Just bought the baby rice - do I open the box?

[prufrock]

Ds is 24 weeks tomorrowand 21lb, and I don't know whether to start solids. I was SO determined to get to 6 months of exclusive bf, but his feeding has gone to pot recently and I think it might be time to start. I don't know whether my putting it off is more just so I can "achieve" the 6 months rather than actually being the best thing for him. Surely interpretating the WHO guidleines as an instruction for every baby to start at 6 montsh exactly is jsut as ridiculous as HV saying you must start at 16 weeks?

He had been feeding at 8, 11, 2.30, 5.30, 7.30. But for the last 4 days he's added in feeds at 6.30, then at 9.30pm, 12.00, 3.00, 3.30. And because he's fed all night, he then isn't really hungry fopr his 8am feed.
We did have a growth spurt at 17 weeks which meant 3 nights of feeds then back to normal. Put I think this is more than a growth spurt -it seems he's just not sated by milk anymore.

Please give me your honest opinions on what you would do - not just what you think I want to hear to make me feel better (Cos I'm not entirely sure which would make me feel better)

Prufrock, I think you may know the answer to this yourself...personally I think waiting the whole six months if your baby is fine with that is great, but it does sound as though your ds might be ripping the packet top off himself if you don't watch out...
You have done extremely well, both of you, to get to 24 weeks. Obviously only you can decide, but I honestly think in your position I would be giving solids serious consideration.

Prufrock, my DD1 and DD2 never waited till 6 months exactly. I tried but was being drained dry (bottles with 1 and breast with 2).

Go with your instinct but try it quite liquidy at first to break it in. Its like wallpaper paste anyway so don't be surprised if your little on spits it out first time. (dd1 did)

Have I got my maths right and you're just two weeks off the 6 month mark? It's really not going to make any difference either way IMO, you've basically made it to 6 months by now and have done brilliantly. Give the baby rice a go and see if your ds likes it. And I say this as someone who waited to 6 months with my first (err well actually probably 25 weeks!) ... these recommendations are approximate anyway, a couple of weeks here or there is nothing.

Well I'm in the same boat .. but 3 weeks to go, not 2

DD still wakes up twice a night (from 6.30pm she made it to 2.30am then again at 5.30am till finally awake at 8am)

I'm still going to hold off though ... I know it doesn't make sense prufock .. but I just think well what difference does 3 weeks make and as its supposed to help protect them from developing allergies / excema / asthma later on in life would I really want to look back and think those 3 weeks could've made the difference

The problem is IMHO its no doubt fine but I'd prefer to err on the side of caution and just get through the next 3 weeks, then if she does develop anything I did everything under my power

(all this from someone who weaned DS at 14 weeks 'cos he looked hungry )

Don't know prufrock, but I'm in the same position only ds2 is 22 weeks instead of 24 weeks. I'm really struggling to delay and I feel bad because his feeding is getting more and more frequent during the day and night without any sign of it settling down.

I too am wondering if I'm doing it more for my principles or for him. Don't have an easy answer I'm afraid, because I haven't found one for me yet either. Will be reading the thread with interest.

24 weeks is pretty much 6 months anyway, plus he's quite a big lad and it seems like he's hungry so I'd give the rice a go. It can't possibly be right that every baby is magically ready for solids when they hit 26 weeks so I*'d go with what feels right to you.

Prufrock - I know exactly what you mean about putting it off just so you can "achieve" the 6 months. I was going to do this but started dd last week at 24 weeks. My reasoning was she was showing all the signs and I wanted her to be established on solids by the time she goes to her childminder (first settling-in sessions next week).
You are so close to 6 months anyway - forget the date for a moment and ponder whether you think ds is ready.

So it looks like I'm opening it then - he is sitting here trying to "eat" Mr. Caterpillars ears.
It's not the wakings that bother me amfs (although that wasn't what I was saying at 3:30am)- it's the fact that they are new, he was previously sleeping 8-8, so something is obviously bothering him.

If I do forget the date, and my principles, it is very obvious that he wants food, so food it shall be (as soon as I've expressed some milk)
Wish us luck!

Good luck prufrock

Good luck prufrock!

Meant to say that you've done fantastically well getting to 24 weeks exclusively bf. Well done!

