Formula Babies vs. Breast Babies

Brenda - posted on 10/14/2009

Quoting Lisa:

Brenda- although it's recommended to wait until 6 months to introduce solids (and I think it is a valid and good suggestion- because all too many mothers are so eager to stuff their babies too early) if your boy was perfectly capable of grabbing food from you his digestive system probably WAS ready for solids. It's just that most babies really don't develop that capabilty of feeding themselves typically until six months or later.

Adelaide, on the other hand, I don't believe was ready prior to about ten months, which was when she began grabbing things and putting them in her mouth. So it varies considerably.

But if a baby can't do anything but sit there and passively let mom spoon goo into his mouth- what makes one think he's developmentally ready?

You are absolutely right!  I think that's the thing, is they put out guidelines, which are okay, but not all babies are really ready at the same time.  I think more than anything moms should watch the baby and it helps to be in tune with the baby, I guess is what I mean.  You knew your little one wasn't ready, so you didn't force it, but so many hit that six month mark and are like OMG I have to start solids, it has to be now.  Just like doctors trying to tell bf moms to give cow's milk when the baby doesn't even need it.  Yeah, its a guideline, but every baby doesn't need to follow it.

I had two very advanced boys, though.  Both held head high on the day they were born, both started sitting with support early on (about two and a half months for both of them), and both are eating machines.  BUT I have to say it is genetics:  my husband and all three of his brothers had super high metabolisms, grew super fast the first five years of life, and are now six foot or taller.  I had people assume that my two year old son, with his feet already dragging in his umbrella stroller was too big to be in a stroller because they thought he was four.  He's still about three or four inches taller than any kids we are around his age, and Nick is doing the same thing, growing super fast, though my first was even worse.  Nathan was into 12 month clothes at 6 months easily, Nick's a little bit smaller than him (considering he's nearly 18 pounds that sounds weird).

I used to work with a lady that gave birth to a 17 lb baby.  Vaginally, with no drugs.  At the age of 14, the kid was 6 foot 7 inches tall.  They started giving him table food at a month of age because of his size and him having all the signs, like already sitting well and wanting to eat food.  I mean, this was all mom's memory and the kid was in his thirties when I knew her, but still.  I can see a kid that big eating sooner than a kid born seven pounds, you know?

I guess more than formula making babies need something sooner, it may just be my babies...  LOL.  Seriously, when Nick was born I was afraid something was wrong with him because he was "so small" (at 8 pnd 1 oz and 20 inches) because he was smaller than my older son was!!

The thing is, moms too often listen to everyone else about what they should do with their babies, and don't take time to listen to the baby....they tell you what they need if you listen, I think.  Anyway, I've been pensive about this lately since I'm observing how different my two babies have been and it is at the back of my mind what is because one was bottle and one was breast.  I guess there's a little guilt back there still about not trying harder with my first.   I have to keep telling myself that I just didn't have the necessary support.  But still, as I am succeeding with Nick, I keep wondering what it would have been like to nurse my first.  Maybe he wouldn't have been so clingy and needy if I had.  Hrm.

Minnie - posted on 10/14/2009

Brenda- although it's recommended to wait until 6 months to introduce solids (and I think it is a valid and good suggestion- because all too many mothers are so eager to stuff their babies too early) if your boy was perfectly capable of grabbing food from you his digestive system probably WAS ready for solids. It's just that most babies really don't develop that capabilty of feeding themselves typically until six months or later.

Adelaide, on the other hand, I don't believe was ready prior to about ten months, which was when she began grabbing things and putting them in her mouth. So it varies considerably.

But if a baby can't do anything but sit there and passively let mom spoon goo into his mouth- what makes one think he's developmentally ready?

