My EBF 4 m.o. wants food badly!

[HappyMommy2]

She stares intently anytime we eat.  Follows each bite with her eyes.  bATS AT IT WITH HER HANDS! (oops, nak)

[Parker'smommy]

Sounds like she is a very curious baby! Yah!

I like this analogy someone gave me once and I've seen it on here too in regards to baby's interest = ready for solids-  If my baby tried to lunge at my glass of wine, would I give it to her? Of course not. She isn't ready for that. And I, as her parent, know better than her what she needs. If my 9 year old expresses an interest in driving my car, should I let him? He's interested...asking to drive, wants to drive!!  Of course not. 

It's the same with solids. Interest doesn't mean that a baby is ready for solids. He/she is just curious about what you are doing, and wanting to experience it too :) So, what do you do? You can give baby toys, spoons to bang, and cups and bowls to play with at dinner. You can make breastmilk slushies and give them to him/her on a spoon. Or make a breastmilk popsicle and put it into one of those mesh feeders for him to experience. 

The thing is, babies have a "leaky gut" until 4-6 months. We don't know when each individual child's gut will close so waiting until 6 months will insure that it is. Also, a baby's diet at that age needs to be 100% breastmilk. Introducing purees at that age will cut down on the amount of breastmilk your child is getting. 

Good luck!

[anjsmama]

Originally Posted by Parker'smommy 

Sounds like she is a very curious baby! Yah!

I like this analogy someone gave me once and I've seen it on here too in regards to baby's interest = ready for solids-  If my baby tried to lunge at my glass of wine, would I give it to her? Of course not. She isn't ready for that. And I, as her parent, know better than her what she needs. If my 9 year old expresses an interest in driving my car, should I let him? He's interested...asking to drive, wants to drive!!  Of course not. 

It's the same with solids. Interest doesn't mean that a baby is ready for solids. He/she is just curious about what you are doing, and wanting to experience it too :) So, what do you do? You can give baby toys, spoons to bang, and cups and bowls to play with at dinner. You can make breastmilk slushies and give them to him/her on a spoon. Or make a breastmilk popsicle and put it into one of those mesh feeders for him to experience. 

The thing is, babies have a "leaky gut" until 4-6 months. We don't know when each individual child's gut will close so waiting until 6 months will insure that it is. Also, a baby's diet at that age needs to be 100% breastmilk. Introducing purees at that age will cut down on the amount of breastmilk your child is getting. 

Good luck!

My DD is almost 16 weeks & she is very interested too. She now munches on breastmilk popsicles and plays with her spoon at meals.