foamy poo with first solid foods

[kumaraju]

Hi there. My 6 month plus son has just started a few tastes of solids consisting of sweet potato, banana, quinoa, avocado and stewed pear. He has only an icecube worth at most and its always mixed with booby milk. For a week now little Matai has had the runs, quite badly for the first day and since on and off with some days of really green poos. I have pretty much not given him anything except boob for the past few days and today poos are usual mustard colour but still about 5 poops about 1 tablespoon worth and heaps of foam. His bum looks really red too. We are doing elimination communication and Matai poos on a potty so I guess we are more aware of the size and frequency of poos than if he pooed in a diaper and had it on for 4 hours or so. He seems happy enough, no temperature, has gained weight this week so no concerns there. Is it normal to affect his digestion so much and to have these foamy poops? I am concerned enough to want to see a doctor but he is otherwise fine - breastfeeding heaps and lots of wees. Any ideas folks??? And any suggestions with first solid foods and how much to give.

[Pinky Tuscadero]

I would probably hold off on solids for a while. Whatever the cause, it will probably be good to give his system a break.

[cherimoya]

i agree with holding off on the solids. Also, green poo, in my experience,was due to lots of short nursings (because of teething) and I think it had something to do with mostly getting the fore-milk (?) not the hind-milk and that's what made it green......this was a long time ago with ds so not sure on all the lingo or reasonings anymore though!

[tankgirl73]

It may or may not be because of the solids. DD went through various odd poop phases (we EC'd as well) well before she started solids, that I'm convinced were nearly entirely just due to her changing gut.

I would suggest, though, looking into 'baby-led weaning' -- or baby-led solids. Letting baby feed himself with his choice of foods, rather than mushing it up and mixing it with breast milk.

When you think about it, what is the reason to mix it with breast milk? To make it more appealing, right? Something familiar, so that he'll eat it, right?

Doesn't that therefore presume that babies don't want to eat any solid foods and have to be tricked into doing so? And also, that they SHOULD be eating solid foods at this particular age and stage and thus it is very important to get it into them no matter how we have to trick them?

Doesn't it make more sense to presume that babies are programmed to want to eat regular food when they're ready for it? And that they'll be curious and keen and interested in new flavours and textures, just like they're interested in new and interesting things in every other area of their exploration?

Anyway, just some food for thought. If you trust their own instincts, then you can be less worried that you've given them something "bad" for them! It also confirms when they're ready, taking out your guesswork. They'll either take the food and chew on it without swallowing (ready for exploration and exposure but not yet for sustenance), or chow down (ready for solids for nutrition), or be bored by it (not ready). Studies suggest that their interest does track with their biological readiness!