Porridge OK for 7 month old?

[lilprecious75]

Hi All,

I'm having some difficulty getting solids started with DS#3 which is baffling me because solids weren't a problem for either of my other boys.
I gave him sweet potato for three days, home made rice cereal for three days, carrots for three days, and one serving of mashed banana and he got seriously constipated.
So I ceased all solids and gave him pureed prunes once a day and continued to demand breastfeed him.
It took 5 days for him to start pooping properly again.
Now though, every time I give him any solids (even fruit) he only poops once a day and it will be very small and formed (though soft).
I guess my question is... is this normal? Am I just freaking out for nothing?
I'm wondering if he would do better if I offered more solids rather than less?
And is it okay to offer him porridge at the tender age of only 7 months?
Thoughts and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!!

Cheers,
Heidi

[jellybean88]

Ds was only really pooping once a day on formula so we didn't have any change in that respect but he was fine with porridge the really fine one apparently pear is good in preventing constipation and apple and bananna make them more constipated

[Trillian]

Oats/porridge is an awesome food for babies! it's low GI and much better than rice cereal, or god forbid, weetbix. It doesn't matter what you feed them and when you start feeding solids, but the transition from purely breastmilk to solids is always going to take an adjustment period for their little digestive system to get used to the bulk in their bowel etc. It sounds like he's doing OK to me.

[lilprecious75]

Thanks everyone - he LOVES his pear so might see how pear and porridge go down later today!!

Trillian: What is wrong with weetbix? I wouldn't give it to him yet but my two older boys (3yo and 6yo) LOVE them!!

[Trillian]

Older kids it's OK, but for babies it's not - it's too high in salt. even the kids weetbix which is lower in salt is still too high for a young baby that age. Sanitarium even say that they don't recommend it in babies under 12 months.

[lilprecious75]

Thanks so much for that... I don't think I gave it to my older two until they were past the age of 1 but truthfully cannot remember. I loathe the fact that I gave the other two boys commercial rice cereal but such is life - they mainly ate that and porridge until they were one and then breakfast branched out to include the ever popular weet-bix ;-) hopefully by giving DS#3 more solid foods rather than less I'll fix this bowel problem we seem to be having because it sure is a pain!!

[blessedatlast]

Porridge is ok, but not the satchels. They are so high in sugar and salt!

[Santosha]

I'm by no means an expert, but regarding porridge... I don't see why not. My DS has been having porridge from about the same age with no issue. He tends to get blocked up too so I give about 2/3 oats to 1/3 stewed/finely grated pear. I probably only give him 1/4 of a banana every week or two as this is a major culprit for constipation - poor little love, he LOVES bananas and would have them every meal if I let him! Really pushing the fluids and avoiding too much starchy foods and meat has generally helped. And he eats enough fruit to feed a small nation!

As far as I know, pooing once a day is fine as long as they're fairly soft and not causing too much pain to get out. My DS still makes enough noise doing a poo to silence a crowded play centre with his grunting!! But he gets 'em out and seems happy enough, so it's all good!