction, you will know what caused it. If a child is allergic to something, they often won't react during the first exposure, but rather after subsequent exposures. Try different textures if the baby is interested but refuses. My first had to have hers super runny. My second liked it thick and pasty. Neither of my girls were ever able to handle stage 3 foods. It's a puree with soft chunks in it, but that seems to throw them for a loop. My 1 year old (with only 2 bottom teeth) can eat everything, including steak, but still can't handle Stage 3 foods. Some people now recommend more nutritious foods like meats and veggies since rice cereal has no nutritional value. The APP does not have a stance on which specific foods to introduce first- just the guidelines of 1 at a time.
This is a recent publication by the AAP:
http://www.aap.org/publiced/br_solids.htm
It is brief and outlines their recommendations.
AAP's stance on juice- "The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that fruit juice not be given to infants under six months of age. The nutritional value of fruit juice does not compare to the nutritional benifets of whole fruit"
I started Elijah at solid foods at 4 months with rice cereal. I moved to fruits first at six months, at 8 months I started veggies, and at around 10 months I started giving him the little meat stick things, he didn't have teeth yet but they're really soft and he loved them, I'd watch him carefully and cut them up really small of course. I went from one stage to the next as he got older and at 12 months when he finally had a few teeth I gave him adult table foods, instead of baby foods. I got a chopper and cut up whatever we were eating and he was fine with it. There's a lot of different things you'll be told and read, but my ped said to watch him and I'd know when he was ready, like when I'd eat and he'd start to cry when he'd hear the fork hitting the plate, and he'd want what I had. I think even though they're still little they know what they need. Just like how some say when you crave something when you're pregnant it's your body's way of saying you need some nutrient from it...well I think babies know what they need and when they're ready for the next step. That's how I judged when to start Elijah on solid foods. I never put anything in his bottle, I started with a spoon from day one.
This is what I've done with all four of my kids.
Around 4 months, I start cereal. If they spit it out, I wait a few days or a week, then try again. I NEVER gave cereal in a bottle, because this defeats the purpose of starting solid foods!
Around 6 months, we start stage 1 jars. Start with something kinda yucky so they won't refuse to eat anything that's not sweet. =) I usually start with squash or carrots, then a fruit, peas, etc. Try one thing at a time. Then, slowly start adding in new things. I would often mix two foods they'd already tried, like apples and carrots together, because I thought they'd get bored with the same old thing all the time. Also, try to feed a variety of "colors" and a balance of fruit and veggies.
I never started meat with my kids until probably 9-10 months, when they get to stage 3 jars.
RARELY give water, until 9- 10 months, never out of a bottle but out of a sippy cup, and i almost NEVER give juice. My 13 month old has had juice maybe twice, and that was when all we had with us was a juice box for one of his older siblings. He LIKES it, he just doesn't NEED it. It works out well, because he loves his milk, and I know some kids who get juice frequently ONLY want juice, and won't drink milk. Not very healthy.
Around 4 months, I start cereal. If they spit it out, I wait a few days or a week, then try again. I NEVER gave cereal in a bottle, because this defeats the purpose of starting solid foods!
Around 6 months, we start stage 1 jars. Start with something kinda yucky so they won't refuse to eat anything that's not sweet. =) I usually start with squash or carrots, then a fruit, peas, etc. Try one thing at a time. Then, slowly start adding in new things. I would often mix two foods they'd already tried, like apples and carrots together, because I thought they'd get bored with the same old thing all the time. Also, try to feed a variety of "colors" and a balance of fruit and veggies.
I never started meat with my kids until probably 9-10 months, when they get to stage 3 jars.
RARELY give water, until 9- 10 months, never out of a bottle but out of a sippy cup, and i almost NEVER give juice. My 13 month old has had juice maybe twice, and that was when all we had with us was a juice box for one of his older siblings. He LIKES it, he just doesn't NEED it. It works out well, because he loves his milk, and I know some kids who get juice frequently ONLY want juice, and won't drink milk. Not very healthy.
Thanks ladies! this is all so confusing. trying to figure this out. i dont wanna do anything wrong. you know. Cole has his 4 month checkup coming up, so ill ask his ped. about it all, i just hate talking to her cause she barley speaks english and i find myself getting annoyed when i talk to her lol.
