my "plan" was to delay introducing solids, but.......?

[Li27]

Hello Ladies,

Please share your opinions, and knowledge! My DD, who was premature (born at 36 weeks) will be 6 months old in two days. She is happy, energetic and seems to be thriving to us.

I have many food intolerances (dairy, gluten, spices, sugar, etc.) and food intolerance runs in my family (Mom, Dad, sister). I'm currently on a dairy free, gluten free and sugar limited diet. My hope was to try and lessen the likelihood my DD would develop food intolerances and I was thinking about delaying introduction to solids as long as possible and continue to breastfeed her. She's EBF and hasn't had anything else.

But, here's the but...... She is very small and my doctor has recommended beginning solid foods now. She was 4 pounds, 14 ounces at birth and has gained slowly but steadily, finally making it to the 5th percentile in weight when she weighed in at 11 pounds, 6 ounces (and 25th in length) at our last doctor's appointment when she was five months. Small, but steadily following the growth curve.

BUT, today (at nearly 6 months), her weight was 12 pounds, 1 ounce and she has "fallen" off the growth charts in weight (lower than 2nd percentile) and grown to the 50th percentile in length. So, doctor has recommended solids......specifically, to start with brown rice fortified with iron.

What do you all think? Is it time? Should I start with rice (I don't have rice intolerance but my mom does)? Or, given a history of allergies, is it better to start with something that is easier digested (I thought I read this somewhere but can't remember). Just veggies? Or, continue to breastfeed and see how she is in a month? I'm worried she's not getting what she needs from breastmilk, but I'm also worried about intolerance and also her losing some of the immunity provided from exclusively breastfeeding (she's also non-vaxed).

Thoughts please?!

[nalo]

Given the history...If it were me I would try to continue EBF for some time. My DD was pretty much EBF until age 1. She was VERY interested in solids starting at 5 months. She started getting tastes at 6 months but ate no noteable calories from solids until around her b-day. I think you should really focus on your own diet and make sure you are eating tons of healthy fats and lots of protein. I always believe that parents know their children better than anyone (duh!) and if you are certain she is healthy and thriving then she is healthy and thriving. If she shows interest in food I see no harm in offering her some food to taste and play with once she reaches an adjusted 6 months but no need to push it. FWIW, grains are hard to digest and it is pretty much exclusively recommended by allergy mamas here that fruits, veggies and meats be the first foods for babies. You don't want to overtax her gut and risk any damage. Stick with some cooked fruits and veggies to start I would say.
I just re-read your post and see that you are concerned that she is not getting what she needs from your milk. I am so sorry the doc has lead you to doubt that BM is the only thing your baby needs right now and that you somehow are at fault for having a small child. As long as you are consuming a healthy diet and feeding on demand you are absolutely providing everything your baby needs. Don't let yourself be bullied - follow your gut and stay in tune with you baby and you'll know what's right for her.

[4Blessings]

: I agree 100%

I also wanted to add that when you are ready check out http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/allergy.htm for some great info.

[tanyalynn]

Brown rice doesn't seem very calorie dense compared to milk, I've gotta say (separate from the digestibility issues already raised). The typical breastfed baby is fatter relative to formula fed babies for the first 4 mos or so and then leans out, so yours seems to be following that pattern, albeit as a small baby.

[mommydancer]

Get info about how to eat so as to maximize your BM. If you aren't still on a prenatal, I vote for that. Also, do breast compressions toward the end of feeding...get every drop of that fatty hind milk in as you can.
If you do decide to start solid food, I wouldn't go with a grain. Choose a nutrient dense alternative. Maybe sweet potatos? See how baby does with that.

[Ruthla]

Oh my goodness, how on earth is she going to gain weight faster if you replace some breastmilk with low-calorie foods such as brown rice?

What growth chart is she being compared to? Is she being compared to other 6mos or other 5mos (her adjusted age)?

[mommydancer]

I also think her change in height (did you say 25th to 50th?) could explain not having chunked up. The calories have to go one place or the other, YK?

[harrietsmama]

I agree with everyone here, and if anything, I would start with avocado, but, is she sitting up on her own? does she have any teeth? these and other markers are good guides to follow on her readiness for being able to eat food.: I would adjust your diet, not hers

[elmh23]

I'm going to agree with everyone else, but please don't use avocado for a first food with a family history like yours! Avocados are related to latex and can be very deadly.

Also, I would hesitate to introduce any foods you, your parents or siblings are allergic to until at least one year of age. With my son, I had him RAST tested (at 14mo) before starting him on most of the top 8 allergens (I only intro'd wheat and dairy in the form of cheese before the RAST.)

Good luck.

[harrietsmama]

Originally Posted by elmh23

I'm going to agree with everyone else, but please don't use avocado for a first food with a family history like yours! Avocados are related to latex and can be very deadly.

