how quickly do you ramp up solids?

[skfmama]

DS is almost 7 mo old. We've been giving him solids for about a month now. Most days he just eats dinner with us, unless we're out eating with other people and he's with us at the table - then he gets mad if he doesn't get to eat too. He still nurses on demand, and I don't think he's nursing less bc of solids. In the last week or so he's started actually eating - we're doing BLW, and he's getting a lot more coordinated with getting food into his mouth, chewing, and swallowing.

So my question is - should I be offering solids more than once a day? Sometimes if dinner is crazy and we eat too late, he doesn't have any solids that day. I'm taking a really laid back approach bc for me nursing is tons easier...but DS seems to really like eating so should I be offering more often even though I'm not so excited about the clean up, etc?

I'd love to hear how your baby progressed with solids...when was he/she up to 2 or 3 meals a day? And could you tell a difference in them nursing less?

Thanks!

[cristeen]

At a year, we still only eat once or twice a day. I follow his lead, and feed him when he asks. BM should be the main source of calories for the first 2 years. Since my guy is formula fed, we're working on increasing his food between now and 18 mos.

[braidmama]

Originally Posted by cristeen

At a year, we still only eat once or twice a day. I follow his lead, and feed him when he asks. BM should be the main source of calories for the first 2 years. Since my guy is formula fed, we're working on increasing his food between now and 18 mos.

Sorry to hijack this post but I am curious (Cristeen) about how you handle your supply issues. I have really low supply as well and it was actually going really well the last week or so where I didn't have to think about how much I was making anymore...we gave Max a supplemental bottle in the am while I was at work, where I pumped (I was getting about 7 to 8 oz in 8 hours), and when I'd get home I'd nurse on demand and it was finally going great! Then all of a sudden yesterday there's almost nothing. I'm not sure why. Its awful and I know stress only compounds the problem but I have been a wreck all day. My cycle returned last month (this month willb e the second since I had Max 6 months ago) and I should be gettin gmy period around this weekend...I'm wondering if that could bve contributing? Not sure here, just grasping at straws! I'm drinking lots of fresh mama milk tea so hopefully it'll help! Any thoughts on this? I have been unbelievably stressed about it. I feel like a failure that I can't nurse when he needs it...I was hoping to nurse him for as long as he wanted but I don't see that happening.


Anyway, about the original post, we've been giving Max frozen chunks of fruit in a mesh feeder about once or twice a day His 6 month checkup was yesterday and he actually told me I should be feeding him 3 "meals"...like yogurt and cereal and fruit, but I don't want to overload him on solids, dp and I both agree that its highly unnecessary and while I like our pedi I dont agree with his approach at all when it comes to this. Hes had all kinds of digestive issues so I want to take it slow. We started giving him cereal before he was ready and it made him wrench in pain all the time so now we're going with more of a BLW approach and it seems okay...no real routine with it yet, though. There are also some days he doesn't have any solids because like you said, he seems happy and full and content with his mama's milk!

[Knitting Mama]

We're going really slowly because my daughter doesn't seem to be interested in eating a ton, and I am just fine with that. She still nurses every two hours unless she's asleep, and then it's no more than 3-4 hours between sessions.

I, too, have a low supply due to breast reduction surgery, and during her daytime feedings, Cecilia has supplemental breast milk donated by awesome milk mamas. At night we bare nurse, until around 5 am when she is ready for some supplement. Then we generally go back to sleep for a bit.

[akat]

My babe was really interested in my food starting around 5 mo. We do purees and yogurt instead of BLW. He eats 2-3 times a day, about 3-5 oz. of food per day altogether, plus I give him tiny bites of whatever I'm eating if I eat in front of him. And I give him melty-O's randomly - mostly to occupy him at different times, or distract him.

[Peace+Hope]

op, my guy is almost 7 months, and once he turned 6 months, because he was sitting well, i started giving him things with handles 2-5 times per week. from the beginning of that, he has held things well in his fist and most of what he's bitten off has been chewed well and swallowed, so i've kept it up.

but, he's still swooping and not able to pick things up, except for really large pieces like an apple wedge.

soo... as long as he's only able to eat the green beans, potato wedges, etc i put in his fist, i'm going to keep it at once every few days, and watch him for more readiness.

the only new thing in the last week or so, is that he wants food when we are eating now. he will drop any toy i give him, but will keep hold of any food. so for us, for now, we're eating while he sleeps unless i really want to give him some food to play with.

[akind1]

I am in the same boat, I think it is time to ramp up solids - DS will be a year next month! - but not sure how . . .he eats some purees, he eats some table food. Generally, only once, twice at most per day. FWIW, we are out of the house alot. At restaurants, he gets some of what we have. At home. it depends. anyway, will keep following for ideas!

[MJB]

Follw your baby's lead. My boys *demanded* food whenever we were eating, so starting at 6 mos. they got food at least twice a day (and that only if they napped through lunch). I expect our new girl to do the same; she's already eyeing our food at 3 mos. My guys were chomping at the bit waiting for me to let them have food and never looked back once I gave it to them. They also nursed frequently until 2+.