I'm going to speak from my OWN experience and what I have done with MY kids.
Starting about 6 months it's ok to give water.
Starting around 4 months or whenever Cole is able to sit well assisted..meaning in a high chair he doesn't flop over, you can start giving cereals. Rice is best to start becuase it has the lowest allergic reaction rate.
At about 5-6 months you can start with stage 1 baby foods. I introduce veggies first to get them used to the more bland tastes before adding the sweet fruits. Meats should wait until atleast 6 months.
Once you see that Cole is doing well with stage one you can try stage 2 and see how he does with the thicker consistency. It all depends on his capabilities...sometimes its just trial and error. You may try it one day and he has a hard time and gags on it....wait a week or so and try again.
Table foods like cheese and other soft gummable foods I would wait until he's doing good with STage 3 foods before introducing those.
Babies DO need Juice. But only 1 cup or bottle a day. Don't substitute for normal formula feedings though. Offer it with a snack or inbetween meals by itself. Water can be given any time between feedings (after 6 mos) but again don't substitute it for formula. Until he is a year old he still needs the nutrients he gets from his formula feedings. You can ask your pediatrician what the recommended number of ounces he should be eating in a day of formula is.
Starting about 6 months it's ok to give water.
Starting around 4 months or whenever Cole is able to sit well assisted..meaning in a high chair he doesn't flop over, you can start giving cereals. Rice is best to start becuase it has the lowest allergic reaction rate.
At about 5-6 months you can start with stage 1 baby foods. I introduce veggies first to get them used to the more bland tastes before adding the sweet fruits. Meats should wait until atleast 6 months.
Once you see that Cole is doing well with stage one you can try stage 2 and see how he does with the thicker consistency. It all depends on his capabilities...sometimes its just trial and error. You may try it one day and he has a hard time and gags on it....wait a week or so and try again.
Table foods like cheese and other soft gummable foods I would wait until he's doing good with STage 3 foods before introducing those.
Babies DO need Juice. But only 1 cup or bottle a day. Don't substitute for normal formula feedings though. Offer it with a snack or inbetween meals by itself. Water can be given any time between feedings (after 6 mos) but again don't substitute it for formula. Until he is a year old he still needs the nutrients he gets from his formula feedings. You can ask your pediatrician what the recommended number of ounces he should be eating in a day of formula is.
I agree with the other ladies, although I breastfed exclusively and was having trouble getting our daughter to sleep through the night so our pediatrcian had use give her a small amout of rice cereal starting at 4-5 months. Then between 6-7 months we introduced veggies (one at a time) and then slowly brought fruit into her diet. To this day she still prefers her veggies to fruit, so it must have worked. I am with Mum on not giving juice, my dd is almost 16 months old and all she drinks is water and milk! I think it is different for everyone, but I would consult your pediatrcian and then do what works best for your baby!
I agree, babies don't need food until 6 months, unless you have been advised otherwise by your child health nurse. I believe if you're breastfeeding, you don't need to offer water because the breast milk re-hydrates, but if bub is on formula you do need to offer water... pretty sure this is right, can anyone confirm this?? I wouldn't give juice at all, it's full of sugar, water is good enough. My girls are 7 and 4 and never drink the stuff, and they have perfect teeth!!
My pedi also suggested starting at 6 months, with cereal (my son liked oatmeal). She strongly recommended starting him on a lot of different kinds of veggies (one at a time) before any fruit, so he would not develop a taste for sweet food and refuse the veggies. In my son's case, it worked. He's always been a great veggie eater.
Most DRs and the American Academy of Pediatrics think that you should start giving a baby food around 6 months. In our case the dr suggested rice cereal starting at 5 months because of an acid reflux problem. In almost every case you start with rice cereal for a few weeks then slowly move onto stage one foods like pureed fruits or veggies. It's best to introduce one at a time and watch for reactions like a tummy ache or allergies.
As for water most babies don't need water until around 7 months when they start drinking out of a sippy cup.
You can always call your pediatrician and ask the nurse what they suggest.
Good luck.
As for water most babies don't need water until around 7 months when they start drinking out of a sippy cup.
You can always call your pediatrician and ask the nurse what they suggest.
Good luck.
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