starting solids / my parents driving me nuts!

[Cally]

Oh BabySocks, hope DD wasn't up all night with tummy pains after all that food!!

Can you remind them that she sticks everything in her mouth, that is what they do at that age, it doesn't mean she wants to eat all her toys, your fingers, her bib etc?

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Thanks for your replies everyone, but its gotten WORSE.

Today, I got told off for not giving her enough liquids. Guh. She didn't have any solids today, so I just gave her breastmilk and she was fine - my supply is great again and she had lots of good feeds and everything seemed fine.
I was trying to get her to sleep but she was crying, so they took her for a while, the next thing I know I'm getting told off because shes SOOO dehydrated. "We have her TWO bottles of juice because she was SO thirsty, her face was BRIGHT RED because she didn't even stop to BREATHE. AND she ate half a banana."

What
the
hell?

I tried to explain to them that I haven't given her solids today so she didn't liquids, and my stepdad just repeated over and over "But she needs WATER. Breastmilk is FOOD. Go ask your GP."

ARGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



What the heck am I meant to do? I mean I don't know what this business about her skulling the juice is, but isn't it quite possible she drank so much because it's sweet? It's watered down juice but still.

I am so confused and madly irritated.

[Jo+3]

Maybe you should get one of them to come with you to your next gp/health nurse appointment. Then they can hear "straight from the horses mouth". Babies should not be given juice and don't need water. She will take what she needs from you. I hope for the sake of your sanity your parents learn to back off a bit. Take care hun.

[fionas]

Jo beat me to it! I was also going to suggest that you take your mum to your next visit to your MCHN and perhaps arrange an appointment sooner rather than later. It sounds like you're trying to educate them but maybe it will sink in better if they hear it from an "expert".

Personally, I wouldn't have a problem with water but juice is not good and MARZIPAN - ffs, no way!

[MantaRay]

Oh BS, you poor thing. It is so hard not to be listened to. Your DD would have "skulled" the juice because being fed from a bottle is like that - it is more effort to stop the fluid coming out than to swallow. But juice is so bad for your DD now and could seriously impact on her bfing (once they get a taste for sweet thing, they can become fussy about milk and water, and not to mention that her demand for your bm will be lowered today as she has filled up on that awful juice).

I really hope you can find a way to get your parents to listen to you. You have done such a great job to get past your bfing problems, you don't want to have another set of problems come up now. And not to mention the fact that giving these foods at this age could cause allergies down the track, and more immediate tummy problems. GL with it, I think you are going to have to be really firm. And the the appointment with the MCHN is a good idea, but make sure it's not one that advocates early solids!!

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

Thanks, everyone.

So I figure the first thing I'll do is tell them that they can give her water but not juice. Should I let them keep giving her banana? I was going to just give her rice cereal for a few weeks but I guess that's kinda gone out the window.

I don't have a GP right now cos he told me to put her on formula (without weighing her or even seeing her), and I haven't seen the child health nurse for ages. Hopefully I can sort out a way for them to see the child health nurse with me so she can tell them, though I'm kind of worried because I've heard lots of stories about the nurses being, well, a bit daft, and I doubt my parents will listen anyway! I guess it's the only thing I can do, though.

I am so tired of everyone railroading my parenting hey, like DDs dad telling me she's lost weight and now my parents telling me to start giving her lots of extra liquids and solids, arrrgh! I'm the one who has ALL the responsibility for her and takes care of her pretty much by myself, what I say should be the law!!

[LimeSlice]

Everyone seems to be being really tactfula dn nice and all that rubbish, but quite franklly it doesnt seem to be working...

You live with them dont you? I understand that that will make things difficult but you really need to put your foot down - this is not about their feelings, or even them understanding whats going on - its YOUR DAUGHTERS HEALTH AND WELL BEING at stake here.

You are the parent, step up and lay down the law - tell them to STOP FEEDING HER AND STOP GIVING HER DRINKS. FULL STOP. nothing more, nothing less. If they have a problem with that then its just their tough luck. You need to do whats best for your daughter, and its not them.

Sorry ...ymo, but if you let them keep doing it, they are going to walk all over you and your parenting forever.

Good luck!