Confusion re solids

[carrietorgc]

I've done all the reading on Kelly mom and LLL re solids, I just need some reassurance from mommies in real life.

DD just turned 7 mo old and is 17 lbs. We started solids gradually at 6 mo but it is hit or miss - certain things definitely upset her tummy, so we backed off. She seems to be able to take or leave them so far - ie doesn't miss them if we don't give, but likes it when we offer.

She doesn't eat much, only about 1-2 oz of them. Banana, sweet pot, pears, apples, avocado.

I guess b/c she seems petite to me, I worry that I am shortchanging her by not doing more. Should I intro solids at lunch too?? She nurses on demand but generally 6 am, 9 am, 12, 2:30, 5, and 7. And once or twice at night. She'll normally nurse 5-10 min one side each feeding. we have been giving solids at 5:30. She has been waking more at night recently - and will nurse a bit before naps too. So her appetite seems up, although she doesn't cry to nurse more - it is hard to tell when she is really hungry so I just offer more often. I work ptime and the 3 days she is in daycare at my office I nurse at 9, 12, and 2:30 unless she is hungry earlier. Normally she isn't b/c she is distracted by playing.

Any advice would be welcome. Relatives, while supportive of bfing until whenever, all started more solids by now and have no helpful advice. Should I just chill? Does BM pack more of a punch than solids? Yes, right?

[carrietorgc]

I should add that last week she had some sort of growthspurt, as as soon as my supply recovered from that I got sick, so that isn't helping any. I think i'm going to start loading up on fenugreek today.....ugh. And it's raining! Please forgive my pity party....

[Quirky]

It sounds like you're on the right track to me. Breastmilk is definitely still the best and most complete food she can get. But why don't you try offering some solids at breakfast and lunch and see how she does?

I think the advice on breastfeeding is terrible but overall the book Super Baby Foods has some really good ideas for baby/toddler foods. It's worth checking out from the library. Just use it for the recipes, don't stress out about how much your dd is or isn't eating compared to her suggestions.

[rareimer]

it sounds like you're on the right track to me. my dd is 10 months old and hardly eats solids. she eats about an oz of millet cereal twice a day. with the morning meal, she has about a tablespoon of fruit, and at the evening meal, about a tablespoon or two of vegetable. she doesn't eat anything remotely "solid"...she can't even handle cheerios! but she is happy, and i don't stress about amounts coz she is nursing more than enough to make up the difference. in fact, i'd rather she gets more calories from nursing than anything else.

she is getting the opportunity to try all sorts of different things, and eats some of it, so she is getting all she needs for the first year. it's not til the 2nd year that solids become more a part of the diet, for now they are just for the experience of tastes and textures. you could maybe try adding another small meal during the day, but really it sounds like she is getting all she needs anyhow.

17 lbs sounds like a good weight for a 7 month old. my daughter is about 19 lbs at 10 months, and is growing great.

(jasmyn took a long time to start eating solids as she had untreated reflux. we started zantac about a month and a half ago (she's off it now.) only then did she really start eating.)

you sound like you are really following her cues...not pushing solids on her even though family may be telling you it's time. your baby knows when it's time, and you know when it's time! you're doing a good job.

[rachdoll]

From everything that I've read, quantity of food is not nearly as important as quality of food at this young of an age. Eating table food is an adventure and a game right now, and with dd still nursing, she is getting all she needs from your milk.

And, as for her being petite, my dd is just over 20 lbs at 18 months. As long as your dd is happy and growing, I'm sure she is getting plenty to eat!

I have heard, too, that if you are going to introduce a new food, do it for breakfast or lunch, so that if there is a reaction it will most likely be while you are awake, instead of at bedtime.

Have fun introducing foods! My dd loved butternut squash, sweet potatoes and mangos most when she first started solids. (We apparently had a thing for orange colored foods!)

[rareimer]

it sounds like you're on the right track to me. my dd is 10 months old and hardly eats solids. she eats about an oz of millet cereal twice a day. with the morning meal, she has about a tablespoon of fruit, and at the evening meal, about a tablespoon or two of vegetable. she doesn't eat anything remotely "solid"...she can't even handle cheerios! but she is happy, and i don't stress about amounts coz she is nursing more than enough to make up the difference. in fact, i'd rather she gets more calories from nursing than anything else.

she is getting the opportunity to try all sorts of different things, and eats some of it, so she is getting all she needs for the first year. it's not til the 2nd year that solids become more a part of the diet, for now they are just for the experience of tastes and textures. you could maybe try adding another small meal during the day, but really it sounds like she is getting all she needs anyhow.

17 lbs sounds like a good weight for a 7 month old. my daughter is about 19 lbs at 10 months, and is growing great.

(jasmyn took a long time to start eating solids as she had untreated reflux. we started zantac about a month and a half ago (she's off it now.) only then did she really start eating.)

you sound like you are really following her cues...not pushing solids on her even though family may be telling you it's time. your baby knows when it's time, and you know when it's time! you're doing a good job.

[mama_kass]

You are doing great! As mamas we really do worry. You do not have to worry about your dd eatting much right now. This is a time for learning with food not so much with getting a lot of nuitrition from it. Your bm is still all she needs to grow.

I agree with trying to introduce solids earlier in the day. If she dosen't eat much or none at all don't fret. She is not going to live on bm forever!

As for her being small. This is probably her genetic make up. Look at yourself and others in her family. Are some people small? When you look at her does she look healthy? Does she act healthy and happy?

Also, babies go through growth spurts. They are all so different and really do go through spurts at individual times.

Super Baby Food has a lot of great tips and suggestions. I bought it when ds was 6 months and now he is 15 months and I still use it. Take what you can use from it and leave the rest. I will also agree that the serving sizes never applied to us. She reccomends a mondo amount of food that at least my little one could never eat in a day. I love that she breaks dsown what nutrients are in each food and what the nutrients do for the body. She talks about how to pick food, store it, and prepare it. I have always made my own baby food and this book was very helpful. She has a lot of recipies that are good. I made ds's b-day cake with her recipie. OK I'll stop rambling now.:LOL

[carrietorgc]

Thanks for the advice everyone I tried her on bananas at lunch the other day, and she happily ate about 1 oz and then was done. Then, despote having just nursed, nursed like crazy before her nap haha, the solids sent her into a nursing frenzy.

I don't know if we will start offering solids 2x a day normally, I think we'll try a few more things out once a day for this month and then move on to 2x a day

[DaryLLL]

Your milk and plenty of it is what will make her grow. Think about it, which would you find more filling, 6 oz of milk or a tablespoon of sweet potatoes? Now imagine that milk you drank is milk from your mom, with every nutrient, protein/fat ratio, immune property you need.

When your child can eat 2 T's of veggies, equal amts of a starch food, and protein source, it will start to repace your milk as her main food source. Right now, table foods are a complement to your milk, not a supplement.