Very hungry 10 week old! help me

[veebee2]

i want to know if people have given their baby solids before 4 months old.

DS doesn't want formula but seems to watch us eat! I remember the MHN advising me that if the baby watches you eat, they may want food.

What can happen if they eat it earlier than 4 months? is it ok to try?

Help!!

[*TripleJ*]

i put a little bit of rice cereal in DS's bottle i tried feeding him but he just can't eat yet if their tounge thrust reflex is still there they cant eat

[onthefly]

Hi
Just watching you eat on its own isn't necessarily a sign that they need solids. At that age they get very interested in everything (you've probably noticed).
I would probably wait till you see more signs of readiness for solids. Like sitting up, losing the tongue-thrust reflex, teeth, etc. That way you can be more confident that your little one's digestive system is mature enough to handle solids - I think that is potentially the biggest issue with giving food too early.
It's all very confusing cause everybody has their own idea about these things. Personally, I think it's good to watch your baby and follow their cues. Trust your instincts - based on your knowledge of your child, do you really feel he needs something else to eat?

[MummyNaomi]

I agree with Marcellus, another thing to be mindful of is choking - if they cant sit up thats definately a hazard

Our DS watches us eat with interest too, but again he watches most things we do with interest anyway so I dont take that as a sign of readiness for solids as yet....

The WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends starting solids at 6 months - handy to know

[MantaRay]

vb, it can be so confusing can't it! I agree that watching you eat and showing interest is just one sign. At that age they really do want to be part of everything and it doesn't mean that his digestive system is ready for solids. As a PP said, the WHO guidelines say 6 months, and so do the Australian medical bodies. The reason for this is that most babies' systems aren't ready before then. Some are, but even if they are there is no harm done by waiting as solids aren't needed before 6 months. But starting before they are ready can cause problems.

GL with your decision hun. It's one that many of us struggle with. One thing I can say for sure though, is that life is much cleaner and easier before they eat solids!!

I really also want to stress that it is not a good idea to put anything in a baby bottle other than drink. This is a very serious choking risk and medical professionals advise against this, except in very specific circumstances when there are special medical needs.

[veebee2]

Thanks everyone, your a great help.

It's hard not knowing what to do. My DD suffered really bad reflux and I didn't give her anything until she was 6 months old. However, DS is constantly hungry.
I have changed his formula from S26 to Heinz and he seems to be coping better. If I try to give him more formula, he tends to push the bottle out of his mouth and then screams a minute later for food.

Thanks again ladies, your a great help.

[onthefly]

Is it just a recent thing? Cause DS fed constantly for 3-4 days at that age, then it settled down again.

[veebee2]

It's been more so in the last week or so. I thought maybe the Formula wasn't heavy enough. He's putting weight, but his feeding drives me bonkers.
He's supposed to be feeding every 4 hours but he screams after an hour for more!

I'm a bit miffed with this one!

[MantaRay]

vb, I just noticed in your ticker that your little man is only 2 months olds. That is definitely too early for food. But that is about the right age for a wonder week - this is a time of huge neurological development when babies seem to feed all the time. Not a lot is known about why, but it is believed that they need extra fat and nutrition from the milk to build up the brain. It can be really tiring, but the best thing to do is to feed more often. It usually passes within a couple of weeks. GL hun, I hope you last that long!! (and FWIW, my second baby was much harder too. But he's much easier now LOL!!)

[veebee2]

Thanks MantaRay, your advice is great. I'm going to be more persistent and try to be more patient!

[~Raven~]

I've never formula fed so I may be way off with this, but could you feed him a bit more often? Maybe feed him 3 hourly?

10 weeks is really too soon for solids. You could be starting a new set of problems for him and you by doing that.

[BekZ]

vb, I just noticed in your ticker that your little man is only 2 months olds. That is definitely too early for food. But that is about the right age for a wonder week - this is a time of huge neurological development when babies seem to feed all the time. Not a lot is known about why, but it is believed that they need extra fat and nutrition from the milk to build up the brain. It can be really tiring, but the best thing to do is to feed more often. It usually passes within a couple of weeks. GL hun, I hope you last that long!! (and FWIW, my second baby was much harder too. But he's much easier now LOL!!)

My neighbours 8 week old has just done this!!! He is formula fed and went from 4 hourly feeds to 2 hourly feeds for a week. Hang in there I bet he is back to normal very soon.

BTW - My second was way harder than my first and my third is a breeze

[onthefly]

hmm. don't know much about formula, but if his weight gains and everything else are good, sounds like he's having enough to eat.
could there be something else going on? reflux or something making him uncomfortable so he doesn't have enough at once? (clueless really, just throwing ideas around)

Never mind, Mantray has saved the day

[veebee2]

It makes me wonder why the MHN didn't tell me this last week when I saw her. I told her about his feeding and she said, 'just push him to his 4 hours'.... I think some of them are more helpful than others!

At least you guys have some helpful advice, it might save my sanity!

[BekZ]

Not all formula fed bubs are 4hourly and I don't think you need to push out his feeds. If he is hungry then feed him. My girls were 3 hourly feeders but drank smaller amounts per feed. It is some times hard to figure out if your bub is hungry or if there is a different reason for him being unsettled. I always go through my list of reasons for bub being unsettled, eg wind, hot/cold, over tired (a sling is great for this), over stimuated. I find that wonder weeks ( developmental weeks) are really hard but there light at the end. hth

[MummyNaomi]

If he seems hungry but pushing away the bottle it could be wind or a sore belly, maybe try some serious burping or bicycle legs to move some wind and try a few minutes later? (disregard if you've thought of this already )