Getting baby to eat solids . . . Help!

Krystal - posted on 01/29/2009

Brooklynn eats at 6am, 10am, 2pm, 6pm and is ready for her last bottle and her cereal at 8:30pm she had been sleeping through the night until about 2 weeks ago when we moved, now she's up around 1:30am or so, and usually wants to be fed. I wouldn't advise giving solid foods instead of a bottle, but in additon to, it's still really important that they get all the formula or breastmilk they want.



If he's really hungry when you try to feed him solids, try giving him half a bottle then the solids, it's enough to take the edge off being SO hungry and then he'll realise that you are feeding him, it's just taking a little longer. Hope all continues to go well for you!

Lize - posted on 01/28/2009

We followed our pediatrition's advise and started on this schedule last week: 

06:00 Breastfeed

08:00 Fruit

10:00 Breastfeed

12:00 Veggies

14:00 Breastfeed

16:30 Veggies

17:00 Bath

17:30 Breastfeed and bedtime

02:00 Breastfeed 

It is working like a charm.  He is happy and sleeping much better.  Before he used to wake every 2 hours for a full feeding.  He now sleeps from 18:00 untill 06:00 and only wakes at 02:00.

Hope this helps.

Katie - posted on 01/28/2009

My son liked sweat peas and applesauce, but he made funny faces for peaches and bananas. I usually try to feed him at  like 5:30-6pm because he goes to bed at 8pm.  Then he is up at midnight, then  3:30 -4am, then  6 am.  I  am up for work at 6am so it isn't too bad.  Then he takes about 4-6  thirty minute naps all day long. Depends on his mood when it comes to naps.  It he slept through the night I probably would have a heart attack!  If Alex is too tired I don't force solid food I try, if he doesn't want it, then I just resort to his formula. 

Rebekah - posted on 01/28/2009

If you're hoping solids will be the magic trick for sleeping - I can tell you it doesn't work.  I tried, my son still woke up throughout the night... not because he was hungry, but because he wanted to be held, or wanted to know someone was nearby, or because his teeth were hurting... every now and then it was hunger, but only if he didn't get all his ounces in during the day, but we still didn't feed him in the night - we're finally past night feedings.

Here's our schedule for solids:

8:00 a.m. - Bottle (6oz)

9:00 a.m. - Oatmeal (2 Tbsp.) Bottle (2oz)

11:00 a.m. - Bottle (6oz)

11:30 a.m. - Nap

1:00 p.m. - Wake Up

2:00 p.m. - Bottle (6oz)

3:00 p.m. - Veggie (1 jar) Bottle (2oz)

4:00 p.m. - Nap

5:00 p.m. - Wake Up

5:30 p.m. - Bottle (6oz)

6:30 p.m. - Dinner with Family at table in highchair - Oatmeal (2 Tbsp.) Veggie (1 jar) Bottle (3oz)

7:30 p.m. - Bath

8:00 p.m. - Bottle (4oz)

8:15 p.m. - Bedtime

No night feedings...

Windy - posted on 01/28/2009

Yep, no sleeping through the night, but I am jsut pleased that he was so open and accepting of the solids.  Tonight I tried sweet peas, and he was taking it, but then just go too tired.  He hadn't slept since 11:30, so he was just exhausted!

Katie - posted on 01/28/2009

It isn't true about feeding solids before bed and sleeping through the night.  Your baby will sleep through the night when he is ready.  Mine still won't sleep through.  I've tried everything even cereal in his bottle. 

Windy - posted on 01/28/2009

So last ngiht we got him at a good time and he LOVED eating his good.  Still was a bit messy but he was helping me put the spoon in his mouth and had a lot, even ahd seconds!!!!  The biggest problem is finding a good schedule!

Katie - posted on 01/25/2009

All babies are different, but my daughter, Layla is on a pretty good schedule, which I think has really helped her sleep through the night. Her first feeding is at 8am, then at 11am, 2pm, 5pm and then her last feeding is at 8pm. She has awake time after each meal and then goes down for a nap. After her 8pm feeding she goes straight to bed and then usually doesn't wake up until 7:30am. She eats 1 Tablespoon of rice cereal at 8am, 11am and 5pm, but only after I have nursed her first. I chose those times to give her solids so that she gets used to eating close to our family meal times. If your little guy is so tired after his bottle at 6pm, you might try moving his last feeding to between 6-8pm and then putting him straight to bed. He might just need to go to bed earlier.

Aimee - posted on 01/25/2009

Hi there... I was told by my doctor not to believe the myth that it will help them sleep longer... My daughter (Thank the Lord) has a really good schedule for us.. She usually wakes up around 430 am.. Then has a bottle.. I get her ready to go and get ready for work myself and then we leave by 6.. She will usually have solids (bananas are these three days) and hour after her next bottle... Then again at night after her bottle that is around 5... she goes to bed at 830 - 9....



The doctor had told us before that letting them nap before bed time actually helps them get to sleep b/c it puts them in the sleepy mode.. Also we were told to try 1 type of food for 3-4 days then try another type etc... Started out with cereal (1 Tbsp mixed with formula or breast milk fed with a spoon). Then she ate applesauce next..started out with 1/2 a jar twice a day but now she is up to 1 jar twice a day... The doctor said to continue that until the 6 month visit then it would be 3 times a day... I would just pick a morning and afternoon feeding and try to get him to eat about an hour after a bottle.. I know that wasn't a great help but hopefully it gave you an idea or two...

Sophie - posted on 01/25/2009

I have been advised that giving solids probably won't help your little one sleep through as they eat so little at this stage.   It's more about getting them used to new flavours/textures.  Also adding cereal to a bottle is apparently a big no no.  It stops them getting the fluid they need from that feed.

If your little one is falling asleep between 6 and 7 try waking him up at 10pm for an hour.  Have a little play (nothing too active - just enough so he is wide awake) maybe a story/massage/nappy change and them give him a full feed and put him down again. 

I am basing this on a Gina Ford 7-7 routine http://www.contentedbaby.com/ 

Good luck

Erica - posted on 01/25/2009

My son, Nicholas, has a weird kind of schedule. He wakes up usually around 10am and eats plays until about 1pm lays down for a nap then eats at 4pm. around 6 he will also fall asleep but only until 7:30pm, no matter what. At 7:30 I will give him the solids with no bottle, just a nice big thing of cereal and a little fruit and a little veggie. then I make sure he plays until 10-10:30pm and then give him his last changing and feeding (a bottle), and he falls right asleep. Also on the nights that he gets his bath, it's usually around 8-8:30pm and I use the lavender/night time wash and lotion, this REALLY helps a lot!! I do wish I could get he to fall asleep by 9pm, but then he'd wake up earlier, so dont really know =]