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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

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Original poster

when to start solids for formula fed babies?

20 replies

vict17 · 27/07/2004 20:39

Just following on from the previous thread about solids did anyone who gave their baby formula make it to 6 months before weaning? Do I need to wean my ds at 4 months because he might not be getting enough iron even if he isn't showing any of the signs yet? Exeriences and advice much appreciated!

OP posts:

Fennel · 27/07/2004 20:50

My friends who did breastfeed exclusively (ie no formula before 10 months or so) were recommended iron tablets because they weren't giving formula (which has added iron). even though their babies were eating food from 4 months.
So how can breastfed babies need iron because they're not on formula, and formula fed babies need it too because they're not on breast milk?

sorry that's not very helpful is it? but it's relevant, seems to me whichever you do they think you need more iron.

will be interested to see the answers you get anyway.

zebra · 27/07/2004 20:51

The advice has changed, now Fennel!! In the last year?? "They" have decided that breastfed babies have the advantage and can start solids later than formula-fed. Because iron in breastmilk is so much more bio-available.

Original poster

vict17 · 27/07/2004 20:53

This is what Tigga said on the other thread (hope she doesn't mind me quoting her): "Because the iron in formula milk is not as readily absorbed as breast milk and by 4 or 5 months the need for iron is greater than the amount absorbed from the formula." which had me a bit worried...

OP posts:

bbensley · 27/07/2004 20:54

I formula fed till 22 weeks then weaned very slowly. My dd was fine and didn't appear to be in need of iron. HV (for what its worth) thought that this was ok and one even told me that if she wasnt interested then I could hold off for another 4 weeks.

Original poster

vict17 · 27/07/2004 20:55

Thanks BBensley - that has reassured me a lot. I don't want the poor little mite getting ill....

OP posts:

Beatrice · 27/07/2004 22:14

OK, now I'm panicking a bit. My dd is exactly 6 months tomorrow, formula fed since 7 weeks old, and I've been trying to wean her since she was 19 weeks. In that time we've made virtually no progress at all, she's just not interested in food. She'll sit there happily in her chair, take one mouthful, smile at me and spit it out, then refuse to take any more. I've been assuming - and HVs have reassured me - that she just doesn't need to eat yet, but now I'm worried about her iron levels. Should I be cutting back on her milk to try to get her established on solids, or do I just trust that she will know when she needs to start eating?

johno · 27/07/2004 22:18

i dont know if u have tried flavoured baby rice but my Ds wouldnt touch plain but he loved sunshine orange and rusks mushed down with milk into a paste

JulieF · 27/07/2004 23:11

The iron in formula isn't as readily absorbed but there are still sufficient quantities in formula for a baby. If you are worried then you could consider a follow on formula which has even more iron added but in most cases this is uneccesary.

mears · 27/07/2004 23:47

Breastmilk OR formula milk is suitable for babies to the age of 6 months. There is no reason why a formula fed baby should start solids earlier than a breastfed one. Babies have their own iron stores up to the age of six months. Yes iron in breastmilk is absorbed more efficiently but that does not mean formula milk does not have enough. The longer babies wait to start solids the better, breast or formula.

mummytosteven · 27/07/2004 23:52

mears - i'm planning for ds to be vegetarian for the moment and have just started weaning him at 20 weeks. do you think that the slightly higher levels of iron in follow on milk would mean that i should switch him over to follow on at 6 months - i use sma gold atm, and ds seems to get thru enough of the stuff, so am quite loathe to change unless i have to.

mears · 28/07/2004 00:28

I do not think that follow-on milk is if any value whatso-ever. Neither do dieticians. The only reason it is sold is because it can be advertised as by milk companies as it is not classified as a breastmilk substitute. I know from other threads though that some mums prefer it. That is fine, but all I want to emphasise is that it is not necessary to change a happy baby from the formula they are on. The extra iron in follow-on milk is not necessary. Babies can only absorb so much and will excrete the rest. Sat as you are MTS.

mears · 28/07/2004 00:28

Stay as you are I meant to say

mummytojames · 28/07/2004 00:37

mears was told by hv if feeding hasnt astablished buy ten months then to change them on to the follow on milk or vitimins substitute untill which time its not needed she said it dont normaly take longer than two to three months
and vict i started my ds before the 17 weeks because he was ready you baby will tell you when there ready and they wont take solids before

mears · 28/07/2004 00:39

followonmilk

mears · 28/07/2004 00:48

Sorry, MTJ - I do not agree with your HV at all. Our information leaflets for mothers advise that there is no need for follow-on formula at any time. There are plenty of vitamins in formula milk. If vitamins were needed for any reason though, they can be given separately. Your ds will take solids well when he is good and ready.

mummytojames · 28/07/2004 01:06

wasnt worried about my ds the reason i asked the health visitor was because when he's ill with his teeth he eats very little and she told me that useualy though my ds is eating more than most 12 month olds are supposed to be eating but im not going to moan he love fruit ad veg

Kif · 28/07/2004 05:22

On the converse, I suppose that there is not so much to gain in keeping off solids for too long when f.m. is already in diet... all that 'food replaces milk' malarkey doesn;t sound like it would be that important when it is\replacinf formula... you're just watching for the point when the gut is\ mature and able to cope without allergies or tummy ache, it would seem to me.

spot the 1 hNDED typing!

WideWebWitch · 28/07/2004 07:44

I started giving solids to my bottle fed baby when a) she started waking in the night through hunger and b) she seemed to be hungrier, i.e. she wanted another bottle sooner than I would have expected after the last one - I assumed this was because they weren't filling her up enough and it was time for food. I think she was about 5 months.

Original poster

vict17 · 28/07/2004 08:54

Thanks everyone, especially Mears. I will just carry on as I am and wait for the signs. I'd like to hold out as long as possible as ds was only breast fed for 5 weeks I worry about allergies a bit.

OP posts:

mummytosteven · 28/07/2004 16:27

thanks for the useful link mears!

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