[laohaire]

I have casually observed that it seems that babies who are FF - or perhaps it is just bottle-fed - seem to eat more solids earlier on.

Have other mamas observed this? If so, why do you think this is?

My 11 month baby, who is exclusively breastfed (no bottle or sippy cup) barely eats anything. We'd be excited about a teaspoon's worth a day! She likes to hold a piece of fruit and crush it and taste it but not really eat it. Anyway, I've heard many other mamas here share similar experiences, but when I go out into the world I see babies far younger than mine eating lots. I wonder if there is a correlation. BTW I am not saying either is better or worse, just curious.

 

[MamaRabbit]

I had a friend that only FF. When she started her DS on solids at 4mo, I asked why. She said that her ped. said that the kidneys can only process so much formula a day so that when the baby needs more calories, solids is the only way to do it.

 

[MommaCrystal]

I have made this anecdotal observation myself. Without starting a debate because I'm not making a statement about what is good or bad...It appears to me that those who feed they child formula have a more relaxed approached to feeding more solid food and earlier. It seems, if you are accustomed to feeding your child from an outside food source already feeding them solid foods is not a big deal. Doctors are a huge influence as well.

This makes things a bit tricky for me as so many people have this idea that babies can start solids at 4-6 months (or even earlier) that when they realize my 9month old isn't eating many solids they are pretty appalled.

This may be a challange today when we go to our 9 month well baby visit. I'm so tempted to skip it. At our last two appointments they were trying to gently push solids because of iron concerns. I know it'll be an even bigger deal now!

 

[paxye]

Here the recommendation (by docs and by the govn't) is 4 months for FF babies, minimum 6 months for Bfed babies..

Reason is that Formula isn't enough for them after 4 months and they need the extra... at least that is what we are taught...

 

[NannyL]

I don't have a ton of experience, and am only speaking from my small sample of babies that I know.

That aside, the baby that I currently nanny for (FF, almost a year), has always loved solids. He usually sits on my lap for meals and often seems to eat more than I do. He grabs food off my plate, and has been for the past 4 or 5 months. I don't blame him, wouldn't you prefer regular food (yummy fuits and veggies) over formula?

Of course, thinking about it, his sister, also FF, was very attached to her bottle, and didn't take to solids so quickly, so I guess it's true that all babies are different...

I have seen lots of FF babies that take to solids well and easily, but, unfortunately, I've also just seen lots of FF babies in general.

:

 

[Eli's_mommy]

I don't blame him, wouldn't you prefer regular food (yummy fuits and veggies) over formula?

QUOTE]

I don't know how many of you have actually tried formula and tried breast milk, but formula tastes like uke

Breast milk I think is sweet and nummy. If I had to choose between formula or real food, I'd choose real food in a hot second.

 

[cyndimo]

I know that I was eager to start solids toward the early end of the spectrum because I knew that with formula, DS was not getting the variety of nutrients and flavors that BF kids get. I thought that while "making" baby food was not the same as "making" BM, it was better than mixing up formula. =)
That said, it took me a really long time to get my feet under me... we started with rice cereal at 5mo and DS never really liked the baby food I made for him. I was also super nervous about alergies, so I took new foods very slowly. Now, at 12mo, he likes finger foods but still isn't into my purees.
Most of our friends BF until 6mo, then introduced solids and formula at about the same time. I'd say that my son is about in the middle for solids and still takes more formula than the others.

 

[alegna]

In the case of my SIL she wanted to save $$

: formula is expensive you know....

She also holds their hands down to spoon whole jars into their mouths at a sitting.

-Angela

 

[girl138]

I don't know =/ I bf and my (17 pound!) four month old is fighting to get his hands on solids. It makes me so sad. We haven't let him yet - but he is always trying. Last night we took him out with us for dinner. I was holding him on my lap and the second I reached for my drink he grabbed a handful of mashed potatos and shoved them right into his mouth. While I was freaking out he was squealing with delight.

I am so sad that he seems to wants solids - but to be perfectly honest I am really torn about whether or not to allow him some (more appropriate) foods..

:

 

[laohaire]

Quote:

Originally Posted by girl138 I don't know =/ I bf and my (17 pound!) four month old is fighting to get his hands on solids. It makes me so sad. We haven't let him yet - but he is always trying. Last night we took him out with us for dinner. I was holding him on my lap and the second I reached for my drink he grabbed a handful of mashed potatos and shoved them right into his mouth. While I was freaking out he was squealing with delight. I am so sad that he seems to wants solids - but to be perfectly honest I am really torn about whether or not to allow him some (more appropriate) foods.. :

Yeah, I would be too. I probably would. It's supposed to be based on the baby, not the calendar, right? Works both ways. I would wait till 4 months, but you're there, so...

