ready for solids or just a growth spurt??

[kelebek]

Hi guys I am hoping for some advice.
I am happy to demand feed DS who is now just over 5 mnths old but the manual can be a little confusing sometimes
Usually he will feed every 2 - 3 hours, for the last couple of days he has been feeding every hour - hour & 1/2 & about 2 hrly at night, he isn't just snacking as he is feeding for as long as he would normally feed. He is normally up for about 2 -3 hrs before going down for a nap through the day but today is tired after only hour - hour & 1/2 & has been sleeping for longer a lot easier as well - not that I mind but he nearly had a dream feed this afternoon which is not like him & of course that makes me worry... Should I be worried about how much he is sleeping today ??
I know the recommendation is to wait until he is 6 mnths before starting solids & I would love to do that but I don't want him to miss out either & this is a guide, all babys are different & their digestion system could be ready sooner... so here is my dilema (sp) is he ready for solids or just going through a growth spurt??
He is sitting, I am not sure how to tell if he has lost the sucking reflux or not. He watches whenever we eat anything - he has for a while so it could just be curiosity.
So any thoughts anyone??

[The[cookie]Doctor]

Do you ever give him panadol, or maybe even bonjela? I noticed DS' thrust reflex had gone when gicing him panadol one night.

I would say hold out as long as possible - it is true that they may be ready earlier, but it may be teeth, or he may have a cold or illness coming on. Leave it a few days and see?

The manual is always being rewritten isnt it? You are doing a fabulous job hon!

[Curly]

Honestly, I would say that if this behaviour continues for a week I would start him on solids. That way you can be sure it's not just a funny little blip in his feeding pattern or that he is just not feeling well. (And you some time to get used to the idea!)

A week or so earlier isn't going to make any difference to the magic 6 month mark. The fact that he is interested in your food is also a good sign. My DS wasn't doing that at all, I think I could have waited a bit longer before starting him.

His primary source of nutrition will still be breastmilk for some time yet, despite starting solids, so he won't be missing out on anything. I think this is where you have to take their individuality into account.

[Sammiejane]

at the talk that i went to it said that if they grab food off your plate if they are sitting woth you and try to put it into their mouth... its time to start...'

MJ had a spurt at about this stage too, but had a cold and started teething, so was hard to tell why she wanted extra feeds..

We started solids at 5mths and 2 weeks, she had been grabbing out our food and cups for a while and was getting more and more upset when she saw us eating.

the other thing to note is that although MJ is offered lots of different things, her intake it pretty small still, BM makes up i would say 97% of her intake still.


HTH