Solids, grizzling, so unsure of myself!
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Topic: Solids, grizzling, so unsure of myself!
Posted By: 1st_Time_Preggies
Subject: Solids, grizzling, so unsure of myself!
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:00am
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My son is now 5 months and 3/4's, and I have been introducing solids for the last week or so. I waited till I was sure he was REALLY ready, and at first he took them well (started with baby rice).
Have tried him on pear, pumpkin and banana, and then started to try to give him the solids in the evening. He seems to be getting less and less interested. Opens his mouth for the first spoonful and then it gets harder and harder. I have also been giving him whole pieces of fruit during the day which he likes to chomp on but not sure whether I should just do this (baby led weaning) or carry on with the purees. I know it is just a taste at the moment, but I don't feel like it is going well 
On top of that, he is grizzly, what feels like the WHOLE day, getting worse at night. I suspect (but have no idea really!) that he is just plain hungry but doesn't associate the food with getting rid of that feeling??? It could be teeth I guess but he doesn't have any other symptoms. He is definitely not his happy usual self 
So last night I gave him a formula top up. I felt SO guilty but decided to give it a shot. And he was SOOOoooo happy afterwards!?! He has also developed bad eczema on his chin but this didn't appear to be related to any specific food. I feel totally unsure of myself and what I am doing with him - it is awful! I want to do right by him but have no idea what that is. |
Replies:
Posted By: lilfatty
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:27am
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Thats quite young to be starting solids isnt it? ..
Golly from experience, sometimes they are just grizzly and grumpy for what seems like there entire lives. 
If the formula seems to be working go with it ..  ------------- Mummy to Issy (3) and Elias (18 months) I did it .. 41 kgs gone! From flab to fab in under a year  http://www.femininefitness.co.nz/category/blog - LFs weight blog
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Posted By: SpecialK
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:51am
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We started solids around 5.5 months but he wasn't really eating anything as such until about 7 months. We did pureed food to start with, but I did give him rusks and fruit bits in a muslin cloth to nibble on. He was also getting hungrier around this time and was waking more at night for feeds. Anyway, what worked for us was introducing the stage 2 formula around this time - it has more protein in it so kept him fuller for longer. But then H has been getting formula top ups from day 1 (long story) and I got over my guilts by then!
I'd say if he is happier after a bottle then he is probably hungry. Oh, and the other thing I noticed with H - if he was really hungry then he just wouldn't eat solids, he'd be far too agitated for that and just want milk. Good luck, you are doing a great job ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MrsEmma
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:55am
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1st_Time_Preggies it's so hard to know sometimes what to do isn't it!
With the solids, I started DS on them probably around the same time, he was grabbing food from us and I knew he wanted some. But when I started, it seemed a novelty for him at first which wore off. He then didn't want any so I left it altogether until he started showing signs again. If he doesn't want it or just isn't interested then I wouldn't give it to him. As for the formula, you obviously thought it was the right thing to do at the time and he was happy afterwards so that's good! You are only doing what you think is best for your son and you should never feel guilty about that. You will know what is best for him, if you feel like a formula top up is what he needs and it makes him happy then do it, if you don't think solids are going well then don't give them to him. But never feel guilty or let anyone make you feel that way, you're a fantastic Mum who is worried about her son and that is completely normal! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Gardengirl
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 8:56am
When I was starting DS on solids it felt very much as though the world and his wife were starting their babies off much younger. I felt as though everyone had babies of 4.5 months plus on steak and chips practically. My wee boy wouldn't have a bar of anything other than breast milk until about 7.5 months, and that was when we had arrived in England and he licked some gravy off my finger while I demonstrated to family just how disinterested in solids he was  Up until then he had been showing all the 'signs' of looking ready but he clearly wasn't.
I can't help on the grizzling thing - who knows!? - but just take the whole solids thing slowly, he'll definitely let you know once he's really up for it. |
lilfatty wrote:Posted By: bopmum
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 9:23am
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Does he dribble alot? The eczema on his chin might just be dry from dribbling and being wiped all day? I know Caide's chin got really dry and red when he was dribbling heaps.