 

[s_kristina]

If it weren't for my recent experiences with my ds I would agree with yuo. My dd was past a year before she ate much and she never cared for baby mush. When she started eating solids it was right on to table foods. On the other hand my ds has been stealing table foods off my plate since he could grab. My dd would have never thought of trying to grab my food! I am shocked on a daily basis by how much my ds loves to eat food. He has also pretty much given up on baby mush at 8.5 months. He was picking up soft pieces of food to feed himself at 6 months. Since 8 months or so has been wanting to feed himself with a spoon which doesn't work well and ends up with all of us frustrated. I'm guessing that compared to some mainstream babies that are spoonfed big jars several times a day he doesn't eat as much, but compared to what dd ate it's tons.

 

[paxye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna In the case of my SIL she wanted to save $$ : formula is expensive you know.... She also holds their hands down to spoon whole jars into their mouths at a sitting. -Angela

 

[millionmom]

That is really sad...about holding the babies hands down !I suppose she thinks it makes it easier and quicker....My ds loves eating. I think of him as exclusively breastfed, but really we have to suppliment when I'm working (teacher) as I couldn't keep up with the amount he ate during the day! Yes it made me sad, but I had to do what I had to do. He just loves to feed himself and has always had a great appitite. I don't know if it's associated to formula or not, but I think it's more associated to that fact that his parents love to eat and he loves doing what we're doing.

 

[gr33nie]

I was JUST wondering myself if there was something to the FF=more solids thing.

My DS is 9 months old and BF. We started introducing solids at 6 months and he really didn't like them. I've been presenting them to him ever since 2 or 3 times a day and right now he won't eat anything off of a spoon, just little tiny bits of small things like broken up "organic morning o's" or small bits of steamed carrots.

He probably only eats a teaspoon or so most days and at the 9 month appt. a couple of docs told me to 'push the solids' and 'make sure he's hungry, don't nurse him first, offer him the solids first". I did that once and he looked at me like I had betrayed him so never again.

He did have 'low iron' but that is a whole other story. (why oh why did I not stick to my guns about delayed cord clamping

)

 

[flyingspaghettimama]

My babe is like s_kristina's - and like a few others - I'd like to think I just make such delicious dinners that he wants some as well. He eats three times a day...he'll usually eat 1/4 c oatmeal for breakfast, a whole donut peach or other small fruit for lunch, and a 1/4 c of whatever we're having for dinner (last night - whole pinto beans, zucchini, onions, mushrooms). The boy likes to put it away. And he still nurses on demand, usually all night long, bah! My daughter liked eating (frequently, large quantities) as well as an infant and toddler.

ETA: He is also a very big baby and wears 18 mo clothes at 8 mos.

 

[hottmama]

Both of my breastfed babes have LOVED solids. My 7 mo. old eats about 50 organic O's a day, along with fruit (bananas especially!), veggies, beans, etc. You can't eat around this kid without him shrieking for a bite, and my first was the same way. I'm amazed at babies who don't demand solids- I wish! I am glad we waited until 6 mos., even though he was insistent (aside from a few incidents where he stole food- the dangers of having a crawling, cruising 5 mo. old!)

 

[mothragirl]

Quote:

Originally Posted by MommaCrystal I have made this anecdotal observation myself. Without starting a debate because I'm not making a statement about what is good or bad...It appears to me that those who feed they child formula have a more relaxed approached to feeding more solid food and earlier. It seems, if you are accustomed to feeding your child from an outside food source already feeding them solid foods is not a big deal. Doctors are a huge influence as well. !

:

 

[kissum]

I've noticed that too- I think it is just a more relaxed view of solids in general. My friend who ffs has a baby almost exactly my dd's age, who gets 3 meals a day, while Bell gets 1 meal every 3 or so days.

 

[lasciate]

I don't really know. My baby was exclusively breastfed until 6 months, only ate baby food once a day (and only fruits at that) until about 9-10 months when she went for table food in a big way. Then she wanted all solids, all the time so she was on 3 meals + 2 snacks of solids a day plus nursing 2-3 times until 13 months or so, when she started nursing more in *addition* to solids 5 times a day.

 

[wonderwahine]

i think its because drs encourage ff moms easier at 4mths to start solids, where as alot of books etc out there say for bf moms to start at 6.