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anon View Drop Down
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    Posted: 01 April 2010 at 10:33pm
This is my first baby and I haven't started a baby on solids before. I went to the Solids Talk given by the Karitane nurse, but there were so many questions, I'm not really sure I completely understand how to start, how much to give and what to start with. And I notice people doing different things, which confuses me.

Please can people share what I should start with, how much and how often? And how to progress through to properly being on solids?

I've noticed some people starting with pureed fruit, some with pureed veges and some with farex (rice cereal mixed with breastmilk). Some have been told to do veges before the cereal whereas I've been told (also by Plunket) to do the cereal before the veges!

Also I've been told to do just a few spoonfuls at a time for a few days and then try something different. Is that correct or do you just give eg. Farex exclusively until they're taking more than just a few spoonfuls?

When starting, how often do you give a few spoonfuls - once a day? In the morning? How quickly do you increase it to more than a few spoonfuls up to one jar?

I'm not planning to give solids for a few more weeks but just want to understand it all before starting.

Edited by newlywed
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Delli View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Delli Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 01 April 2010 at 10:47pm
For the puree method (which it sounds like you will be doing) I was told that you should start off with just one teaspoon on the first day, two on the second day, three on the third day - continue this until the seventh day and then you can let them eat as much as they want and after this, start introducing a second and third meal. It just ensures their stomachs get used to the idea of solids slowly. It also pays to start at lunch times rather than dinner times as if he has a sore tummy or a reaction from starting solids and is a bit grizzly, it won't affect his night time sleep as much.

However, I don't know much about the puree method of introducing solids as we are doing Baby Led Weaning. There are a couple of good threads on here if you search for them - if you are interested. I love it!



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Tigerish View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Tigerish Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 April 2010 at 9:25am
I have the Annabel Karmel book "New complete baby and toddler meal planner". It is great for helping answer all your questions. We don't follow it exactly but it gives a good guide. Plunket should have a pamphlet that will help too (watties one I think!).

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Bizzy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bizzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 April 2010 at 11:00am
it can be a minefield... some people start on cereals but others dont - it can be a number of reasons, like allergies, they dont believe that cereal is the best thing (can be too harsh)... etc.

i think everyone would agree though to start small and not to mix tastes (if you are going the puree route). i did baby led weaning BLW with my third and found it so much easier than purees. with my first two i did do purees and started on a very runny farex with breast milk. It took less than a week though to progress to pureed veges or fuit - and for me it was about what was available as i made them themself. to me it was more about seeing if they were ready for food and getting them used to it. they only need a very small - teaspoon will do - amount to start with and make sure it is more liquid than solid... with BLW   tho it is more about letting them learn about textures and tastes for themselves and exlporing with mouths and hands... so say instead of giving the baby pureed carrot you can give a piece of steamed (but still firm) carrot.

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Shezamumof3 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Shezamumof3 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 April 2010 at 11:12am
We always started off with the fruit puree's once a day, usually middle of the day, and then once they got used to that I started giving twice a day, so fruit mid morning, then veges for dinner.
Now at 7 months Bella is on three emals a day. I havent tried the BLW(baby led weaning) before as the thought of giving chunks of food makes me nervous, so puree is the way we go. We start finger food at 8 months.

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mummymonster View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mummymonster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 April 2010 at 6:19pm
I remember it sounded really daunting before we started solids. You know that feeling of not wanting to get it wrong, but all the advice is a little bit different every time.
I say take the basic guide lines, and then trust your instinct. It also helps to understand some of the reasons behind all the do's and don'ts.
As far as I understand the reason starting slow is not to overload your babies system who up till now has never had to deal with anything other than milk and the reason for only introducing a new food every few days is to allow you space to pick up on any allergies.

Some people think you should start with bland food, some think starting with fruit will encourage a sweet tooth. Me? I say healthy fresh food, and it's all good.

One thing wish I'd done, video that first meal. DS pulled the cutest faces that first time (farex mixed with formula).
Start slow, lunch time is easiest. Then if your babies into it, new foods every few days. If your babies not into it, leave it a bit and try again in a few days.

Don't think a screwed up face necessarily means he doesn't like it. Even now, every new food DS gets he gives a look like 'OMG you people eat this?' then he happily gets on with eating it.
He gets broccoli a few times a week, and always pulls a 'yuk' face when it goes in his mouth, but it's always the first finger food he eats (sucks really, no so much on the eating)
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skp View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote skp Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 April 2010 at 7:26pm
Go the baby lead weaning!!!! its so easy!
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.Mel View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote .Mel Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 02 April 2010 at 8:23pm
I've started all my kids on Puree Pears... only a few spoonfuls at a time, just to get them used to the idea of something new in their mouth, then slowly increased it as we went on...

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anon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 April 2010 at 1:03am
Thanks everyone - I've got a bit of an idea now. I'm planning on starting him on solids sooner than I thought because I think my milk supply is not sufficient and he might need it. So it's good to have an idea about what to do. Thanks!
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Bizzy View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bizzy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 April 2010 at 7:53am
newlywed i dont know why you think your milk supply isnt sufficient... but remember that the way our body stores breast milk changes and becomes more efficient at storing and supplying it.

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anon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote anon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 April 2010 at 1:05pm
Thanks Bizzy. Nathan is starting to have an almost dry nappy in the late afternoon/early evening. I've been worried about my milk supply anyway because of the way he behaves when breastfeeding but also because of this regular almost dry nappy thing. A while back I started offering him both sides at every feed (after waking and before going to bed) because I didn't feel confident that one side was sufficient for him. I just think he's nearly 5mths and offering solids would ease my worry and make sure that he's not hungry. A lunchtime feed would certainly help that afternoon time when the quality and quantity of your milk diminishes.
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mummymonster View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mummymonster Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 April 2010 at 6:21pm
I had supply issues and I topped up with FF, now he's fully FF.
Have you tried the breastmilk cookies the Breastfeeding tips thread? People also say fenugreek increases supply. And there's some drug you can get to increase supply also.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote ?Lolly? Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 April 2010 at 10:17pm
I can't rave about Baby-Led Weaning enough! I know it seems scary to start with but it really is fantastic! I started a photo thread in the photo forum, check it out for lots of babies munching on food.

If you are worried about the dry nappies you should talk with your plunket nurse or doctor. Is it just the afternoon/evening that you have dry nappies? He might just be getting a bit of a wee routine going?
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