Caide is a bit younger than your bubba, I have been giving him solids for a few weeks now. I feed him first then wait about half an hour to an hour and then try the solids - I started with an afternoon snack first as this seemed to be when he was hungry. We have now moved onto having "breakfast" at 8am and then "dinner" at 5pm, he still has his dream feed of formula at about 10pm. Don't feel bad about giving him formula - like the others have said you know what is best for your baby and sometimes they need a little bit extra! Caide had an off week last week - waking at silly times and was just grizzly for what felt like the whole week! Could he be teething or growth spurt? Thats what I put Caide's down too and on Saturday night he has come right. You are doing a great job by your baby and a lot of it is learn as you go and doing what works best for you and baby! Maybe stop the solids for a few days and then see how you go! Good luck!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 9:38am
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the grizzling could be teeth related. those little buggers move around in the mouth a bit and can cause discomfort way before they pop up. The pieces of fruit will be good for chewing for his teeth.
dont forget at this age that milk is still more important than solid food. my 28mth old still has milk before bed! oh and even now my 5 and 6 yr old prefer to eat earlier in the day than later... and if it gets too late they wont eat at all. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: mummyofprinces
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 9:46am
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Oh its so easy to feel like we are doing everything wrong...
Just go with the flow I say, if he eats great, if he doesnt.. no biggy... easier said then done I know, but food really isnt that important right now. Perhaps you have jumped to 2 feeds per day a bit soon... it maybe filling him so he isnt drinking properly and not getting enough millk ifgwim???? The grizzly could be totally unrelated, its a pretty big learning time and my little guy was uber grizzly when he was just about to learn a new milestone.... could be that? -------------   
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Posted By: Renee & Lauren
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 11:03am
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Jayden has been like that the last few mornings. He has been on solids since around 5ish mths (now 6 mths) and the last few mornings he hasn't really wanted any solids at all. I generally give him fruit in the morning and lunch time and then a vege kind of one at night for tea but he hasn't wanted anything apart from his bottle at the moment. I am just going with the flow and if it continues I will definitely be talking to the dr or someone about it..
Good luck anyway ------------- http://lilyslim.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 27 July 2010 at 2:34pm
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My DS got his first tooth through one month after I started solids (I started the same time as you which is perfectly fine - you know when your baby is ready!) and it was a couple of weeks of grizzles. Not all babies are grizzly babies - mine isn't. So when he is, I know there is something wrong. He also went off his food and was very very fussy. It was hard to get anything in to him. At one stage he just would eat bananas or something that had banana in it!
Often they like munching on fruit when they are teething. You could try apple in a nubi chewer or toast. Or a pumpkin (or other) ice cube in the nubi chewer. If it makes him feel better, chances are it's his teeth so you can then deal with that (pamol etc). And just try various tastes to see if there is a few that he will accept like my son loving banana! ETA: If he is teething, sometimes they prefer milk to food which maybe is why he liked the formula because it didn't hurt his gums to drink it and he was no longer hungry. But try to breastfeed more rather than using formula because otherwise your supply will drop. |
Posted By: lisa85
Date Posted: 29 July 2010 at 10:40am
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We started solids at 4 months :) We only gave them like a teaspoon of baby rice once a day for the first month though. Then slowing started mixing apple into the rice then other things like banana & pear and eventually went to pumpkin and other vege. I think it's something you just need to ease into. Kids will eat solids when they're ready. Don't panic most Mums don't even start until 6 months or older these days anyway. Unless your doctor is worried about weight gain etc then I wouldn't panic. Just go slow and introduce a new flavour once a week. Sometimes it can take a few days for them to get used to a new taste. -------------  
TTC #3 since Jan 2010 - PCOS MC April 2010 |
Posted By: HuntersMama
Date Posted: 29 July 2010 at 11:07am
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Im glad to hear of other bubbas out there who didnt start solids til a bit later. My wee man is 6 months, and I have offered him food twice but he is just not really into it. I waited a week before I offered it to him again and still not keen.
I agree that it is so hard to know what the right thing to do is. I thought I 'should' start him on solids by 6 months, but it just isnt happening. He also goes through grizzly phases that last about a week then he is back to normal. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: millymollymandy
Date Posted: 29 July 2010 at 11:54am
| my little darling is very grizzly at the moment. have no idea why. is very clingy and food fussy. it will pass, as frustrating as it is. is happily knawing on home pizza on my lap - now - anything for a break lol. |
Posted By: AandCsmum
Date Posted: 29 July 2010 at 12:51pm
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At this stage he should still be getting 600-1200ml of breast milk or formula. This is from a scale of 5-12 months so I'd say that he should be still getting 1200ml of milk.
