[jennpook]

Addie is almost 5 1/2 months. I have held off and really wanted to wait the 6 months but I realized something a couple days ago. Everyone was telling me how she didn't need to eat so much at night (3x) and I really wanted to drop the 10pm feeding (she goes down between 6-7pm) so that I could leave the house if I wanted without having to worry that someone would need to give her a bottle. So two weeks ago I dropped it. She still wakes up almost every night between 9:30 - 11pm and will fuss and then go back to sleep after about 10 min. I figured she really didn't need it even though I figured after two weeks she would stop still waking up if she didn't. Well, every week I weigh her at moms group and the two weeks prior to me stopping that feeding she was gaining 7oz a week. I was thrilled with this because of having supply issues about a month before. Well, after dropping that feeding she has only been gaining 2-3 oz a week. I think she does need that feeding and is not making it up during the day even though I feed her every 1 to 1.5 hours. She is very active.

So I have decided to start feeding her Quinoa cereal in the evenings during dinnertime after I have fed her BM. Then I will still be able to nurse her at bedtime. My thought is it will help replace that lost feeding (I hope). I know that I can always stop giving it to her too if I want. I have just been so on and off the fence about this. I feel like for some reason feeding her solids two weeks early is me failing and that I am going to loose my supply from it too I know she is ready for solids, she can sit up on her own, she has the chewing reflex. She did well this morning when I had her taste it (so if she had a reaction it would happen during the day) and she was full already because she had just eaten but she responded well (some cute faces of "what is this?!").

I just hate feeling bad about it because I should be excited.

I don't know, sorry for the ramble. Just need to vent my mind to you guys.

Jenn

[RobinJS]

I don't think two weeks is going to really make a difference. If she tries it and accepts it then it was the right time. If not the you'll know to wait a little longer. I've been thinking of feeding Eli solids because his weight gain has slowed to 1-3 oz per week (he's always been a slow gainer) and he feeds every 1-2 hors during the day and has started waking to eat every 3-4 hours at night! I know it's not my supply though because he still seems satisfied after nursing and he has lots of wet and poopy diapers. But he's only 5 months and one week so I'm trying to wait a little longer.

[megpie]

Good luck! I'm sure she'll love it!! I hope she drops the nighttime feedings----I'm hoping the same thing for Jude!

[doodoosmom]

I spoke the people at WIC about starting before 6 months, because 2 dr's recommended it to us to help her weight gain, and it still didn't feel 100% right. The Ladies at WIC said the guidelines all say 6 months now but in reality if a baby is ready developmentally at 5 1/2 months, or even 5 months then theres no reason you have to wait. One of the ladies who worked their has a 6 month old baby and she started solids with her baby at 5 months, because she was obviously ready & BM alone wasn't keeping her full enough.

So it made me feel better for some reason to hear it from a lot of different sources that even though the newer guidelines say 6 months, 5 months if ok if they're ready. Even 4 months is ok if they're ready & the Pedi gives you the go ahead. Younger then 4 months though, I see no point. We started Addie at 5 months, and she is doing much better with her growth & she sleeps better at night, no more waking up for a bottle at 3-4 am, she sleeps at least 8 hrs now.

[TLARUE]

Just start out by adding the food to her cereal to introduce flavors. I am sure it is going to help with the feedings. I was given the go ahead from my pedi to let him try solids, juice, and water, at his 4 month check up!

I think she will be fine, she is showing the signs that she is ready. Listen to her!

[Heaven]

For the most part, I've been going by the "book" since I got pregnant. But there are some things you just have to follow your gut and instincts and most importantly, cues that baby gives you.

My mother always pressured me into starting solids...at like 3 months and I kept telling her "No, you're crazy". By 4 months, Jenna was following our spoons, grabbing at it and waking up several times a night for feedings even though I formula supplemented while breastfeeding. Even though my doctor said to hold off till 6 months, I slowly began to introduce solids at 4 months and it helped Jenna sooo much with feeling full and her bowel movements (she had very very loose stools - sorry TMI).

I know how you feel about wanting to hold off and sticking to your goal/word. I said the same about breastfeeding...I wanted to do it till 6 months but my daughter weaned herself at 5 1/2 months!!! It broke my heart but that's what SHE wanted and I just had to accept it.

[jennpook]

Thank you girls, it feels good to hear what everyone has to say. I started her on Quinoa cereal that I made yesterday. I gave her a sample in the morning to make sure throughout the day that she would not react to it and then fed her 1 - 2 tbs of it in the evening. She only fed once last night. i was expecting to only drop one feeding, not two with starting solids but she went down around 7pm, fussed in the evening because she was over tired but finally was fully asleep by 10pm. She then woke at 2am and i fed her (I forgot to pump in the evening too so I was a bit engorged) and she slept until 7:30am. She also blew out a diaper today (her father was much impressed). So things after day one seem positive. She was also eager to eat which made me feel better too. I figure If she continues to do well that I will keep her only on the quinoa the next few weeks.

Jenn