| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| cmandle |
Posted - Jun 24 2006 : 6:58:56 PM
My son Jackson is 5 months tomorrow and we've just started giving him rice cereal. He seems to love it, but is already getting a little bored with it and (seemingly) wanting more! (He's been an exclusively breast-fed baby up until about a week ago. We started slow on the cereal, but we're already up to 2-tbsp servings mixed with breastmilk twice a day and have kept up his regular nursing schedule of just about every two hours...the kid loves to eat and is growing to prove it!)
My question for all of you mama farmgirls: When should I move on from rice cereal to first fruits and veggies? I *hate* reading all of the baby books because they give contradictory advice - I'd much rather trust my friends and family. But...the books say to start rice cereal at 4-6 months, but not give any fruits or veggies until at least 6 months. Do you all agree? What's your experience?
Thanks, in advance, for the tips!
Catherine
* Proud wife of Dan * Jackson's Mom * Still missing Lucy the Cat... * |
| 6 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| blueroses |
Posted - Jun 30 2006 : 2:34:25 PM
I also did the same as Jenny, Katie and Julia. The books are great to guide us but children all develop on their own timetables. You were right to listen to your "gut feelings" and Jackson. I made my own baby food too. It was so rewarding, healthy and much less expensive than those jars. Sometimes the jars come in very handy, but I wouldn't want to have to rely on them.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 3:38:12 PM
applesauce is good for loosening usually too.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
| cmandle |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 2:09:32 PM
Thanks everyone! I think I just needed a "gut check" on this one, and you all confirmed it. I went ahead and served up some (organic!) pears for Jackson today and he LOVED it. We had banging on the highchair tray, huge smiles and I swear, he just couldn't get his mouth open wide enough for the next spoonful (picture a baby bird...). So I feel really good about the decision to listen to my baby instead of the books! I will heed the advice about taking it slow on adding new foods, but at least I know that he is ready for them. (And I'm hoping that the pears will help loosen him up, if you know what I mean. Rice cereal has stopped up the plumbing! If that doesn't work, we'll go for some prunes next!)
Thanks again!
Catherine
* Proud wife of Dan * Jackson's Mom * Still missing Lucy the Cat... * |
| jujubee |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 12:28:09 PM
I agree with Katie and Aunt Jenny. I don't think you need to wait two months to introduce a new food into Jackson's diet. Wait at least a week between adding different foods to make sure that he is not allergic to something. Ultimately you would want to end up feeding him solids three times a day (at approx. your breakfast, lunch, and dinner) so that he can transition in the coming months to your family's eating times. You could try to add another solid feeding to his day, along with your regular nursing times, and see how he does. What everyone has suggested as far as other foods to try seem great. One other little piece of advice I have is to nurse him before you feed him solids, that way he will still be getting as much of your milk as he usually does. This is still his bulk supply of nutrients and will help you maintain your milk supply.
Hope this is somewhat helpful! I know I had a lot of the same questions with my first little one, and I know you'll do a great job!
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 |
| katiedid |
Posted - Jun 25 2006 : 09:24:15 AM
I did the same as Jenny, an over ripe banana is perfect, or bake a sweet potato, applesauce...just avoid the foods that are high on the allergenic spectrum...wheat, corn, milk, soy, nuts, eggs, etc... until he is a little older.
If he acts hungry, feed him. Just don't replace baby food with nursing now, he still needs breast milk as his main form of nutrition.
kate |
| Aunt Jenny |
Posted - Jun 24 2006 : 10:14:57 PM
I started my big strapping babies much sooner...did start with rice cereal..but added bananas which they loved within a couple weeks and slowly added simple single item things sweet potatoes, carrots, applesauce and like that...didn't add mixed up things until I was sure they could handle each thing. NO problems. I usually made all my own babyfood..just used a little grinder and ground up what we were having without any added seasonings. It worked really well.
Jenny in Utah
Inside me there is a skinny woman crying to get out...but I can usually shut her up with cookies
http://www.auntjennysworld.blogspot.com/ visit my little online shop at www.auntjenny.etsy.com |
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