Solids

[angel7]

Can anyone tell me if they have given their baby solids before or around three months of age. I know alot of people say it is a big no no, but my DS screams all the time in hunger. I have given him a spoon of farex a few times in a bottle but just would like to know if others out there have had to do the same thing. My DS is neally 3 months old.

[krisp]

Hi Angel, I waited until my DS was 5 months before I gave him any solids. Perhaps it's not hunger but some other reason he is unsettled? Have you popped in to see your local Maternal and Child Health centre for advice? I think your little man is still a little too young for his tummy to cope with solids yet.

[Trillian]

I personally wouldn't give a baby solids at that age for a variety of reasons, the main one being that their digestive system just isn't ready to cope with it. Also starting solids isn't about a meal as such but rather encourging tastes and textures and getting them used to feeding from a spoon etc instead of a breast or bottle. Have you tried giving him more milk feeds? At 3mths of age they can go through another growth spurt and also their appetites can increase anyway. Another cause could just be developmental as well - they are starting to learn so much at that age - they become more involved in play and can start to hold toys and be more interactive in general. I would be eliminating all of these reasons first before making the leap to solids as it is possible that even with solids that you will be left with the same baby kwim?

But in saying all of that it is your decision as his Mum what is the best for him.

[MantaRay]

Angel, I wouldn't do it. My babies drank lots at around that age, as Sherie said it's a usual time for them to need more to drink. There are also lots of reasons why it can cause problems - risk of allergies that might not show up for years, and risk of them replacing milk with food when milk is the most important nutritional requirement are two of them, Sherie mentioned another. I would give extra milk or formula as required and if it hasn't settled in a couple of days, then speak to a medical professional before deciding to give solids. This is just my opinion, and you will hear others say it is ok, even some medical professionals, espcecially if they were trained back when the recommendation was 3 months. Do you know that 100 years ago babies weren't recommended to start solids until 12 months of age? If you do decide you want to give solids earlier, please research it further first, try googling it, and make sure you look for medically sound sites with recent information.

[angel7]

Thanks for the replys. Just to let you all know that this has been happening since bub was around 1 month and I have been to 2 peds, 3 doctors and 1 health nurse. They have all told me different things and nothing has made my DS happy. It always made my sad to see the look in his eye when I couldn't help him. Anyway thanks for your opinions and will keep researching.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

Angel, have you tried hungry baby formula? DS has a bottle of that at night to make things more manageable for me. You can do breast and bottle together, so you don't have to give up breastfeeding.

[Erin_25]

Angel, are you BF?? that would explain why you can't just offer more milk - obviously if you don't always have the supply. But if you are FF then (sorry if this sounds rude) but why not just offer more milk? I'm not against starting solids early...but not too early. There are foods available (like farex) that state from 4months+ therefore it seems to me that it's not really recommended to start before then. But only you can make that decision.

Ryn......whats "hungry baby formula" sorry if that sounds dumb? do you mean a thickened formula?

______________
Erin
Me 25 DH 27
http://www.totsites.com/tot/dutchyfamily (Charlie's Pics)

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

It's milk that's caesin-based (usually!) so harder to digest.

However, do make sure you check it out as there have been moves to put leptin (the "I'm full!" hormone) into baby milk so baby doesn't feel hungry. That's just dangerous for so many reasons. While I don't particularly like that DS is finding things hard to digest (but do like I get more than one hour's sleep at night) at least I'm not stuffing up his hormones already!

[*charmalea*]

i dont think this is a good idea.. but dont feel bad we learn by trial and error, right ?

i would just give more milk . or u could introduce water ... cool boiled water .

i feel like baby is getting ripped off by getting fed before 6 mths ... their bodys are changins so rapidly and they are getting used to new sensations with in them .. so he may be a bit hungry ..but not so much that he needs another feed .. also masking the problem with milk could mean you are missing out on a sign he is giving to you ... he could be bored or tired ... talk to your health nurse ... but please no more food ... we are not rousing on .. dont feel bad .

there is a baby in my sons daycare room who is 3 mths old and the mum sends him there with farex... i was horrifed when i found this out ...he clearly doesnt need food and the staff complian about his wind/pain in the guts and poos ..... cant the realise he is too young for it .....

hth... it can be tough to read a babys cry but a talk to a nurse can help you

[MantaRay]

Also WRT the food labelling - the only reason some foods state that they are suitable from 4months+ is because they are packaged overseas where the WHO recommendations haven't been adopted. There is no difference between the food that is labelled 4+ months and that labelled 6+ months except for the country where it was packaged. The WHO recommendations are that no solids are introduced before 6 months and the Australian guidelines are the same. This is very confusing for mums who see that on the label and think that some foods are actually ok before 6 months.