Hi Prufrock. A couple of months ago (dd now 8 months) I was in a similar position. At the time the 17 week solids rule was still in, so I was going a bit against my HV to wait until 26 weeks to start solids. My dd was similar weight to your ds and thriving so I thought I'd keep going.

At about 24 weeks dd got really hungry and grouchy and seemed to want to feed all the time. I thought I was loosing the plot (sleep deprivation) and felt really bad that I didn't have her on solids yet so couldn't satisfy the hunger. However, was reading LLL book on bf while working and in that it said there is a 6 month growth spurt (not mentioned in any other book I'd read). Sure enough, the feeding frenzy did subside (took about a week I think) and I looked like Sam Fox at the end of it (dh v. pleased ).

Having said that, I did start giving her solids at 24 weeks. Have introduced them very slowly (she's still 90% bf) as she didn't really seem to understand it as food at first and always inhaled then choked (attended infant CPR course fortunately so upended her with confidence). She now feeds herself with a spoon and is moving up to finger foods (she inhales these too, but has now learned to cough when she does it!).

Anyway, you know your child the best and I'm sure whatever you decide for him will be the right thing. Good luck!

Well it's done. He wasn't v. impressed TBH, did little shudders afer evry swallow, but he did love the spoon.

Welcome to the wonderful world of weaning!. BTW don't do pureed parsnip. That made the most revolting nappy I've ever seen.

Oh now I'm confused.

Ds woke at 9 last night, played for an hour then went back to sleep without wanting a feed. HE woke again at 11.30, fed and wentback to sleep unil 7.30am.
Now I'm not naive enough to think that 4 mouthfuls of v. runny baby rice made him slep through, so I think I'll stop for a bit. Of course if he wakes all night tonight then I'll become a firm advocate of teh "solids help them sleep" school

prufrock,
we were the same after 1 week of 2 hourly wakings last night she went 11pm to 5am. this has also made me doubt that shes still hungry. im now not sure what to do either. half of me thinks carry on as enjoyed the rice and wouldve ate more and the other half thinks stop until she statrs waking again.

im stuck

I am a first time mum so am very interested in the responses on here.

I personally have decided to start solids as and when DD is unsatisfied with just her milk regardless of what age she is. At present she is 12 weeks, on 4 9oz bottles a day and sleeping from 8 til7 most nights.
However, i think when she decides this isn;t enough i will simply move her onto solids no matter wat her age is.

DP's cousin has a DS who is 17 weeks and he has been on solids since he was 10 weeks old - he was over 10lb at birth and has always been a very hungry baby - it doesn't appear to be doing him any harm!

The problem is that being "unsatisfied" with milk often occurs at around 4 months, butit is really just a growth spurt and ds didsettle down and remain quite happy ion just milk for another few weeks.

Prufrock - I decided with DD (babe number 4) that she was not getting solids until 6 months come hell or high water Yes sometimes she fed a lot and then it would settle back down again. I am sure she went to a feeding spree just over the 20 weeks mark but it settled down again. With her brothers I started earliest 20 weeks and lateset 24 weeks. I felt so proud at holding off but it was a decision I made for ME.
Anyway - the only word of wisdom I would give you from my experience is don't bother with vile baby rice at over 20 weeks. It isn't necessary. With DD we started with carrot, potato etc. Within 2-3 weeks she was on 3 meals a day and ate a lot of what everyone else was eating pureed. I really think by starting at 6 months you are less likely to have reactions to foods and you can just get on with it. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

Interesting comment re the baby rice mears. I have been feeding dd rice for nearly a week. Shall try something else today I think.

were back to frequent wakings. mon night mustve been a fluke. think this was because i woke her 10.30 for a feed and again 11.30 b4 i went to bed.
last night was a feed at 10.30 woke at 2.30,4.30+7.30

So last night ds fed and went to sleep at 8, after having just one "extra" early evening feed. And I had to wake him at 8 this am because my boobs were bursting. So looks like it was just another growth spurt (so you were spot on softymom ).
I amd going to wipe all memories of the 4 mouthfuls of rice from my mind and pretend ds is still exclusively bf - for at least the next 2 weeks. Solids, what solids

(mears, should I start exactly on 6 months or leave it until he starts seeming extra hungry again?)..

Do you think your DS could have a word with my DD and tell her how fantastic it is sleeping from 8to 8 or even 11-7 would be very nice