Also, I would hesitate to introduce any foods you, your parents or siblings are allergic to until at least one year of age. With my son, I had him RAST tested (at 14mo) before starting him on most of the top 8 allergens (I only intro'd wheat and dairy in the form of cheese before the RAST.)

Good luck.

good point, I should know that, I was just thinking of the natural fats and other nutrients in it.

[elmh23]

Yeah it is great for the fats and other nutrients but not for a kid with that family history!

[Blucactus]

She went from 11 6 to 12 1 in one month? Is she more active than she was a month ago?

Honestly, I'd stick with the breastmilk only at this point. Nurse her WHENEVER she wants--4 o'clock in the morning standing on your head. LOL. Ya know?

IME, we delayed solids till 9 mo bc of allergies, and my DS gained like 1/2 a pound in 3 months between appointments (going from 27th % in weight to 10th)--we love our ped so she wasn't worried, he's still on his own curve, but his weight curve took a major hit at nine months--when we started solids. Without giving him meat, dairy, eggs, or soy, he's 'stuck' eating low-cal fruits and veggies, and whole grains & legumes which are chock full of fiber.

[Blucactus]

Originally Posted by Li27

Hello Ladies,

Please share your opinions, and knowledge! My DD, who was premature (born at 36 weeks) will be 6 months old in two days. She is happy, energetic and seems to be thriving to us.

I have many food intolerances (dairy, gluten, spices, sugar, etc.) and food intolerance runs in my family (Mom, Dad, sister). I'm currently on a dairy free, gluten free and sugar limited diet. My hope was to try and lessen the likelihood my DD would develop food intolerances and I was thinking about delaying introduction to solids as long as possible and continue to breastfeed her. She's EBF and hasn't had anything else.

But, here's the but...... She is very small and my doctor has recommended beginning solid foods now. She was 4 pounds, 14 ounces at birth and has gained slowly but steadily, finally making it to the 5th percentile in weight when she weighed in at 11 pounds, 6 ounces (and 25th in length) at our last doctor's appointment when she was five months. Small, but steadily following the growth curve.

BUT, today (at nearly 6 months), her weight was 12 pounds, 1 ounce and she has "fallen" off the growth charts in weight (lower than 2nd percentile) and grown to the 50th percentile in length. So, doctor has recommended solids......specifically, to start with brown rice fortified with iron.

What do you all think? Is it time? Should I start with rice (I don't have rice intolerance but my mom does)? Or, given a history of allergies, is it better to start with something that is easier digested (I thought I read this somewhere but can't remember). Just veggies? Or, continue to breastfeed and see how she is in a month? I'm worried she's not getting what she needs from breastmilk, but I'm also worried about intolerance and also her losing some of the immunity provided from exclusively breastfeeding (she's also non-vaxed).

Thoughts please?!

Bolded mine..another thought, I re-read your post again, and the bolded wording made me wonder what 'percentile' she was in until she finally hit 5th? Is is possible the 5th was a fluke for her, and now she's gone back to what curve she was doing before?? Is she healthy? Is she happy? Is she on track for milestones for adjusted age? Does she look ok? I know it might be hard to tell bc you look at her every day, but is your ped just taking the numbers into consideration or everything else? If she's painfully thin and withdrawn and lethargic with sunken cheeks, that's going to be a HUGE red flag where as if she's healthy looking, in good health, active and happy and nursing a lot and has always BEEN on the tiny side with the numbers, she may just be going through an 'up' growth spurt instead of an 'out' growth spurt.

[Li27]

Thank you, thank you, thank you to all of you who responded to my questions! I definitely needed the encouragement and reassurance as it's so easy to start to really question yourself.......

I do feel my DD is doing really well and is healthy and thriving. I feel like I would know if she was hungry..... My husband actually recharted all her weights on the "curve" chart and her "dip" is actually very minor - the doctor seems to have graphed it slightly wrong making it look like she dipped really low. She wasn't even on the chart a couple months ago so I think 5th or slightly lower is doing just fine!

You have all provided so many insights and such good info...... My DD is SO interested in food and actually trying to grab my food. She has two bottom teeth..... but isn't sitting up totally on her own. I've been working hard the past couple days at just getting her to breastfeed without getting distracted and I do think she's eating more. The breast compressions help for sure.... that was a great idea. I used to do that when she was a preemie and didn't think of doing it again now. Seems to be helping her feed longer. And I'm trying to feed more frequently in the night.

We'll see what our ped says, but given her interest in food, I think I will offer her some veggies, like sweet potato, but not push it. I definitely don't want it to replace my milk, but I like how you have all described letting her sample it at her own pace.

Thank you all for taking the time to respond. I'm feeling quite relieved actually!