[Smirkin]

My ped told me that I can start solids with my almost-five-month-old, but I am hesitant b/c the baby can't sit unassisted yet. She doesn't even roll over yet. My ped said something about how bfing is "the gold standard" but that it's fine if I want to start solids, and gave me a hand out about solids, and explained in detail how to do it, which made me feel like she was in fact suggesting that I SHOULD go ahead and start.

Does it not matter if babe can sit by herself?

 

[alegna]

Personally, I would be hesitant to start before 6 months. Every major health organization says to wait until at least 6 months.

I would DEFINITELY not start before 6 months if the baby isn't sitting unassisted. That one is HUGE for me. In fact, short of some other physical condition or developmental delays, I wouldn't start before sitting unassisted, no matter how old.

When you do get ready, and baby shows all signs of being ready, you can just give soft chunks of fruits and veggies and let baby self-feed.

-Angela

 

[XanaduMama]

:

Not sure why the default isn't "wait" rather than "go ahead", when readiness is in doubt.

 

[rachel7628]

Um, if the baby can't sit, then she's more likely to choke. Of all the readiness signs, that's the one that's non-negotiable, IMO.

 

[jempd]

I just brought my dd to her 4 month check up Friday and the doctor, upon noting that she hadn't gained much since her 2 month check up, suggested starting solids, and when I said, but I thought before 6 months wasn't good (and I cited allergies, immature digestive system) he said that that's what he thought too but very recent studies, especially two in 2008, show that actually it's not that bad, the connection to allergies has been disproved, and that starting at 4 months is OK, though not before 4 months. He didn't push it hard but said to think about it, and that he wants to weigh her at 5 months instead of waiting to see her at 6 months. He is a doctor who is actually supportive of bfing (as opposed to the lip service only I've encountered) and his mother is a lactation consultant, so I was surprised. I only add this because I was so surprised and it just happened. As a side note I am not going to start her on solids right away, but am weighing what this doctor just said and whatever else I can find on the subject. I'd like to read more about these studies, for example. My baby is not gaining weight so quickly--only a pound and 10 oz in two months, but is the picture of health otherwise, so it's puzzling.

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Here is a page from kellymom.com on how to tell if baby is ready for solids.

Here is a page citing the benifits of waiting until 6 months + to start solids.

Hope this helps!

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jempd I just brought my dd to her 4 month check up Friday and the doctor, upon noting that she hadn't gained much since her 2 month check up, suggested starting solids, and when I said, but I thought before 6 months wasn't good (and I cited allergies, immature digestive system) he said that that's what he thought too but very recent studies, especially two in 2008, show that actually it's not that bad, the connection to allergies has been disproved, and that starting at 4 months is OK, though not before 4 months. He didn't push it hard but said to think about it, and that he wants to weigh her at 5 months instead of waiting to see her at 6 months. He is a doctor who is actually supportive of bfing (as opposed to the lip service only I've encountered) and his mother is a lactation consultant, so I was surprised. I only add this because I was so surprised and it just happened. As a side note I am not going to start her on solids right away, but am weighing what this doctor just said and whatever else I can find on the subject. I'd like to read more about these studies, for example. My baby is not gaining weight so quickly--only a pound and 10 oz in two months, but is the picture of health otherwise, so it's puzzling.

almost 2 pounds in 2 months? that is GREAT weight gain. starting solids will not help your baby gain weight either, breastmilk is more nutrient and calorie dense than other foods.

 

[Smirkin]

Thanks for the info and the links, which I just checked out and noticed the list of "readiness signs"

And now I can't imagine why my ped didn't ask me about whether my baby was showing any of those readiness signs. She said nor asked NOTHING about any of that, so for all she knows, the baby isn't showing any of them!

And she said nothing about any recent studies, in fact, she gave me no real reason why I should start solids, only that it was "time."

Any idea why a ped would make this suggestion to me when all these other mainstream organizations (AAP especially) apparently specifically recommend waiting until 6 months??

Hmmm...wondering if a change of ped is in order.

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Smirkin Thanks for the info and the links, which I just checked out and noticed the list of "readiness signs" And now I can't imagine why my ped didn't ask me about whether my baby was showing any of those readiness signs. She said nor asked NOTHING about any of that, so for all she knows, the baby isn't showing any of them! And she said nothing about any recent studies, in fact, she gave me no real reason why I should start solids, only that it was "time." Any idea why a ped would make this suggestion to me when all these other mainstream organizations (AAP especially) apparently specifically recommend waiting until 6 months?? Hmmm...wondering if a change of ped is in order.

My ped told us at our 4-month check that if we wanted to we could start giving some fruits and veggies. which really surprised me, because she is a licensed LC, and is totally on board with no/little vax, cosleeping, etc. I just told her that we were waiting until 6 months because DS already has allergies and I was going to take it slow with solids. I have heard that in Europe, their equivelant to the AAP says to start solids at 4 months. We didn't switch peds or anything, because we love her otherwise, and she usually is pretty up to date on research (everytime we go in she is telling us about another study she read up on) so i just chalked it up to maybe it is just a standard thing they tell people in her practice?