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

With regards to any allergen where there is a family history of allergies, it's 7 years.

*sigh* cooking is going to be VERY hard for the next 12 years or so! I'm going to need to do 2-3 different meals every time due to dietary stuff.

Over here, it's 6 months, but the food packaging has 4 months and the health professionals all say it's 6 months, but baby is over 4 months so start solids anyway.

TBH, I think age is stupid. Do we all get our first cigarette the second we turn 16? Our first alcohol as soon as we are 5? Do we really think that ALL 18 year olds are really old enough to marry? Age is a stupid thing to go on alone, we also need to look at if the baby is ready. However, I would say that we should try to go for later rather than earlier.

[Erin_25]

Also WRT the food labelling - the only reason some foods state that they are suitable from 4months+ is because they are packaged overseas where the WHO recommendations haven't been adopted. There is no difference between the food that is labelled 4+ months and that labelled 6+ months except for the country where it was packaged. The WHO recommendations are that no solids are introduced before 6 months and the Australian guidelines are the same. This is very confusing for mums who see that on the label and think that some foods are actually ok before 6 months.

All of the Heinz baby food (some of which states from 4months+) is packaged in Echuca, VIC. I know everyone doesn't agree, but again if something shouldn't be used then it wouldn't be available. Or it would have a warning on the packet, which it does for under 4months. Again I wouldn't start before then but if you think they are ready I would stick to only what's available for that age.

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Erin

[MantaRay]

Erin, thanks for that. As I don't buy packaged baby foods I didn't actually know that. However the issue still is that the labelling on the packaging is inconsistent with the medical recommendations for starting solids. There is NO difference between food labelled ok from 4 months, and that labelled from 6 months. Here is a quote from the ABA website:

The Australian Breastfeeding Association recently met with officials and parliamentarians in Canberra to argue that infant food labelling regulations should immediately be revised to reflect the six-month health recommendation. Unfortunately, industry lobbying may undermine Australia's new 'six-month' exclusive breastfeeding guideline, and delay indefinitely any changes to our baby food labelling laws. We were told that Australia might not update our baby food labelling rules, as New Zealand is not amending its public health guidelines to reflect the new evidence. The minimum recommendation in New Zealand is just four months of exclusive breastfeeding. Industry argues that changing Australian labelling laws to reflect the six months recommendation would make our rules inconsistent with New Zealand 'standards'.

Also, we were told, another two years could pass before consumers see a difference in baby food labels on supermarket shelves, unless government regulators can be persuaded they need to invoke special fast-tracking provisions to protect public health.

I knew the labelling was due to NZ standards, but didn't realise that some food is actually packaged here with that labelling.

Starting solids before 6 months is what some people choose to do, and that is ok. I have learnt since having kids that many people do things differently to me, and there are many ways to do things. I have learnt on BB that this is something to be celebrated, not condemned. If we were all the same life would be boring. And sometimes the majority are wrong, sometimes the recommendations are wrong. Personally, I wouldn't start solids before 6 months, but if people do because it seems to be the right thing for them, then so be it - who am I to say it's not the right thing for them. But I do feel it necessary to point out the anomaly with the food labelling, as it is confusing and provides mis-information which might lead someone to make a decision they would not otherwise have made.

[*charmalea*]

ROFL!!!!

i was disscussing this with dh .. as my cousin is feeding her bub who is under 6mths solids... both me and dh agree 6mths is better ...

BUT i had to laugh when DH thought the WHO was the WHO WEEKLY MAG .... not the world health organisation .....
jsut had a giggle .. hope you all do too !

[Jac]

Does anyone have links to articles that show scientific evidence that starting solids early can lead to allergies? Have googled this with no luck making me wonder how scientific this evidence is!! I would like to shut my MIL up about starting solids BTW so would be interested in documented/reputable evidence not just people saying it is so. TIA

[christy]

Jac I will PM you.

Here's an article from the World Health Organisation:

Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding

Infant and young child feeding are a cornerstone of care for childhood development. World-wide about 30% of children under five are stunted as a consequence of poor feeding and repeated infections. Even in resource poor settings, improved feeding practices can lead to improved intakes of energy and nutrients, leading to better nutritional status.

