Baby Rice - How much milk to add?

mandymac · 2005-12-09T20:24:58+00:00

I'm looking at trying dd on solids for the first time tomorrow (nearly 6 months). Most advice seems to be to start on a teaspoon or so of baby rice mixed with milk (I will be using ebm). Advice seems to vary on how sloppy the mix should be - can anyone enlighten me? Also, I am very keen that dd doesn't get constipated, so should I just give baby rice for a few days (eg: 3 days) and then try her on Carrot or Pear puree, or should I mix a bit of pear in the rice from the word go to prempt this iyswim?????

NoXmasNameForTipex · 09/12/2005 20:45

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RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 09/12/2005 20:53

I started just prior to 6m and have so far tried a variety of sloppiness, none of which DD has been very keen on! I don't think I matters too much if you try it thickish and thin it out a bit if you think she'll cope better. Having said that, I'm new to it all myself so maybe not the best person to comment! However, I will say that I think it's just trial and error as to how well she will take it in her mouth and learn about the flavours, textures and what to do (ie swallow it, eventually, we hope!) I tried it with a bit of apple puree, as much as anything, for the flavour. I would have thought mixing pear is a good idea, though we haven't had problems with constipation as yet (such small amounts being taken).

For the last few days I have offered her chunks of banana and she seems far happier feeding herself, and seems to get more of the taste as she plays with it in her mouth a bit more than with babyrice. Might be worth a try if she isn't keen on babyrice.

Have fun watching those facial expressions

mears · 09/12/2005 20:57

I agree about forgetting the baby rice - it is like wallpaper paste. Go straight for carrot!

RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 09/12/2005 21:02

Right, I for one am going back to my little pots of puree! I tried them at first but was wasting so much I thought it was easier to make up a little bit of baby rice but it does look a bit gross. I probably would be wise to use finger foods wouldn't I? I just spent soooo long pureeing stuff and freezing it, thinking I'd use it all up easily.

mears · 09/12/2005 21:16

Do you know I was the worst mother out when it came to weaning. I started off with carrot, then potato and carrot. Then I got fed up and bought jars of food!!

I also just started pureeing everything we ate before any salt was added. So I did not spend lots of time trying different single foods. Ay six months babies digestive systems are ready for lots of foods. Obviously if there is a strong history of allergies in the family then you will want to be more careful. The thing I loved about starting solids at 6 months was that within 2 weeks DD was on 3 meals a day with no probs at all. Sometimes home made, sometimes jars. Depends how energetic I felt

baubleloo · 09/12/2005 21:18

Mandy-I've been giving Oscar baby rice for about the last 6 weeks now and he doesn't mind it at all.I only use it now to thicken fruit purees which can be really runny and have found he never got constipated on it.He does however get very bunged up if he has banana more than once a week which is a shame as he really likes it.
He has about 10 large cubes of fruit and veg every day but the banana really plays havoc with him so I'd definately limit the amount you give your dd to start with.

RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 09/12/2005 21:24

I can't see DD taking anything close to a meal for a while yet, tbh. In a way it is disappointing but in another way it makes me feel I was right to wait. Wished I'd waited another 2 weeks and made it to 26 (just to prove HV wrong if nothing else!) I was quite sure that she was ready for solids and in all honesty, she isn't bothered. I give her something every day though, for the taste and the ritual of using a spoon, chewing something etc. I assume this is right, rather than giving up and trying later, given that she is 6m this weekend.

(Mandymac - I hope this is useful, don't wish to take over the thread!)

inameeting · 09/12/2005 21:24

I use Organix baby rice which I think tastes ok - much better than any jar of baby food I've ever bought (make my own food for him). He likes his rice stodgy - something to get his gums into!

Original poster

mandymac · 09/12/2005 21:30

Goody - I wanted to give her carrot, not boring old rice, although apparently orange baby sick plays havoc with your clothes (is an all white diet possible I wonder - parsnip, rice, potatoes er? maybe not!)

Also at her age can I introduce a new flavour every 3 days or so?

Sorry for additional questions, but all the books and advice I can find is unfortunately generally still aimed at starting at 4 months, with vague mentions of introducing foods quicker and in larger quantities when weaning older babies. I'm hoping she takes to it well and I can get her onto decent quantities by January, so hopefully we can drop one daytime milk feed as she will be at nursery then.

