Does she want solids already?

[Janie]

Just remember (as I know you know, sometimes we all need a reminder), that feeding during the night isn't always about food

[Shanti]

I love getting up to my DD for that 3 or 4am feed... it's special time for us bonding and it's so quiet and peaceful.... I agree. But it is hard when they start waking more often than what we are used to because you want to know why they are!?!? lol I think we've been spoilt in our house because DD usually sleeps 7-7 and only wakes once around 3am! Those night wakings aren't just about food it's also sometimes they are waking more because they want more cuddles perhaps they dont' feel they had enough during the day that day.... is that right girls? Is that sometimes why babies wake more often in the night too?

Sara & Ali - you both know your babies the best... follow your instinct. What is it telling you is the right thing to do here? You know best. If you do start solids and let's say it turns out she wasn't ready... then you can stop straight away.. try again a week later.... that's what I would do anyway.

[Sammiejane]

Just thought that i would throw in another 2 cents worth

MJ's night wakings got worse AFTER starting soliids and it took loads of readjustments and making sure that she wasnt eating too close to dinner.

RE the constipation bit that someone mentioned... BLS babies rarely get constipated as they are eating a very wide variety of foods, not tonns is afctually going in anyway and they are still having LOADS of milk to keep their fluids up.
MJ has NEVER been constipated, and TBH i put it done to the fact that she never had rice cereal/farex or anything else that was 'enriched' with iron...

Heaven, do what you feel you need to. If your instint is saying feed, start, especially if you are going down the BLS pathway as you will not be 'feeding' your child, she wil;l be doing herself and if she TRUELY needs the food she will eat it... iykwim forget about the spoon and see what she does

[Heaven]

Thanks Sammie. I'm thinking about giving her some food to try in another week.

[Sammiejane]

cool... start with veggies cut into a handle shape, so sticks of steamed carrot, broccoli and sweet potato. Fruit is probably too hard for her to hold to start with as it is too slippery.
Good luck with it all.

[Visitor8]

The intestines are the body's filtering system, screening out potentially harmful substances and letting in healthy nutrients. In the early months, this filtering system is immature. Between four and seven months a baby's intestinal lining goes through a developmental growth spurt called closure, meaning the intestinal lining becomes more selective about what to let through. To prevent potentially-allergenic foods from entering the bloodstream, the maturing intestines secrete IgA , a protein immunoglobulin that acts like a protective paint, coating the intestines and preventing the passage of harmful allergens. In the early months, infant IgA production is low (although there is lots of IgA in human milk), and it is easier for potentially-allergenic food molecules to enter the baby's system. Once food molecules are in the blood, the immune system may produce antibodies to that food, creating a food allergy . By six to seven months of age the intestines are more mature and able to filter out more of the offending allergens.

[Heaven]

Ok this is getting ridiculous! She is now feeding every 2-2.5hrs day and night. It's like a newborn!! I'm getting anxious now that it's because she's still hungry Are there any other reasons she might do this?