7.18.2008

Starting Solids.

I'll have to add the pictures later, but while I have a minute I'll write about Olivia's first taste of rice cereal. Since she turned 4 months I've given her little tastes of whatever I'm eating, as long as it's something she won't choke on. So she's tasted lots of things, but hasn't ever actually eaten a meal... until last night. I mixed up the rice cereal with some breastmilk and my little girl gobbled it up!! I am surprised at how well she swallowed it. I'd say about 75% ended up in her tummy. I think that's pretty good for a first feeding. It was really watered down, so after a few bites of her taking it fine, I added a little more cereal and thickened it a bit. She still did great, and seemed to love it. The funny thing was that she got impatient between bites. She couldn't wait for me to refill the spoon. She'd start kicking her legs and flailing her arms between each bite. I guess with nursing it's just constantly coming so it's new to have to wait for more! So now I am not sure where to go from here. I know we'll stick to just the rice cereal for a while, but when should we add another meal? How long is it just one? When to start veggies? What a whole new world we're entering. And I think she may have slept longer because instead of waking up at 1:00am for her feeding she lasted all the way to 3. So it could be a number of factors, but we'll see what happens again tonight.

4 comments:

lrbodine said...

The Gerber and Beechnut websites have everything listed on there as to feeding schedules (and you can usually get free bowls and stuff from Beechnut).

I didn't really start Ellie on any "solids" (other than rice cereal) until she was around 6 months. Some people choose to introduce all veggies first and then fruit. I alternated between the two. Pretty much from what I've been told - they are getting most of their nutrition by breastmilk/forumla that first year. We start giving them the other stuff just to get them used to it.

Christina MC said...

In the beginning everything is really just to practice mouth and tongue control. Your Dr's office should have some hand outs for you on her 4 month appointment about when to feed her what. As long as you introduce foods one week apart to test for food allergies, she should be fine.

Christina said...

You should be able to give her cereal 3 times a day now. Like the other Christina said, introduce them slowly and there are certain foods that they should have at different ages. I have book that I will bring to the reunion for you to look at that's really helpful. See you then!

Sarah W. said...

I can't really add any new info... everybody "stole" my advice! Since we have severe food allergies in our little family, I'm really cautious - holler if you need allergy info! Don't want to scare you with our horror stories. She is growing up too fast!!