Help with Starting Food

Good question. I have a 6.5 month and didn't give cereal b/c she didn't like it.She preferred cream of wheat

I will tell you the 1 hour thing isnt true. My son was in the hospital for 4 months when he was born and we had our own room but no fridge and it became difficult roaming the halls for the nurses in the middle of the night for them to get a bottle of their fridge with a screaming baby and the nurses told me then that I could hold a bottle out up to 4 hours not over. We did for months and months. With my last baby her ped. told me the same thing about the one hour thing but I would go 2-3 hours sometimes. It was totally fine.
STarting solids, I always started a little cereal first to get them used to the texture. Then applesauce, then pears, bananas ect....Some Dr.s say start veggies now so they dotn get too used the the sweet stuff first. Making baby food was easy to me, not everyone. I used to get a bag of carrots, apples, winter squash, pears. Chop them up and throw them in a casserole dish and combine which ever one you like (apples and winter squash was great) (carrots and pears) anyway, add filtered water half way up and bake 375 for 30-45 minutes. The squash I used to roast seperately and it had such great flavor. Baking the fruit gave it more flavor and roasting the potatoes and squash ect....gave them more flavor. Frozen peas and beans are great too but they dont freeze very well. I would make up huge batches of everything then freeze them in little baggies or ice cube trays and label. Take out as you need.
When they get older you can get more creative like green bean casserole (thawed gr. beans, formula, cereal, garlic powder, cheese) or sweet potato casserole (sweet potatoes, cereal and formula). I enjoyed it and my daughter is such a great eater now at 18 months.

you will probably get a lot of mixed responses here. First thing I thought of was that maybe you should wait at least another month before thinking about solids? It's just better for them all around to give that digestive system time to develop and be ready for food. Then start with avacado mixed with breastmilk. Cereal is just carbs they don't need.
The second thing I wonder is if there is a reason you are weaning her so quickly? If there is no need, I (personally) would wait until at least a year (well, personally I'd wait over 2 but the minimum I'd go is 1 year). Again, it's just better for them all around. I know it's totally a personal choice when to wean, I just wanted to throw in the "longer the better" idea.

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/ - There's enough there to keep you very, very busy.

A few years ago, I remember reading in the news how so much of the guidelines for feeding infants were mostly based on cultural myth, not actually backed up with much science. It was a cultural thing, and moms from different countries introduced things at different ages. (like "introduce veggies before fruit", etc.) Still, that infant brown rice cereal *is* pretty easy to start with, myth or not.

Do be very careful about allergies, though. Hold off on strawberries and tomatoes, chick peas (although toddlers LOVE hummus), NUTS of course, and eggs. I think they can have the yolks sooner than the whites. Also, no honey for a year, because of botulism, not allergies.

I also liked the "Super Baby Food" book, but it's kinda hard to read. (The author is a little over-the-top for some people. But it says right on the cover "Super" baby food, not "good-enough" or "super-convenient" baby food!) She talks a lot about how to get your babies hooked on very healthy foods right from the start, and good "healthy extras" to mix in to your baby's yogurt or applesauce or mashed veggies. Like wheat germ, molasses, and DHA supplements (strawberry-flavored fish oil) in sweet foods, or brewer's yeast on savory foods like veggies.

Now my two-year-old INSISTS on putting wheat germ on his yogurt EVERY time and ADORES the way I make tofu!

I've always been a bit of a health nut myself, so I didn't get offended when she recommended not giving babies meat, for instance. It's a good book though, even if you do want your babies to eat some meat, and she does explain how to prepare meat safely.

Congrats on your growing baby and your desire to make some of her food! "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron is a must-read book! It can be a little overwhelming because she includes a lot of toddler recipes, craft and natural cleaning ideas. But just focus on the first 100 pages or so, and she gives a great plan for tons of nutrition each day. She also has a great chart for when to introduce what foods. Pureed Avocado is a great first food. Then we went with yellow/orange vegetables: sweet potatoes, carrots, squash. You can cook a big batch, run it through the food processor and freeze little baby portions in ice cube trays, then dump into a freezer bag. Super easy! Bananas are good too, although I tried to hold off on the sweet fruit tastes until they got used to eating vegetables. I think cereals are okay, too, but you might want to get whole grain cereals made by Earth's Best and some other brands. Otherwise, it's just the same white, refined, empty carbs that are not good for us either. Have fun!

I was just curious on why you are stopping BF at 6 months? I had to supplement bc I was delayed coming in, but even when foods were added still BF until 1yr. I COMPLETELY understand it is each persons personal choice, but was just curious. Anyways, start with cereals (oat or rice) then add soft stuff. I like the earths best brand - begin with the stage one and then as your child progresses you can move up from there. My daughter loved the sweet potatoes! She also ate bananas and other frozen fruits through a feeder. You can get them at grocery store or babie r us. Its a mesh bag with a ring that your child can hold on to. But you can put frozen fruits and veggies in it and as your child sucks and mushes it the food goes through mesh bag. The frozen is good when they are teething too as it soothes while they get a snack! Good luck!

My milk supply starting dwindling down with my 4th child because she wasn't a strong sucker. But I was still able to take Fenugreek and keep my supply going until she was a year old. I just had my 5th child and he is a strong sucker, so I probably won't have that problem. But if I do, I would probably take Blessed Thistle this time (more expensive, but better). Just get it at a health food store.

I don't do the cereals anymore. It's just carbs..they don't need it. I'd do avacado as a first food and then go on with other veggies. I cook my own, puree them and put them in ice cube trays, then into a gallon size ziploc bag that I've labeled what each item is. It sure makes it easier.

