Baby Feeding Question

According to my local dr (a woman so has sense!!) her g/mother told her that in "the old country" (somewhere in europe!!) babies were given "solids" almost from birth, my dr said that each child is different, some babies are bigger or grow faster & so "need" solids sooner - my daughter stared at about 8 weeks (8ln 4oz at birth) & my son (little guts that he was at 2 weeks!! - 9lb 1oz at birth).

So if you baby doesn't seem satisfied with what he/she is getting try adding some (hell I forget what it's called , my son is 9 & dtr 15 so it's been awhile!!) cereal(baby type) to the bottle - it's hard to get them to eat from a spoon till they're abit more like 3 months which is when most babies start solids. If yours takes it from the bottle (added with the milk so it'sjust abit thicker) & still seems unsatisfied try with a spoon, or maybe also try watered down fruit juices - some babies like more variety than others, juices are especially good (esp. Prune) if baby is constipated at all.

Thank you sooo much , my doc. Told me to wait untill she is 4 months old but she be 3 on the 3rd of may and she seems she eats every 1 to 1 1/2 hours. I gave her a jar of baby food and she eat it like nothing then the doc. Said that it'n not good for her stomak but she bm like normal too.... I just dont know ???????? Any body else got a idea ??? What u think ???

Ive also been told not to start until 4 moths old, but with both of my boys I gave it to them at 3 months. Your baby will let you know when he/she is ready for it. When you do give it to him/her heres a tip. After putting the spoon in there to give them food leave the spoon in there for afew seconds so that they suck and the food goes down. It's very confusing for a baby to go from a nipple to a spoon, but they get the hang of it.

Thank you guys !!! :p

I starte to feed my baby jar food when she was like 3 months old.

I started feeding my son at about 3 1/2 months ....

U are supose to start them at 6 months my best friends told me I think she nows more them all of use here she 16 kids and 1 more on the way I go to here for kid advice she knows so much about kids

Depends on the baby--yes, dr have a text book time they go by, but....Every baby is different.

My first son prolly 3 months or so, 2nd my daughter a little earlier, but my youngest eating by one month. You can tell if baby is not satisfied. My grand daughter kept puking from eatin too much milk from birth, and as soon as we started her on food, around 1 month she quit eatin so much milk to make her puke---so I say feedin her was better for her stomach. So, it just depends. In the beginning just a few spoons of watery baby food, (baby cereal--start with rice--not jars food until you see how they do with the baby cereal.) will change their whole attitude. They will actually be content and sleep for a couple hours and not be so hungry next time.

I disagree wholeheartedly with all the advice given here. I'm sorry, but I do.

When you introduce cereals and such to your babies too early, you're putting them at higher risk for diabetes.

Also, about them not being "satisfied"... More often than not, giving cereal to a baby that young is more of a hinderance than a help. Their little digestive systems are not yet capable of handling the texture, much less their motor skills to swallow it. All the nutrients a baby that young needs is in breastmilk or a sufficient formula. If you start solids that early, they aren't getting the necessary and needed milkfat (in proper quantities) that they need for brain development.

I can't believe what I read here.

A mother knows what her child wants!!!! And why would someone feed a baby that cannot swallow it. You can tell if they are responding to it, and if they are chewing, and you can tell if they are not. Not once did I try and feed a baby without them responding, by swallowing it, and enjoying it.

You can disagree, but I still say it depends on the child. Not satisfied, no sleep and cry cry cry. I would rather try the food and see if it helps. Or like my granddaughter projectile vomiting every single day until we started her on cereal. Every single day.

I have two children, son 8mo. & dtr 6yrs. Both my doctor and my midwife told me that it depends on the child. Babies learn by imitating. Somewhere around 4mo, they will naturally be interested in things they see repeated regularly. Like eating! Both my babies told me they were ready to try food when they started grabbing at my food. If you are brestfeeding your baby could thrive on brestmilk alone for the first year! Its really what feels natural to you and baby. If you feel like your baby is ready for food go for it, but be prepared, because they will choke alot as tehy learn how to get this new substance down. Have fun finding out what your baby likes..Remember no honey, nuts (even if its creamy like pb), and no tomatos...Babys can be alergic.

Its ok to start a baby on cereal a little earlier...They've been doing it for years. But baby food really should wait until at least 4 months. Its a lot harder for the baby to digest solids at an early age. Every baby is different though, so 4 months is not an exact age. If your baby holds his/her head up well and with good control, tries to sit up and is at least 12 lbs. Then go ahead and try the baby food. Now cereal is a little different. I started my son on cereal when he was 10 weeks. But I only put it in his bottle of breastmilk at night before bed. I try to spoon feed him once a day, most days. However, if you choose to put cereal in a bottle you should monitor how much you are giving your baby. The cereal adds calories but your baby doesn't know that and it could lead to overeating. Thats why some drs will tell you not to put cereal in a bottle.

Formula is the best baby food until the baby is about 3-4 months old. Reason being the formula as any doctor will tell you is brain food for a baby. Starting solids too early will only minimize the amount of formula a baby will drink. Everything has it's time and rushing can possibily mold an infant to eat too much too early. If you notice a baby needs more just give them more formula and introduce water early on. I have two girls inwhich are 7 and 4 both drank water from 2 weeks old and let me tell you you can't take their water away, I also started solids at 3-4 months.
Teaching them young enforces goodhavior as they get older and into adults

Certainly for those who do, can or even want to breast feed. Formula or breastmilk is certainly better then starting a baby too early on solids.

How old were your children when you started introducing water?

Well I believe that children should be introduced to water as early as is healthy as well, as opposed to the soda and soft drinks a lot of parents start giving to their children as soon as they can take a sippy cup. However, i've done a lot of research on it and spoke to my Dr. Because I wanted to know whether I should or not and in all my research and talking to my dr it was strongly suggested not to give a baby water. Its not necessary until they are eating a lot of solid foods. Formula is made out of mostly water so if they are formula fed they get what they need from formula (unless they are sick and it is recommended to give a baby pedialyte over water). Breast fed babies get all the water they need from the "fore milk" the milk that comes out first. Its very watery and quenches the baby's thirst as opposed to the "hind milk" that comes after and satiates the baby's hunger. Giving water too soon isn't just unnecessary but can cause problems. What you brought up about over eating in introducing solids too soon, which I agree with, water can cause the opposite problem. When their belly is full of water (or close to it) they are not going to get as much of the formula or breastmilk that they need. Also babies kidneys are not meant to filter large quantities of water and it could cause renal failure in babies. I realize that this is a very debated topic. Women have been doing it for years, sometimes without consequence. However, if every doctor I have asked and all the research I have seen suggests not to give a baby water than i'd rather not risk it if they don't need it, and they don't. Not until around 7 months when most babies are eating a lot of solids.

Your going over broad now. I'm not talking about large quantaties of water. Like I said everyone is different and will do what they feel is appropriate for their children. My children benefited from water at the early age of 2 weeks old and they are still avocate water drinkers. I'm not saying substitute water over breast milk and or formula, i'm saying adding it to the day