[amazing_love]

I know i mentioned before that I switched Camden's doctor due to several different reasons. I switched to another doctor in the same practice. I was anxious to get another opinion on Cam's weight and such. For awhile he wasn't gaining anything so i started feeding him more breastmilk and taking fenugreek and am also giving him breastmilk in a sippy cup between feedings. Since then he's consistently been gaining 3-4 oz a week. 12 days ago at his last appointment he weighed 13 lbs. 12 oz. and today he weighed 14 lbs. 4 oz so he gained 8 oz in not even two weeks. This seems really good to me but since his weight is lower than other babies his age the doctors both told me he needed something more. What is confusing is the first one told me that solids didn't give him as many calories as milk so that wasn't a big deal to her and she just wanted me to start supplementing with formula. The doctor i saw today said that since he gained good weight he should be fine without the formula but that solids are necessary for him. She said to give him rice cereal 3 times a day. If you don't already know the story, i skipped rice cereal and went straight to things like fruit. That caused major constipation though so i stopped solids for now. She said "solids are important for him" and she wants me to give him some medicine for his constipation if that happens again. Oh and also iron supplements. It just seems like a lot of stuff. I am so unsure and feel like i want to do what is best for him. I'm not one to rebel and keep going against doctors orders but i can't seem to understand why it's such a big deal since he's gaining well now. I guess i just want your opinions and what you've heard from other doctors. I don't know whether i should go to a whole different clinic for yet another opinion or just stick with this doc and do what she says. I know that's a lot of info to take in but what do you all think? This is really getting me down.

[SandKmommy]

I was told that after 6months supplementing with formula wouldn't help anything. I've been through the weight issues with Kieran too, at 1yr she was only 18lbs, and I'm pretty sure she was about the same weight as Camden at the same age. He sounds like he's gaining well to me. Are they using a breastfed baby growth chart or a normal "standard" formula feeding chart, they are done differently, since most breastfed babies don't gain as much weight as formula fed ones.

[bittersweet]

Ok, well Jenna has always been tiny, but healthy and always gaining. She was 15 lbs 3 oz at 6 mon. Now at 10 mon she is 17 lbs.

For Cam to be only 14 lbs at 7.5 months..and male which is a slightly different growth chart than for females...that is very small, what % is it? Has he started crawling yet? Usually babies have a dip in their weight gain for a month or so once they start crawling well and standing/walking.

As far as solids go, I agree you should be starting solids. Even is he only tolerates them once a day, or every other day. If you wait too long to as least try and practice, it can be really hard to get them to take solids later on. I've also heard that low weight babies are at high risk for anemia..that is probably why they want him on iron as well. Even though he is gaining well now, b/c he is an older baby, already very behind in weight, and on the verge of a huge increase in activity...milk alone may not keep cutting it for him. I think this is why the Drs are still concerned.

If it were me, I would do what the Drs are saying. I agree partly with both. I would continue to give as much BM as possible and then try solids as least once a day. Increasing to 3x per day as he tolerates. The BM should help prevent constipation...not sure why he got so constipated last time. Maybe try oatmeal instead of rice or fruit?

[amazing_love]

I'm totally okay with trying solids again. I guess it seems weird to do cereal since he's already 7 months old. Does anyone know if cereal really helps much with weight gain? If so i can see that but i've heard so many people say it's unnecessary and no real need for it.

His weight 2 weeks ago was considered to be 1%. He is army crawling, just learned very recently. It's just super confusing because i have other people telling me that solids aren't necessary until 1 year. I have a couple different groups i go to so i see a lactation consultant and nurse weekly and this is what they've said.

[bittersweet]

I can see how this is very confusing. I think the notion of not needing solids until a year is if the baby is of a normal weight and gaining fine otherwise.

