Doesn't like Solids...

[Bella36]

Can anyone give me any advice, my DS is 23 weeks and has been breast fed since birth, I introduced a few solids around 5 months, problem is he much prefers the milk, since I have always fed him on demand it is very difficult to now set a routine, he is being sick a lot especially after milk HV advises to give him as much solid during the day as possible as the sloppier the food the more likely he is to be sick! he doesnt sleep through the night yet and is constantly waking for food, refuses water, refuses dummy the only thing that will get him back to sleep is the breast, any ideas much appreciated.

WHO recommends beginning with food at 6 months. My dd did not want to eat till 10 months and was solely breastfeed until then. She took slowly to food.

He is still young so sleeping through the night should not be expected at this stage. Some babies do sleep through, but the majority don´t at this age. He will be experiencing teething and all sorts soon, it the nature of babies to be disrupted and changeable around this time.

Think of your feeding on demand as also a routine. Where does he sleep?

If you do want to establish a more timely routine, then it takes time for him to adapt. Persist at one pathway for about 2 weeks so he can start to feel the rhythm and understand whats going on. Consistency over a period means what you can see what works for both of you and has more chance of success.

Take care

Breast feed as normal then mid morning to lunch time feed a little babyrice. Do it very gradually and you dont need to do it every day to start with. When he gets used to it you can thicken it a bit and do it everyday,then experiment with flavours. when that one meal is established go on to breakfast in the same way.
No hurry!

I'd leave the solids be until six months, he's clearly not enjoying them. Was he sicky and unsettled before you gave the solids?

You can do sleep training, get him used to falling asleep on his own. It's not nice or easy, though. It's easier to just keep him in bed with you for as long as you're happy to breastfeed in bed.

Thanks all maybe I am rushing things a bit
NotQuiteCockney, yes he has always been quite sicky but just lately seems worse after explaining this to my HV she said to give him as much solid as I can and that night feeds are no longer necessary after 6 months so try to cut them out completely and just to offer him water ( which by the way i thought was ridiculous) being a first time Mum its all new to me, maybe im worrying too much about what other people say