BF and solid food question

520 Views 10 Replies 9 Participants Last post by chelsmm, Apr 13, 2006

chelsmm

Discussion Starter · Apr 13, 2006

I just got back from my dd's 6 month check up...it didn't go well, but that's a long story. The doctor told me that my dd was fat. She's 20 lbs 6 oz, 25.5 inches, and the cutest, happiest babe I've ever seen! Sure, she's a butterball, but isn't she supposed to be? Anyways, they gave me the paper work on solid food (they had given it to me at 4 months, but I lost it). It says she should be having a jar of fruit in the am with cereal, a jar of veg, a jar of meat, and a half a jar of fruit at dinner, juice twice a day, and formula three times a day...yup, it said formula, no mention of BM. Anyways, this sounds like way too much food. Plus, I didn't think juice was very good, even if it's 100%. Not to mention, I'm making most of her food, so no jars.

My question is, what do you feed your 6 month old and how much? My dd has only had a few fruits, squash, and brown rice cereal. Also, where does BF fit in. Does she still need to nurse every 3 hours? She still does, except at night. I really don't want to cut down on the BF because I feel it's better for her, is this right?

Your opinions are appreciated! Thanks, sorry so long!

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turtlemama77

· #2 · Apr 13, 2006

When my dd was around six months, she was still mostly breastfed. I personally wouldn't worry too much about solids. Here's some info about solids and the breastfed baby: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/index.html

There is no way my dd would have eaten as much food as what your ped recommends. It doesn't seem like she eats that much now at 15 months! I would skip cereal totally, and start on some real stuff, like avocado and sweet potato, maybe some soft pears or bananas. Nurse first, of course!

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mom2owen1

· #3 · Apr 13, 2006

a couple things strike me odd:

(1) i can't believe he said she was fat. i don't think she is! i would be offended if that was my dr

(2) does he/she realize that what is listed on that sheet is more then what your dc is eating now? assuming he/she does, why is he/she pushing more foods given his/her previous opinion?

at six months i had just started mixed grain cereal. i started fruits/veggies maybe 3 weeks later, introducing a new one each week. i made all owen's food, freezing it in ice cube trays. even at 8 or 9 months he was only eating about 2-3 cubes a day. i think at that point he was eating peas, sweet potatoes, apples, bananas, and green beans. he was breastfeeding every 1-2 hours. i nurse on demand, usually nursing before solids as BM is more important then other food. i agree that what that sheet listed is way too much food!

most recommendations i have seen on juice say not before 2 years. ds has had juice a few times, like when sharing a sippy with his cousin. he will also take a sip of orange juice from my morning glass every now and then. other then that he drinks breastmilk and water.

i say go with your gut on how much and what types of food (for example, we chose not to give ds meat until well after his first birthday) to give her and nurse on demand, day and night.

it is ok to have a differeing opinoin then your ped. you know your child much much better!

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InDaPhunk

· #4 · Apr 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by chelsmm
It says she should be having a jar of fruit in the am with cereal, a jar of veg, a jar of meat, and a half a jar of fruit at dinner, juice twice a day, and formula three times a day...yup, it said formula, no mention of BM. Anyways, this sounds like way too much food.

Holy cow, that's more food than I eat in a day

!

Solids are nutritionally inferior to breastmilk, at least in the amounts that your DD could eat. BM should be the mainstay of your DCs diet until a year. You could push all that on your child and she might not even eat it anyway, so why do they have their underwear all in a bunch over this? Pay heed to the info given by all the previous posters. Watch DD to assess her interest in solids, her personal readiness. Not every child develops at the same rate.

And shame on them for calling your daughter fat. That is so wack that I don't even know where to begin. Change drs if at all possible. If they give you ignorant info like this over basic needs such as food, I shudder to think what they might recommend in a true medical situation where competant advice would be required.

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dove

· #5 · Apr 13, 2006

I saw your other post - boy did your baby's ped do a number on your self esteem and natural mothering instincts today...

What he is suggesting your baby eat at that age is ludicrous and could very well lead to childhood obesity and disease. Juice twice a day? Cereal? I.don't.think.so.

:

Keep breastfeeding your baby on demand. 6 months is still young to be even starting solids. You do not even hve to give solids yet. Watch for cues of readiness from your baby instead. Do not sit in front of her and try to give "a jar" of food just because. It would be healthier for baby to "sample" and play with whole foods (a little squash, avcado, something like that). And that would be after a nursing, not before. I wouldn't suggest cereal at all. Nutritionally not of value.

Check out the kellymom article. Fire your ped. I would send him the kellymom article, too. Yes, your baby should be a beautiful, rosy breastfed butterball - you are absolutely right...

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LolaK

· #6 · Apr 13, 2006

TOTAL CRAP

First of all doctors know very little about nutrition, I think they have about 4 hours on the subject in school. He probably only knows what the stupid pamphlet says.

I recommend NOT cutting back on nursing at all. Until at least 12 months "eating solids" is just play for babies. They are learning about new textures and tastes, they are not getting their nutrition from solids so you still need to nurse, nurse, nurse.

Here's one of my favorite articles on feeding solids, I like to subtitle it "American's are crazy:"

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9646449/

Did I mention that your doctor is an idiot already?

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dove

· #7 · Apr 13, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by InDaPhunk
Change drs if at all possible. If they give you ignorant info like this over basic needs such as food, I shudder to think what they might recommend in a true medical situation where competant advice would be required.

see, that is the problem - they are probably perfectly competent about mainstream medical/lifesaving stuff - just shouldn't be giving out nutritional and parenting advice!

and yet, they just keep going and going...

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wannabe

· #8 · Apr 13, 2006

I'd get a new doc - at six months she's only just supposed to be STARTING solids, so something bland one a day if that.

And JUICE!!!! That's what they use to give babies in the 60's, for vitamin C.

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alegna

· #9 · Apr 13, 2006

Step one- dump the ped. He's WAY out of date. My dd doesn't eat that much and she's 20 months. At 6 months she had a TASTE (end of a fingertip) a couple of times a week.

-Angela

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obnurse

· #10 · Apr 13, 2006

I am in the same boat as you with a 6 month old. I can tell you there is NO WAY I am feeding my baby that many solids. He is intersted in them, but I am going with his cues, not with what someone tells me to feed him. I WILL NOT be feeding him jars of food at each meal, with 'bf'ing in between if he wants it' (what the AAP book says on starting solids!)

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chelsmm

Discussion Starter · #11 · Apr 13, 2006

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I already knew everything you all told me....I just needed to hear I was right. It's hard to be a first time mom and have a doctor tell you that your instincts aren't right. I won't go to this doctor again. We had been going to his associates, and they weren't so bad...but I will start looking for another pedi.

Thanks for all the support,

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