The solids at least at first, are to get baby's tounge, mouth, palate used to processing that type of food. Like I said if you wait too long to start, it can very hard for them to learn to 'eat.' After a bit of practice with solids, they become very good at eating. Eventhough breastmilk has more calories than a couple bites of fruit, it doesn't have more calories than many other foods he should be eating in the next couple months. Breastmilk has 20 calories per ounce, that isn't enough to sustain normal growth and development after a certain point. I think the Drs want him to learn to be successful with solids so he doesn't run into more problems in the next couple months when BM starts to not be enough. For example, my baby had a half a grilled cheese and a half a pear for lunch today. That is probably about 200 calories. I don't think she's ever eaten more than 7 onces of BM at once, which would have only been 140 calories. So my point is, solids can offer more calories than BM, but only once they are used to eating solids food and start to enjoy it.

[Oriyan]

Have you tried mashing up avocado and feeding that to him? It is a very high calorie food and high in good fat content, whereas, rice cereal is known as empty calories. Nothing more to fill the stomach, not add weight. J.J was sick at lost 3 pounds in a week at one point and avocado's daily for 2 weeks got the weight back on him.

Honestly, I would look for a new doctor all together at a different practice. Doctors in the same practice still seem to be on par with philosophies.

Iron supplements are up to you. I never did any supplements for J.J. I was told it was basically expensive urine (what goes in comes right out).

[Mars]

I agree with what was said before. I had skipped the box cereals with Amara when she was that age but I would buy the ground oatmeal and give her in the evenings.

If you want additional ideas on foods to try and the nutritional content you could refer to the following link. I found it really helpful during those early solids introduction months.

Wholesome Homemade Baby Food Recipes, Make your baby healthy homemade baby food with our easy baby food recipes, solid food tips, baby nutrition & more!

[Angelaosaurus-rex]

When I first started solids I mixed BM into it so it would be easier on his little tummy. Instead of giving him Iron supplements you could try feeding him foods rich in iron like green veggies or even small amounts of meat.

[bittersweet]

Originally Posted by Angelaosaurus-rex

When I first started solids I mixed BM into it so it would be easier on his little tummy. Instead of giving him Iron supplements you could try feeding him foods rich in iron like green veggies or even small amounts of meat.

Very good idea. Apricots are a good source of iron too. Babies are more opt to eat them since they are sweet. I reconstituted dried apricots (soaked in some boiling water), pureed them and added that to oatmeal (I made my own with whole rolled oats) or sometimes veggies.

[Mjp121212]

Brayden wouldn't eat stage 1 baby foods at all and refused solids (or upset his tummy like you described) until he was 8m-9m and his pedi was quite concerned. He did eat cereals though and the little fruit puff thingys. I gave him rice cereal with breastmilk and then I gave him rice cereal with the baby juices.....and i gradually increased the thickness of it. If the iron supplements concern you i ditto feeding him iron rich foods, but you can also get iron fortified juices and foods which could help.

[..Penelope..]

Sent you an email

[**Jenn**]

Honestly, I wouldn't be worried. Maybe because I have small kids myself but it doesn't seem like a big deal to me. He's gaining weight, he's developmentally on track, and is happy. So what if he's on the small side. Theres a high and low end to the growth charts for a reason, because not every kid will be 50th percentile! Some will be 99th while some will be 3rd. Liam has always hugged the bottom of the growth charts despite supplementing with formula and starting solids at 4 1/2 months. Some kids are just built that way.Lochy was middle of the road til he hit 9 months then dropped off significantly from then on and has been at the bottom since (I'm talking like 3rd percentile). Both happy, healthy, smart, developmentally on track boys. Actually at Lila's 6 month visit she was right in the middle and the dr. was surprised because she said beastfed babies are usually at the top or way at the bottom.

I've never given my kids iron either because they constipate easily and they're not sickly or anemic or anything. Lila got constipated when we first introduced solids too so we waited a bit longer and by around 8 months she was much better with them. Now she'll eat anything (except baby food!). I never did give her cereals either. I think you need to trust Mommy instinct on this one. I'm not one to readily ignore drs. either but they really don't know your child like you do.

Is he staying on his own growth curve for the most part? Any pedi we've had just looked to see that they maintained their own growth curve rather than fitting that 50th percentile mark.

