No Solids Yet

[KayJay]

Maddie went back to the GI doctor yesterday and he thinks she may have an allergy to milk or soy instead of just an intolerance now. So now he gave me Neocate to supplement with (only if I have too) and he wants to see her back in 6 weeks and then talk about starting solids. That will put her at 8 months before she can eat solids. I know they don't need them for a year and he doesn't think she will have any problem with textures and such then. Just curious when you started solids and if it was late did they have any problems? And will she gain less weight without and food?

Thanks!

[taweavmo3]

You have a gorgeous baby girl! I started my kids on solids around 6 months, but it was always a slow process. With my last baby, I was in no rush to start solids and he went straight to regular food (mashed) around 7 months. He detested the jar baby food, and wouldn't touch it.

I wouln't worry too much, I'm sure she'll take right to it. I really don't think it will effect her weight gain either, she will be getting the bulk of her calories from the formula or breastmilk. If I remember what my last pediatrician said, in other countires it's common for mothers to only breastfeed or bottlefeed for the entire first year. America really pushes the solids, but I don't think it's critical to start them at 6 months, there can be variation. Good luck!

[mrsnj91]

By solids I assume you are meaning baby foods vs. table foods. Delaney was told to start baby foods at 4 months due to drinking a lot of formula. She wasn't interested. At all! We tried again at 6 month, 7 months, 8 months.....I was lucky to get a full jar into her a day!!! I started her on table foods (and of course they were grains like crackers and cookies) at 8 months. That was when she started having GI problems. We have been on again and off again and several visites to the dr before the gluten-free diet at 11 months. I can tell you that she has not been on a good solid intake till about 10 months!

Now to answer your question....I work in childcare and I can honestly tell you that it really depends on the child. Some kids like my DD went from eating nothing to eating foods over night later than most. However she is still not big on self feeding and she is 12 months. Some kids pick it up fast and some do have texture problems if you wait later to give them. They will gag and turn away and spit out foods that have bumps and lumps. There is no way to tell. 8 months however is not that late. When I say this....these are kids that are close to their 1st birthday. You can only take things one step at a time and cross that bridge should you come to it. You can't sit and wonder. If you have to wait....wait and deal with the problems should they ever even arise. I am sure though at 8 months she will be fine and stages 1 and twos have no lumps or bumps to worry about. LOL!

[KayJay]

Thanks, the reason I ask was her ped. says we need to start solids because of the texture avoidance issues and she says new research says it could help with speech later on but she isn't too concerned or worried about that. After all it is new research.

But her GI says that she is still reacting to certain proteins and if we move her to solids too quickly before her gut seals completely then it will just irritate her intestines and if they are constantly getting irritated then she will get sick and may develop an allergy.

That seems worse to me. So we are waiting to get his okay. She goes back in 6 weeks and she will be 8 months. He may decide to wait longer but he may decide she is doing okay and can move to solids. He did say that when we start her on food that she needs to just have one new food every 7 days.

He is also concerned that if she is crawling around and finds a piece of cheese or cracker and eats it then she could get very ill. (concerned about allergies now) So he wants to wait to lessen that chance too. Although we keep our house very clean who knows what she will find at someone else's house.

I am hoping she isn't celiac but so far her tummy isn't coroperating very well even without any gluten.

[Merika]

Hi,

My ds was a strictly breastmilk baby until 11 mos. He didn't start to consume sizable amounts of table food until 18 months. It's not unusual for babies with allergic tendencies to want to delay solids, they seem to know what's good for them.

My ds is now 4 yo and very healthy and very tall for his age. On breastmilk alone, he was above the 95 percentile for height and weight at 11 mos. They can definitely grow and gain weight that way I am very happy to hear your doc is supportive of this and knowledgable, because so many docs seem to be stuck in the 1950s where formula and tv dinners were the epitome of modern nutrition

The best thing you can do for her at this point, since you are already bfing, is to make sure your OWN diet is free of allergies you know she has, or at least low on ones you think may cause trouble in the future, because allergens can get transferred via breastmilk. Neocate is great if you end up in an emergency and really need it, but your baby will THRIVE on your breastmilk.

Best wishes,

Merika

[KayJay]

^Thanks that makes me feel so much better!

Just wanted to add this past week she has only been breastfed and I have cut out her known allergens and she has had the best week ever! She is so happy and looks great!

[Fiddle-Faddle]

I nursed my 3 (not at once! they're now 10, 7, and 4) for 2 to 2 1/2 years each. My oldest gagged on rice cereal until he was nearly a year--we had to make it mostly breast milk. My middle one had a drug reaction to one of his vaccines at 4 months and I was told not to start anything other than breastmilk til the rash went away. It lasted 8 months. My youngest hated rice cereal. We started her on oatmeal, sweet potatoes, broiled salmon and tofu when she was about 8 months old, then we added peaches, plums, apricots, and pears because the oatmeal and sweet potatoes gave her constipation. (And oatmeal isn't gluten-free anyway, though back then I was unaware of any problems with gluten for any of us.)

All 3 of mine are very tall. My husband is 5'9" and I'm 5'6". My oldest started out as a 4 1/2 pounder. He was off the bottom of the chart for weight, and only 10th percentile for height. By 4 months old, he was 75th percentile for height and 10th percentile for weight. He is now off the top of the chart for height, and 90% for weight!

By the way, your baby looks adorable!

[prinsessa]

My son started on solids at around 6 months but didn't really eat much (besides breastmilk) until around 15 months. He got most of his calories from breastmilk. Breastmilk has more calories than most solids you could give her right now anyway. You could also freeze some breastmilk in an ice cube tray (only half full so they aren't too big) and then give her that in one of those safe feeder things (sorry can't remember the name right now). She can "chew" on the icecube through the mesh part. That can also help with teething. I have never done it myself, but I have heard other women do it. btw, she is adorable!