I love this website for making your own baby food, but it also has great feeding advice even if you don't: http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/

You don't need to start with cereal and you don't need to start now. If you do don't force it or worry if your LO doesn't take to it. My DD wouldn't eat cereal on its own much at all.

My advice would be to start with a single grain cereal, which is what your pediatrician would recommend. Rice is the easiest to digest, so start there. Then oatmeal and barley. Once you know she isn't allergic to any of the cereals, you could get mixed grains. You could wait until six months if you think she is doing well on breastmilk/formula. However, if she seems HUNGRY to you, starting her on cereal is fine. I would add in vegetables, then fruits, then meats only after her digestive system is used to cereal.

If you are needing to stop breastfeeding, formula is an acceptable alternative. Pediatricians would recommend breastfeeding through one year. Formula will keep for 24 hours in the refrigerator, but if the baby has drank from the bottle you should throw out after one hour as there are enzymes in your baby's saliva that will start to digest the formula while it is still in the bottle. If you think your baby isn't very hungry, only offer a couple of ounces, so you don't waste. If you use the ready to feed formula, it will keep for 24 hours once opened. If you use the concentrate or the powder, it will keep for 24 hours once it is mixed. My recommendation is the powder, it is much more cost effective and there is less waste as you can mix a bottle at a time, instead of mixing an entire can of concentrate or opening a whole bottle/can of ready to feed and having to throw away leftovers after 24 hours.

I also agree with Nicole on all points, but would offer an alternative to starting with a puree. My son refused purees at 6 months, so we took an alternative approach. If your daughter is sitting unsupported, puts everything she gets in her hands in her mouth, and has lost her tongue thrust relfex, you might try just giving her soft foods and letting her learn to feed herself. This has worked wonders with my boy... at almost 9 months he feeds himself and it makes meals very easy, if messy! Simply offer soft foods (steamed sweet potato in french fry shapes is a good place to start, just make sure they're not too mushy or baby can't pick them up) on a high chair tray or table. She may not eat anything for weeks or take to it immediately, but they don't really need any foods but breastmilk until a year old! The best part... no purees to make or babyfood to buy! Baby might gag (different than choking), but actual choking doesn't seem to be an issue because baby controls what goes into the mouth. You can google Baby-Led Weaning for more info, and good luck!

Hi S.,
Good for you for bf exclusively until now!!! I had to supplement starting at 4 months and I really did not want too, sometimes you just dont have a choice;( However, when I had to sub, I did half bm and half Myenburg goat milk. This worked wonderfully and I knew she was getting everything she needed! You can also freeze the half sizes of your bm and add them to the goat milk later. Just an idea, I'm not a fan of any formula on the market today! If I had to use one, I would absolutly go organic... I homemade most of my baby's babyfood. Especially things like sweet pot, carrots, bananna... Very easy and saves a ton! I've heard a lot about the avacodo but didnt try it myself. You dont have to start the cereal first at all! Personally, I'd say the sweet pot or carrots would be great to start. Please wait until 6 months for this though, it is so important to let your hindgut (intestines) mature a little more before adding all of this. People who do it sooner dont always see signs of a problem right away but the child does in their 30's!! You can also start her on 1-2oz of juice with the same amount of purified or spring water/day. .. The throw out formula thing is bc bacteria can grow rapidly in a bottle with the change in temp. Stay on the safe side with that! Best of luck;)

You should throw out formula in a bottle that has been drank from after 30 minutes because the bacteria that everyone has in their mouth starts to break down the formula after the 30 minutes she could end up with a tummy ache or diarrhea. If the formula was poured from a container and not sipped on it is good at room temp for 4 hours. Formula not sipped on and saved in the fridge is good for 24 hours once opened or prepared. Hope this helps.

Hi S.,

I agree with Nicole on ALL points and give it in the same spirit. Formula is okay if someone is unable to breastfeed but the preservatives and the milk used has been so processed that it really isn't healthy. I would go with goat or rice milk before formula. The throwing away of the formula is to ensure bacteria has not gotten into it but I think it's also a sales pitch to buy more...if it's kept airtight and you have used a sterile can opener it should be fine.

God bless!

M.

The AAP says no solids at all until six months. It isn't just about being able to sit up, show interest, and having doubled birthweight--although those are all recommended milestones prior to offering solids--it's because the baby's open gut is not yet ready to receive solids.

I'm perplexed about why you would WANT to stop breastfeeding, since you have established a good nursing relationship. The AAP also recommends breastfeeding throughout the first year.

I'd wait another month before starting baby foods. Unless your daughter is showing signs she is ready like if you put a spoon near her mouth, she opens it. You don't have to start out with cereal. But it's just easier to thin out for them to eat while they learn how to swallow something thicker than B-milk or formula. After a while when she is eating it thicker, you can add fruit to it to help make it taste better.

The reason you can't leave milk out for and hour I think is more of a saftey thing. Especially if the child has drank out of it. The slivia can aid in the break down faster and cause bacteria growth sooner.

Good luck!!
S.

We waited to start solids until at least 6 months (8 months with our second baby) and just continued with the breastfeeding even after we started solids. Breastmilk can be left out longer, and if your little one gets sick down the line, it'll be a great way to "nurse" her back to health :)

Can you continue to pump breast milk even if you need to be away from your little girl? If nothing else, it'll save you a nice chunk of money! Good luck!

You should start with the rice cereal mixed with breastmilk. I found the book Super Baby Foods very helpful with figuring out which foods to introduce when. I have a nine month old and we do a combination of homemade baby foods and organic store bought baby foods. It's so much fun when you start to introduce different foods and see their reaction. Have a great time with it.