Melissa - posted on 10/14/2009

I really have totally enjoyed the "Baby Led Weaning" process. Totally easy

Brenda - posted on 10/14/2009

Quoting Lisa:

See, I wouldn't even agree with those points as readiness for solids. My daughter held her head steady from birth. She sat supported at two months. Weight gain- she gained 22 ounces in her first two weeks of life- and she has never gone more than an hour without nursing except for naps- adding up to anywhere from 18-25 nursings a day. I think a lot of people would consider her 'not being satisfied' with breastfeeding- but I know that the biological norm of breastfeeding actually is a lot more frequent that the every two to three hours advised by doctors.

I believe a baby is truly ready for food when he or she takes the initiative to pick up the food, put it in his or her mouth, chew it, and the swallow it. I like Dr. Sear's description of 'mooching' food off of mom's plate.

I''l have to check out the "mooching" on the site, have not read that part on there yet.  But Nick falls into that category!  LOL  He tried to take my fork, twice tried to take away my cup, and has reached into my plate a few times.  Little mooch...I like that.  I think that will be one of his nicknames now!

Brenda - posted on 10/14/2009

Well, see I was just assuming everyone knew those things already here, ;) LOL.



With my first, though I had an overbearing mother in law breathing down my neck telling me what to do (we were living with her) so who knows what I would have done, but he turned out okay, never had any allergies, constipation or any trouble from eating early.



Nick was insistent on eating though, had all the readiness signs at four months, and I finally gave him food when he started trying to steal it off my plate! And he doubled his birth weight before four months...sooo....LOL Little boy is well over 18 pounds now at five months. My first was like that too. And he can almost sit by himself. He still has a round butt though and fall sover in a few moments, but he's getting better, sat alone for almost five minutes the other day!

Melissa - posted on 10/13/2009

NO KIDDING LISA! :)
I can't get over how many people I see feeding their kid cereal half lying down in a reclined high chair. =/

I think there's a lot to say for this too: I think a lot of people would consider her 'not being satisfied' with breastfeeding- but I know that the biological norm of breastfeeding actually is a lot more frequent that the every two to three hours advised by doctors.

Minnie - posted on 10/13/2009

See, I wouldn't even agree with those points as readiness for solids. My daughter held her head steady from birth. She sat supported at two months. Weight gain- she gained 22 ounces in her first two weeks of life- and she has never gone more than an hour without nursing except for naps- adding up to anywhere from 18-25 nursings a day. I think a lot of people would consider her 'not being satisfied' with breastfeeding- but I know that the biological norm of breastfeeding actually is a lot more frequent that the every two to three hours advised by doctors.



I believe a baby is truly ready for food when he or she takes the initiative to pick up the food, put it in his or her mouth, chew it, and the swallow it. I like Dr. Sear's description of 'mooching' food off of mom's plate.

Melissa - posted on 10/12/2009

I think those are valid conclusions but there's a few more things to consider if your baby is ready for solids. The reason most places say to wait until 6 months is that baby's gut is still open and feeding solids with an open gut can cause gastro-issues and allergies. Here's a few cues to look for when starting solids...



• Head control. Your baby needs to be able to keep his head in a steady, upright position.



• Losing the "extrusion reflex." To keep solid food in his mouth and then swallow it, your baby needs to stop using his tongue to push food out of his mouth.



• Sitting well when supported. Even if he's not quite ready for a highchair, your baby needs to be able to sit upright to swallow well.



• Chewing motions. Your baby's mouth and tongue develop in sync with his digestive system. To start solids, he should be able to move food to the back of his mouth and swallow. As he learns to swallow efficiently, you may notice less drooling. He may also be teething around the same time.



• Significant weight gain. Most babies are ready to eat solids when they've doubled their birth weight (or weigh about 15 pounds) and are at least 4 months old.



• Growing appetite. He seems hungry — even with eight to ten feedings of breast milk or formula a day.



• Curiosity about what you're eating. Your baby may begin eyeing your bowl of rice or reaching for a forkful of fettuccine as it travels from your plate to your mouth.



Also, from our favorite site: http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids...