Very hungry baby, Should I start on soilds?

Lorie - posted on 12/04/2009

I would start her on creal to start for a week or two and see how that goes.

good luck

Phillipa - posted on 12/03/2009

hello again :0]
well feeding time went great, i decided to give her abit more than planned as i didnt realise how much the rice powder expanded lol but never mind she ate it all with great pleasure and loved it she is now wide awake having cudles, but i will hopefully get afew hours sleep after her nxt feed so thanks very much x

Melissa - posted on 12/03/2009

Good luck!! :)

Phillipa - posted on 12/03/2009

hi ladies thanks for all those tips well we had a great night last night i added baby rice to her milk in a bottle and it did her very well we managed to get 4 hours sleep between feeds so thanks very much =0) x

melissa yeh im going to try her on baby rice cereal to see how she takes to it il try her with 2 table spoons see how it goes well shes just woken up for a feed so wish me luck il update you later thanks chuck x

Melissa - posted on 12/03/2009

I would also suggest giving her some rice cereal or oatmeal cereal. My daughter was 6 weeks premie and we started her on cereal at 6 wks. We just did 2 tablespoons at first.Do what you think is best for your baby.

Tammy - posted on 12/03/2009

You could start by adding a little baby cereal to her formula. Not alot, and don't forget to notch the nipple. You could also add a small amount of sugar to warm water (not as a meal though) once in awhile. My daughter was an 8 week preemie and our pediatrician gave us this advice and it worked wonderfully! Although I miss all the wake-ups now that she is going on 6 years! So maybe you could just enjoy the short time you'll spend alone with her in your arms at night?

Phillipa - posted on 12/02/2009

thank for all those lil tips, il be sure to try and learn from them, and as the nappy changing goes yes she does need changing as she nappys are always soggy after every feed the health visitor just said its because she is drinking so much.
And for partner or family helping, my partner just doesnt wake up AT ALL, he does try to but he does hear his alarm if i try waking him it the same he is out like a light :0S
I don't have any family and the inlaws live quite a bit away so that is out of the question, I think I will have a word to the health visitor again, see if she can have any cereals / baby rice at all, I know a friend of mine started very early on baby rice as her daughter is absolutly fine, I guess its all thing to learn and you have to make mistakes to learn from them! Thanks

Julie - posted on 12/02/2009

Although there are those 'magical' babies out there who sleep for long stretches at night early on, waking often through the nights is a fact of life with a baby.  And it often seems that for preemies, waking through the night continues even longer.  My first daughter was also nearly 10 weeks early, and my second nearly 8 weeks premature.  The youngest is a year old and only just began sleeping through the night at 11 months of age.  Both were breastfed, which tends to decrease the length of time before feeds as well, since breastmilk is more easily & quickly digested.  Starting babies on solids early, particularly preemies, is not recommended.  Their systems are simply not ready for that, and breastmilk, or formula if that's what you've chosen, is the best nutrition for them at this point.  I actually waited until closer to my babies' 6-month-corrected age to begin solids (I chose a midway point between birth & corrected age as that's what felt right for us).  Not only are there certain physical signs that should be in place before beginning solids (digestive maturation - pancreatic enzymes reach adequate levels for digestion of starch; chewing movements begin; able to sit with head held independently to lessen choking risks), but your baby will also likely begin to show definite social signs that she's ready, e.g., watching you as you eat very intensely (my daughters couldn't take their eyes off of my spoon or fork as I ate before I began feeding them solids).  Beginning babies on solids early can also lead to increased chances of developing food allergies.
When you do begin with solids, make sure the cereal (often the first food) is well cooked and made very soft/runny initially.  Never put it in a bottle, but rather feed it using an appropriate infant spoon. Putting infant cereal in a bottle can lead to pulmonary problems (small amounts of the cereal can be inhaled into the lungs), and also to overeating.  It forces baby to take in deceptively large amounts of calories. Ultimately it teaches baby to overeat. By starting with a spoon, resting between bites, and stopping when your child lets you know she’s full, you will be laying an excellent foundation for good eating habits throughout her life.
Around the middle of the first year there should be a gradual introduction of complementary foods to meet increased nutritional needs, but even for older infants & toddlers, breastmilk, or formula, continues to be an important source of nutritients.
It sounds like you need some support through the nights.  Is there any way your partner or another family member could take care of one of those night-time feeds?  Also, does Aisha really need to be changed at each of those wakings?  I remember spending so much time in the nights burping & changing my first daughter, and then I was much more easy-going with my second, who was none the worse for wear by simply being nursed and then put right back to bed (so long as her bottom didn't feel soggy!). 
I hope that some of this might help you, and wish you much luck with your little princess!

Chelle - posted on 12/01/2009

My SIL started her daughter on solids at about 3 months. She wasn't a preemie though but a very hungry baby. You could put it in her bottle, or how about starting cereal and putting that in her bottle. That could help to fill her up. But I wouldn't start without asking the pedi if they think that is ok first. GL!