Over the past decades, the evidence of biological requirements for appropriate nutrition, recommended feeding practices and factors impeding appropriate feeding has grown steadily. Moreover, much has been learned about interventions that are effective in promoting improved feeding. For example, recent studies in Bangladesh, Brazil and Mexico have demonstrated the impact of counselling, in communities and health services, to improve feeding practices, food intake and growth.

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding aims to revitalize efforts to promote, protect and support appropriate infant and young child feeding. It builds upon past initiatives, in particular the Innocenti Declaration and the Baby-friendly Hospital initiative and addresses the needs of all children including those living in difficult circumstances, such as infants of mothers living with HIV, low-birth-weight infants and infants in emergency situations.

The strategy calls for action in the following areas:

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All governments should develop and implement a comprehensive policy on infant and young child feeding, in the context of national policies for nutrition, child and reproductive health, and poverty reduction.
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All mothers should have access to skilled support to initiate and sustain exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months and ensure the timely introduction of adequate and safe complementary foods with continued breastfeeding up to two years or beyond.
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Health workers should be empowered to provide effective feeding counselling, and their services be extended in the community by trained lay or peer counsellors.
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Governments should review progress in national implementation of the International Code of Marketing of Breast milk Substitutes, and consider new legislation or additional measures as needed to protect families from adverse commercial influences.
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Governments should enact imaginative legislation protecting the breastfeeding rights of working women and establishing means for its enforcement in accordance with international labour standards.

The strategy specifies not only responsibilities of governments, but also of international organisations, non-governmental organisations and other concerned parties. It engages all relevant stakeholders and provides a framework for accelerated action, linking relevant intervention areas and using resources available in a variety of sectors.

[Jac]

Thankyou Christy and Caro for forwarding those links, however while they outlined the importance of giving breastmilk only for first 6 months (ect ect) I did not see any evidence that introducing solids before that time can lead to an increased risk of allergies. Maybe I missed the WHO study on this??? Or does somebody else have this information? It annoys me that I have read alot of people and websites claiming that introducing solids early relates to allergies yet I can't find the scientific evidence to support this by doing a simple google search. What about in the past when people used to start solids around 3 months of age (popular back in the 1970's I believe) - did those children have more food allergies than now? Or in the countries where solids are introduced quite late - do those children have less allergies than us? I can't find this sort of evidence readily available so it makes me think wonder how true it is. Mind you,I fully support breastfeeding exclusively until 6 months of age but find it irritating that some mum's feel quite guilty for contributing to their childs food allergy when I can't even find the evidence to say it is so!!!

[Erin_25]

Thankyou Christy and Caro for forwarding those links, however while they outlined the importance of giving breastmilk only for first 6 months (ect ect) I did not see any evidence that introducing solids before that time can lead to an increased risk of allergies. Maybe I missed the WHO study on this??? Or does somebody else have this information? It annoys me that I have read alot of people and websites claiming that introducing solids early relates to allergies yet I can't find the scientific evidence to support this by doing a simple google search. What about in the past when people used to start solids around 3 months of age (popular back in the 1970's I believe) - did those children have more food allergies than now? Or in the countries where solids are introduced quite late - do those children have less allergies than us? I can't find this sort of evidence readily available so it makes me think wonder how true it is. Mind you,I fully support breastfeeding exclusively until 6 months of age but find it irritating that some mum's feel quite guilty for contributing to their childs food allergy when I can't even find the evidence to say it is so!!!

I too would love to see this also, as being a first time Mum I need to start solids at some point too & i know this subject has several different veiws from everyone, & i've been the one to say it shouldn't be on the package if it's a complete NO,NO! So I'd be interested in reading it to help me make my decision as when to start. Of course my Mother says now, as she too is one who "put farex in the bottle @ 7wks OMG!!!" no I'm not listening to her LOL.
But some of you have stated how o/s packaging doesn't comply with ours & so on.....the babies o/s are not different to babies here - so is there evidence to say o/s people have more allergies due to this? I don't want to open a can of worms (sorry prob just did), but I'm still confused as to why its written on lables & in parenting books & so on if it should never ever be done. By this I mean between 4 & 6monts.....definately not before 4months.
Having said that I'd like to say proper feeding is important & we all should be aware by now milk is the best thing for bubs before 12months, BF or FF!
BTW...I'm in no hurry to start Charlie just yet - he's such a chubba already LOL.

____________________
Erin
Me 25 DH 27
http://www.totsites.com/tot/dutchyfamily (Charlie's Pics)