If you've only introduced solids in the last week or so perhaps you've gone to fast for him? There is a good saying, "food until one is just fun" So maybe give him the fruit to chomp on & don't worry about if any is actually going in & drop the actual "meals" back to a couple of baby spoons of rice for half a week & then add something to that but still keep the amount small? Introducing solids is actually really really hard, especially if you are planning on making your own foods for him. It might seems a simple process but I've found a lot of though has to go into it. a great website is the wholesome baby foods one. ------------- Kel http://lilypie.com"> 
A = 01.02.04 & C = 16.01.09 & G = 30.03.12 |
Posted By: tiptoes
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 1:59pm
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Sounds really similar to us, Cooper didn't really become interested till 6 1/2 - 7 months, even though I thought he was ready earlier. So if he only takes one or two teaspoons per feed don't worry, it seemed like everyone I spoke to started on 1 teaspoon and after a week they were on 2-3 meals! But then I asked around a bit more and that wasn't the case after all, it was more of a mix. Cooper still isn't big on veges, so they always get mixed with fruit or done as finger food as he seems ok with them that way (fair enough I don't really like mashed potato, but like baked and roast ones).
Keep trying new stuff, and you'll stumble across a favourite - then mixing that with new stuff helps. Also start the cycle again, in case he likes something he didn't in the beginning. Sometimes Cooper grizzles when eating finger food and I wonder if it's because he can't eat it fast enough and is too hungry or the process is a bit much for him, or he could be bored or not like it and want something else. I tried playing around with the gap between milk and solids too as that makes a difference. Sometimes too big of a gap and he's too hungry, not enough and he's too full (my guesses anyway) and then sometimes straight after a nap didn't work either. So many variables with this baby business!! It is really confusing and worrying at times. ------------- http://alterna-tickers.com">  
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 2:37pm
Lily is ready in all ways but being hungry. Plunket have told me she is gaining weight well and doesn't need anything other than my BM but that I am to start no later than 6 months.  ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 3:49pm
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Don't you love how contridictory plunket is. I wouldn't worry about what they say Nic, trust your gut, you'll know when she's ready. Cooper is just about to turn 7 months and he really isn't swallowing much at all and the face that it all comes back out undigested in his nappy tells me he doesn't "need" it like Plunket tend to insist. -------------  
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 5:31pm
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Yeah I know they keep telling me not to give it if she isn't ready and then go and tell me I have to start by 6 months... Um... ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 30 July 2010 at 11:14pm
| I think it's more a developmental thing (chewing etc) rather than a need for food thing. And by 7mths they really need more iron than we can give them via breastmilk. |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 8:37am
I'm not sure that last quote is true. I know that breastmilk generally has a low amount of iron in it, but they can absorb 49% of the iron present, as opposed to the 4% they can absorb from other sources. My son has low iron (although it wasn't picked up til later) and i am sure i remember the nurse saying something about him not needing iron fortified stuff til over a year - because that's when people typically go on cows milk. - we had weaned onto formula earlier though. |
Posted By: MamaT
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 9:56am
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I thought the same Lizzle!! -------------
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Posted By: nathansmummy
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 11:31am
| Plunket's literature say that babies need a lot of iron particularly from 7-8mths. Not sure why though! But they did tell me that my breastmilk wouldn't be enough. I generally have low iron anyway so I knew he would definitely need another source of iron. |
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 12:04pm
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around 7-8 mths the stores of iron are getting depleted... and yeah iron from breast milk is definitely absorbed better than from food sources. Because a lot of mothers have stopped breastfeeding before 7 months though i think that is why iron rich food is encouraged by plunket and the like. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker">
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Posted By: Mum_me
Date Posted: 31 July 2010 at 12:37pm
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Breastmilk provides the most absorbable (sp) source of iron, but as soon as it is mixed in the babies belly with any other food source (formula included) the ability to absorb the iron is severely reduced. This means that if your are offering food well after BFding and baby is still getting plenty of BM they should never end up iron deficient.
My DD is almost 15months and is exclusively BF (due to health problems) her iron levels are fine. |