I'm sure this question has been posed a million times, and I did a search to see if I could find a post that touches upon my situation, but I could not, so here goes the 1,000,001st time it will be asked:
My son is 4.5 months old. He was 9lbs, 13ozs at birth and weighs 21 pounds now. He is 28 1/2 inches long. Needless to say, NOT a little boy!
I have always nursed him on demand and feeding him has been a breeze. We co-sleep, and he has started to wake more during the night to feed, which is okay with me. It's not a big deal to roll over and pop the boob in his mouth.
However, he is EXTREMELY interested in what we are eating at mealtime. He looks longingly at eat bite and reaches for it with a hopefuly look on his face, then a sullen look when he does not reach it and it disappears into our mouths. At first, it was cute... but now it's sad, really!
I know he is getting everything he needs from me now, even though he is nursing a lot more frequently in the past few weeks. But I am thinking that this is just his time to start solids. I suppose I am struggling with taking the plunge because I know that breastmilk is the superior food and should not be replaced with anything else...
I am looking for some feedback here. What were your experiences? Did you have a child who was very interested in solids and start them this young? I can't help but think, he is nursing A LOT and he is getting at least 30-40 ounces of breastmilk per day... (I sometimes weigh him before and after his feedings out of curiosity.)
What would be the harm in giving him a bit of rice cereal or oatmeal when we are enjoying our dinner? I don't want him to feel deprived. If he wants to explore food, why should I keep him from it? Maybe a few tablespoons of cereal is all he needs to satisfy his curiosity.. There is nothing that says I needs to follow "the plan" and give him fruits and veggies and add meals one by one, etc.
Is there evidence to suggest I would be better off keeping cereal from him for a few more months? I didn't start my DD til she was 7 months, because she didn't show an interest until then.
Comments?
My son is 4.5 months old. He was 9lbs, 13ozs at birth and weighs 21 pounds now. He is 28 1/2 inches long. Needless to say, NOT a little boy!
I have always nursed him on demand and feeding him has been a breeze. We co-sleep, and he has started to wake more during the night to feed, which is okay with me. It's not a big deal to roll over and pop the boob in his mouth.
However, he is EXTREMELY interested in what we are eating at mealtime. He looks longingly at eat bite and reaches for it with a hopefuly look on his face, then a sullen look when he does not reach it and it disappears into our mouths. At first, it was cute... but now it's sad, really!
I know he is getting everything he needs from me now, even though he is nursing a lot more frequently in the past few weeks. But I am thinking that this is just his time to start solids. I suppose I am struggling with taking the plunge because I know that breastmilk is the superior food and should not be replaced with anything else...
I am looking for some feedback here. What were your experiences? Did you have a child who was very interested in solids and start them this young? I can't help but think, he is nursing A LOT and he is getting at least 30-40 ounces of breastmilk per day... (I sometimes weigh him before and after his feedings out of curiosity.)
What would be the harm in giving him a bit of rice cereal or oatmeal when we are enjoying our dinner? I don't want him to feel deprived. If he wants to explore food, why should I keep him from it? Maybe a few tablespoons of cereal is all he needs to satisfy his curiosity.. There is nothing that says I needs to follow "the plan" and give him fruits and veggies and add meals one by one, etc.
Is there evidence to suggest I would be better off keeping cereal from him for a few more months? I didn't start my DD til she was 7 months, because she didn't show an interest until then.
Comments?