 

[calpurnia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 I have heard that in Europe, their equivelant to the AAP says to start solids at 4 months.

i don't think europe has an equivalent to the AAP - if it does i've never heard of it. we have country specific organisations like the BMA (british medical association) or the royal college of paedatrics. in the UK the recommendation is to start solids at 6 months.

i don't understand why a paed would say the gold standard is breastfeeding, yet recommend you to do differently when you are not having problems with b' feeding & your baby is (presumably) gaining happily.

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calpurnia i don't think europe has an equivalent to the AAP - if it does i've never heard of it. we have country specific organisations like the BMA (british medical association) or the royal college of paedatrics. in the UK the recommendation is to start solids at 6 months. i don't understand why a paed would say the gold standard is breastfeeding, yet recommend you to do differently when you are not having problems with b' feeding & your baby is (presumably) gaining happily.

Hm, well there was another thread on starting solids a few months back, big debate, and someone said that their husband was europian and that over there they said to start at 4 months.... let me try and find that thread....

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

finally, the european version of the AAP recommends starting solids not earlier than 4 months and not later than 6 months, based on their latest allergy research. apparantely they've found that delaying solids past 6 months increases the risk of allergies. because my kids are half american and half european, i feel free to pick and choose the advice i like best!

Quote:

yeah, here's the link to the position statement http://espghan.med.up.pt/joomla/posi...ers/con_28.pdf here's the organization's website: http://espghan.med.up.pt/joomla/

those are the quotes from this thread

not saying they are right or wrong, just that is where i heard it

 

[alegna]

From that site:
http://espghan.med.up.pt/joomla/posi...ers/con_28.pdf

Says 6 months also...

4-6 months is outdated.

-Angela

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

Originally Posted by alegna From that site: http://espghan.med.up.pt/joomla/posi...ers/con_28.pdf Says 6 months also... 4-6 months is outdated. -Angela

good!

(i didn't read through it, just was posting what someone else had said about the 4-month thing)

 

[calpurnia]

i stand corrected! i have never heard of them, & i used to work in paediatrics.

anyway, they also say "Exclusive or full breast-feeding for about 6 months is a desirable goal" here

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

Originally Posted by calpurnia i stand corrected! i have never heard of them, & i used to work in paediatrics. anyway, they also say "Exclusive or full breast-feeding for about 6 months is a desirable goal" here

I guess whoever posted that link misread the info....

anywho.. glad we got this all cleared up..

:

 

[jempd]

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 almost 2 pounds in 2 months? that is GREAT weight gain. starting solids will not help your baby gain weight either, breastmilk is more nutrient and calorie dense than other foods.

Good point, that I didn't know, re: solids won't help with weight gain anyway. Of course, the goal is to nurse her more but as she is fed on demand I don't know how much more she will take. It seems odd to me that although she is fed on demand, and breast-feeds during the night as much as she likes, she just doesn't seem like she is as plump as she should be. She was biggish at birth (8 pounds 9 oz) and I am slightly worried about how I can feel her ribs. The doctor showed us how on the curve she's falling into a lower percentile and he had wanted to see more like at least 2 pounds gained by now. He also said that she is alert, engaged, has no enlarged organs, and is happy and babbling, reaching, and so forth so there is no reason to worry. I wonder too why these peds are OK with starting solids at 4 months if the AAP and WHO and so on are not. I can't find anything specific written on the subject (recent, as in the past two years). I thought it was out-dated too but essentially the doctor said no, now it's swung back to 4 months is OK. He is a stand-in doctor for our usual ped who is out on maternity leave, so I plan to bring it up with her when we bring in the baby to be weighed at 5 months.

 

[sapphire_chan]

I can feel my ribs and I'm overweight. I think not being able to feel ribs at all would be more of a worry.

 

[LuminosaJane]

I've run into the same claim. My ped said that he used to say absolutely nothing but bm or formula before 6 months but that in light of some recent studies, particularly on gluten intolerance and Chron's, that he's become less convinced of the value of waiting until 6 months. He suggested, instead, that I follow the baby's cues and avoid rice cereal and other sweet foods such as banana and carrots as first foods.

He did not give me citations to these studies, but I didn't ask for them either. I'm not super-hyped about solids this soon.

My babe is now 5 months, we haven't done any solids and I don't have any plans on starting soon. She is sitting up by herself, but she isn't grabbing for food nor does she seem to understand that something that goes in the mouth can be swallowed.

 

[LadyCatherine185]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jempd and I am slightly worried about how I can feel her ribs.

DS weighs 23 lbs at 8 months, and i can feel his ribs. and he is a CHUNK!