Timing of solid fees and a few other questions

[dodi1978]

Hi,

I am one week into weaning my 5 month old. We are starting very gently, one meal a day, and I don't intend to do any more before the magic six months.

A couple of questions though:

Baby rice: I am using the Aptamil baby rice. On the package, it suggests mixing 10 / 1, i.e. one spoon of rice, 10 of milk. However, when I do this, the mixture is very very thin (still flowing of the spoon). I seem to need a lot more rice to get to a consistency that appears 'right' to me. Any thoughts?

Timing of feeds: Young man is now happily taking 8 oz bottles 5 times a day - roughly at 8 am, 11 am, 2 pm, 5 pm, 8 pm. But if I try to time is meal for being inbetween the 5pm and the 8pm feed, it is right during the time when I am either cooking dinner or we would like to eat (we can't have dinner earlier as my husband is coming home from work quite late). So today, I tried to bring the feed forward by giving young man only 5 oz at 5pm (which he seemed happy with) and then gave him his meal just before 6pm. Should I have given him extra water? To be honest, I am not worried at all about his liquid intake given how much he takes overall!!!

Generally, should I start giving him water? I have only given him water once when he had a massive cold, and he wasn't overly keen...

Next question: When do you stop feeding? On the whole, the young man has taken to the process quite well. However, at each feed, we seem to be pushing through a little 'I don't like this barrier'. Today, we had apple mush and baby rice. First couple of spoon fulls went well, then a bit of crying, but easily calmed down after some shoulder time. I then tried again, and he continued eating. In the end, he even actively grabbed the spoon to get it into his mouth quicker. My feeling is that, rather than offering a particular dish a couple of times before it is being accepted, young man needs a couple of spoon fulls to be happy, and I am ok to proceed even if he gets a bit upset. Have you had similar experiences?

In the end, he ended up eating quite a lot. However, at his 8pm feed, he spat out at least half a bottle of formula. Is he just adjusting to the fact that his stomach was already quite full?

So many questions, hope there are some answers! Thank you!

[ilovepowerhoop]

I would give the food during the day - maybe at lunchtime e.g. between the 11am and 2pm feed. Make the rice as thick or as runny as you want, some babies like it thicker than others. I would offer a lidded cup of water alongside the food - it doesnt matter if he only takes a sip. A couple of spoonfuls is plenty given his age. I wouldnt cut his milk to make him take more solids given that he is only 5 months old.

[JiltedJohnsJulie]

If he cries after a few spoonfuls I'd leave it at that. At this age he doesn't need to fill up on solids, his milk will be more than enough for him

[dodi1978]

Thanks all! I must say, so far it is going quite well, no total reject of anything I have given him and is taking good portions.

At the moment, I am just doing one meal a day and either vegetable or fruit mushes. I am a bit confused about when to introduce meat - not before six months, isn't it?

[ilovepowerhoop]

I waited until 6 months for meats, gluten, dairy, etc