i have a very greedy little man please I need weaning advice?

Question

I have begun to start my little man on solids and really need some advice. i have logged onto countless websites which mostly seem to tell what to wean but not really how or their advice doesn't really suit my situation. Also my relationship with the HVs is somewhat frosty so they have been no help. He is 17 weeks old and was on a fairly good feeding schedule bottle wise with him having 5 bottles (7oz) a day at 7, 11, 3, abt 6:30 and then 11 at night. Now I have introduced baby rice along with the 11 o clock bottle. Now I thought that introducing solids will slow down his milk intake but at 11 he is having his baby rice ( quite a thick consistency now as he was downing it with great gusto) then finishing off nearly an entire bottle. Surely this means he is gorging himself because after baby rice how is he managing to still have an almost complete 7oz feed. he is a very big boy and I was hoping introducing solids might steady out the constant feeding as he would be fuller. To be fair his next bottle at 3 he has been having less but not by great amounts maybe just the odd 1 or 2oz.

Basically why I am confused is that is the solid meal supposed to replace a bottle? and should I be offering him water or juice after his baby rice instead of the bottle.? Also I guess we are supposed to be aiming for the 6 meals a day - 3 main meals and then 3 snacks. As i am introducing new solids which bottles should I be replacing with a meal instead? An advice would be greatly appreciated

Answer 1

First, the "new" advice on starting solids at 4-6 months is not "new". Research still suggest that the middle of the year is still the best time, and that babys' primary food in the entirety of the first year should e breastmilk or formula for optimal nutrition.



Solids are *added* to the liquid feedings at the rate of 1 tablespoon fed once daily (do not add ana additional tablespoon per day). It is not only not obligatory to start with rice, babies fed strictly formula do not have the enzymes to digest grains. Many mothers start with mashed ripe banana or avocado, apple or pear sauce, or sweet potato or yellow squash steamed and mashed. If wished, the food can be thinned with a bit of water or formula.



Do not worry about 3 meals for several months, and do not worry about snacks while the baby is having bottles during most of the first year. As you approach the end of the first year, you can begin to wean slowly off bottles, realizing that whole milk can go into a bottle or 2 a day, and that some babies don't lose the need to suck until they are well over 1

Answer 2

Hi,



Weaning can seem like a daunting process with so much conflicting advice that it's not surprising that you feel confused.



Up until very recently, best practise advice was to either exclusively breast or bottle fed until 6 months of age. Now the 'experts' are debating this as new research, published this month, suggests that it may be better to introduce solids anytime between 4 and 6 months. Please don't worry that you've done your baby any harm by introducing a little baby rice at this age - you certainly will not cause 'serious intestinal damage' as misleadingly quoted above. All babies are different and have different needs and in the end it's for you to decide what suits your child.



Personally, I'd be inclined to wait until he's 20 weeks, before introducing solids, you can always give him a little extra formula. The 7oz x 5 per day is an average guide only. Also, the rice is not intended to replace his formula feed, and should be given after his bottle which at this age is the most important part of his diet. Introduce very tiny amounts in a runny consistency to start, a teaspoonful or two is enough. After the age of 20 weeks, introduce new foods, such as well mashed bananas or well cooked and pureed carrots, just a teaspoonful at a time, at one meal only and wait several days in between each new food so that if something disagrees with him you'll know what it is.



Most of all, just relax, enjoy your baby and go very slowly. Weaning can be fun and an opportunity to build the foundation for a healthy diet for life.

Answer 3

You should not introduce ANY food other than formula or breast milk before 4 months of age. At 4-6 months depending on the size and growth of your child your doctor might ok the introduction of solids. Before introducing anything completely solid you will start with rice cereal, then oatmeal cereal and finally the whole grain cereals. Wait at least 3 days between introducing anything new into your childs diet as you will want to make sure that they have no allergic reaction to a food and you have introduced so many you will not know what caused it. Your child may be eating when he is not hungry as a way to soothe, you should try giving a pacifier have him use a bouncer or a baby swing to calm down and soothe himself before trying to feed more. This will just cause digestion issues and an upset tummy. When he gets an upset tummy he will eat more because he does not understand that is what caused it in the first place and it is a horrible cycle. You should not be replacing any bottles with any meals this young at all. You should not introduce any baby food pureed foods or anything absolutely solid that cannot be put into their bottle until at least 6 months of age. He is too young please read this guide it does not matter how big he is, or how much you think he is eating you are over feeding as it is. I am not trying to be rude or mean but your child will have serious intestinal problems if you start introducing things to him this young he cannot digest it yet and it can cause serious harm to his body that will last his entire lifetime. Please find other ways to soothe him instead of feeding him at first cry it probably is not what he is asking for.

Answer 4

He's only 17 weeks(too young for solids anyway....) so any solids he is getting shouldn't be replacing any formula feeds or lessening them. And you should be offering formula FIRST and solids afterwards, not the other way around. Solids are not meant to substitute formula feeds, they are for fun and practice.



No water, no juice, no 3 solid meals/day. Again, he's far too young for all of this. ALL he needs is formula at this point. If you crowd his stomach with other things(solids, juice, water...) he will not be getting the appropriate amount of nutrition he needs. If you insist on feeding solids right now ONCE a day is plenty and only after he's had a bottle.

Answer 5

Start with some baby rice mixed with his milk. Offer it him before his bottle feeds maybe. Keep with the milk but he will soon drop a bottle once the food he eats is enough for him.



Just start with simple, bland things. Dont give him juice as its full of sugar. Water it down if you must be make it very weak.



Baby led weaning (which is taking the lead from baby on what hes ready for) is the best way. You can also try letting him suck on a carrot stick or bananna but take it slow. Some baby rice and milk will be more than enough. He needs to get used to that first.



Good Luck.



My son was the same and at 16 weeks i started. He is now a very healthy happy and very good eater at 2.

Answer 6

Wow things have changed! if you make up his baby rice with some milk from his bottle and then give the bottle if he is still 'hungry' try water it could just be habit.



Best advice (after 3 children) don't stress, relax, if your baby is happy be happy with him.



Health visitors have strict guidelines and they don't suffer from sleep deprivation and self doubt.