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Original poster

mandymac · 09/12/2005 21:32

racers - not taking over - providing useful insight . I have been watching other weaning threads you are on with interest.

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fishie · 09/12/2005 21:33

mm, is such fun fiddling aroudn with purees . my ds rejected baby rice until i mixed it with apple. also found banana porridge much better for thickening fruits than rice - a little mixed with pear and yoghurt is fave pud. poo will change dramatically, but unless she has proper nasty constipation (pellets) don't worry.

RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 09/12/2005 21:33

I gave DD a bit of carrot, which she didn't like, but it's such early days, that doesn't bother me. But I cannot get a line out of my head in which someone posted about getting carrot stained nipples aftwards LOL! Oh the joys!!!

Original poster

mandymac · 09/12/2005 21:37

The new St.Tropez - carrot baby puke , organic of course

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colditz · 09/12/2005 21:40

Don't give your baby the baby rice.

Instead, heat up some full fat cows milk with a spoon of honey in it, mix it to a semolina consistancy, add a little cream, and eat it yourself.

how can anyone say it is yuk!!!?

RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 09/12/2005 21:43

Of course! Mind you, banana is no better (on the clothes, no effect on the norks).

Original poster

mandymac · 10/12/2005 20:17

So we went with carrot at about 1pm today, she wolfed it down, and she finished a full ice cubes worth . Unfortunately we then had a really difficult bedtime . Basically for at least 6 weeks, after a feed in her room, she will settle (normally awake when i put her down) after maybe 10 minutes of grumbling. Tonight, crying and screaming for half an hour. I ended up feeding her to sleep, which I never have to do normally.

What did I do wrong? Should I have started on baby rice? Did I feed her too late? Is it just that its a new sensation in her stomach, so it's unsettled her? She is nearly 25 weeks, so I don't think we have started weaning too early.

Any pearls of wisdom greatfully received.

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Original poster

mandymac · 10/12/2005 20:17

So we went with carrot at about 1pm today, she wolfed it down, and she finished a full ice cubes worth . Unfortunately we then had a really difficult bedtime . Basically for at least 6 weeks, after a feed in her room, she will settle (normally awake when i put her down) after maybe 10 minutes of grumbling. Tonight, crying and screaming for half an hour. I ended up feeding her to sleep, which I never have to do normally.

What did I do wrong? Should I have started on baby rice? Did I feed her too late? Is it just that its a new sensation in her stomach, so it's unsettled her? She is nearly 25 weeks, so I don't think we have started weaning too early.

Any pearls of wisdom greatfully received.

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Original poster

mandymac · 10/12/2005 21:48

bump

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RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 11/12/2005 14:25

Hi Mandymac
Sorry, have been off line but wondered how you got on. I don't know why you had a bad time, hopefully someone will come along to help. Maybe it was a coincidence? Hope tonight goes better. I wouldn't worry that you did it at the time you did, though I would probably consider 11ish and limit the amount if it was me, just to be on the safe side. Unless someone comes along and says otherwise of course!

We had a better time yesterday than any time in the past 2 weeks with sweet potato but she still only had about 1/3 of a cube! Had a little bit today, plus a chomp on a biscuit. There was a brief choking moment but she pushed the bit she'd chewed off to the front of her mouth and I scooped it out (knew I wouldn't push it in because her tongue was in the way!). Didn't put her off, thankfully. I won't be brave enough to offer this when I'm on my own though.

RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 11/12/2005 14:29

I really need to learn to look out for new threads

mears · 11/12/2005 18:00

Hi Mandymac - how's the wee one now? Starting solids is a real change for babies - I would persevere because it will get better as she adjusts. It could actually have been coincidence she was upset. Did she have a breast feed after her solids? You might find that she wants to feed more initially as solids are introduced. They tend to get more thirsty.

RacersTheRedNosedReindeer · 11/12/2005 18:04

Mears, Mandymac has a new thread - something like 'first day weaning - poorly tummy'. Would be grateful for your input on my thread 'pooless since thurs' if you can.

thanks