Starting Solids

[Clasik VH]

I have just started giving my 5 1/2 month old solids I have started her off with apple and she looooooves it
The thing I am unsure about is how much to give her. I dont want to over feed her I feed her 1 mashed up apple and then breastfeed her afterwards at the moment. Will she stop taking food if she is full or do I need to measure how much she should have?

[tellytubby]

Hey Clasik,
How exciting! I loved when i started giving DD solids - was so fun watching her expressions!

I would give her breast milk first, then give her the solids.

HTH
-telly

[Clasik VH]

Ok cool so once you have breastfed and then start feeding the food how do you know if they have had enough? Do they spit it out or turn their head?

[Megan]

Hi Clasik We have just started solids here too. I breastfeed DS first and about half an hour later give him solids. I have frozen some fruit and veges in ice cube trays and then put the cubes into freezer bags. At this point (after about 10 days since starting solids) he has almost a whole cube (a little bit more than a teaspoon). He just refuses to open his mouth if he doesn't want anymore!
At this stage, you should be giving milk first as that is still their main source of nutrition and solid food is more fun than anything while they are getting the hang of it.
It's fun isn't it? lol I think I need to invest in about another 2 dozen bibs!

[Megan]

double post

[MantaRay]

Food shouldn't replace milk at that age - not until closer to 12 months. So if her milk intake drops then she needs less solids - that's the best way to know. Some babies are really slow with solids and won't take more than they need but others will keep eating and then not have enough milk. At that age she doesn't need food at all, it's just about learning tastes and textures, so I'd stick to small amounts for now.

[Clasik VH]

It is so much fun I love watching her face when she tries stuff its hilarious. Thanks so much for the advice that has helped heaps! its only been a little hard because her feeding has been off so the food has helped to top her up. I wanted to go as long as I possibly could but she doesnt seem to like that and has her own agenda haha!

[MantaRay]

Hun, many mums find that babies who have food to "top up" the milk can run into sleep problems, because it's really the milk they need for nutrition, not food. This happened to me also. If she's been off her milk, it might be a better idea to hold off on the solids until she's drinking well again. This way she is getting what she needs most.

Also iron is absolutely critical for brain development at that age, and replacing breast milk with solids often results in a drop in the baby's iron levels. If you are going to replace milk with solids, or use food to "top her up", then it's really important to make sure that you include meat in her diet.