Kellymom has some good info
kellymom.com :: Average Growth Patterns of Breastfed Babies

[Resi]

I'd keep up the breastmilk, skip the formula, try out more solids slowly, and maybe give the supplement. He is a little guy but I'm sure he will be just fine. Oliver was 15 lbs at 6 months old and he has always been at the very bottom of the growth charts. My doctor has always said he is perfect and not to worry about his weight. Oliver still is the smallest of his friends and eats very little. It worries me a lot of the time but I know he is thriving with his milestones.

You can always make your own rice or oatmeal cereal if you want to skip the flaky box stuff. I never fed it to Oliver from the box. I made my own.

[amazing_love]

thank you for your opinions. I'm still not completely sure what i will decide to do except i know i will try to give him more solids in the future. Today i tried rice cereal and he ate it well but i don't know how long i'll keep it up. I'll probably skip to other things soon. I also gave him the supplement and haven't decided whether to keep that up either. I think the best thing i can do is try to get one more doctors opinion and see what they say. If anything it would be nice to have a doctor with similar views on things (for instance i don't feel like it's necessary to do solids in a particular order starting with cereal.)

[ShannonMVT]

My post got eaten earlier...

I wouldn't do cereal unless you want to do some oatmeal to help him poop. If you do cereal, I'd mix it with BM to add more calories.

Any fruit that starts with a P will help him poop: peaches, pears, plums, prunes.

Does he seem interested in solids? If so, I'd start out once a day and try high nutrient/density foods like avocado, sweet potato, banana. Those are foods LLL recommends to start with.

If you like your dr overall I wouldn't switch but if there are too many things that bug you, I'd look for another one. There have been times I thought our pedi was going overboard on something and I wouldn't strictly follow all her advice and would do my own thing...but overall I am comfortable with her.

oh and I wouldn't see any need for iron supplements unless his iron was low on a blood test.

[Nami]

I have the same problem with Alissa, she's still only 14lbs and 9months old. She has been gaining weight lately though because of a suggestion my baby nurse gave us, mixing a small amount of Olive Oil with her solids(well.. purees). You do not have to give formula, it's not going to do much more than breastmilk.

Also, you do not need meds for constipation, if he has problems with solids just give prunes once a day(or every other day if everyday is too much), I do that with Alissa and it does well. I mix the prunes with the olive oil and she loves it and poops just fine.

Of course, if he's gaining weight just fine right now I wouldn't think you would have to do a lot more aside from what you're doing now.

[soImarriedAnerd]

I haven't read replies so sorry if nothing is new.

He is healthy, and he is meeting milestones and he IS on the chart...so I have no idea what their issue is. There has to be a 1% on a cart just like there has to be a99% on a chart....we all aren't going to be 50%!
I personally would just keep doing what your doing. Don't start solids till YOU are comfortable with it. Research goes back and forth if there is such a thing as TO late but thats like 1-2 yrs old before most agree its getting a little late. And its awesome he is doing a sippy cup already... that shows he is maturing in a swallowing way.
BM (or formula) is suppose to be the majority if nutrition till 1 yrs old. Many cultures around the world have shown that you can thrive on only BM till 3-5yrs old, so don't be doubting your milk I don't get if they are worried about wt that they would push cereal....its really no nutrition but added iron, and if he had a constipation issue before (which just could have been young gut, it may not mean future issues) it doesn't see like the go to starter. If you want to re-try solids find high fat/nutritionally dense foods like avocados! wholesomebabyfoods.com is a GREAT site.
And as far as changing up DRs.... do you feel like your voice is being listen to and respected by the group? If yes than great! I no then find a new group. Mom's know their child better than any Dr.

[amazing_love]

I tried avocados today and it wasn't his favorite but i will keep trying it in small amounts to get him used to it. I found out that the doctor i went to as a child is in fact accepting new patients (before i was told that he wasn't.) My mom has taken all her kids there.. my brother had problems with weight as a baby and she said he handled it very well so i'm thinking that might be a good option. The only drawback is that it is the same clinic. I did more cereal today but skipped the iron supplement. I will continue to go with my gut though... i can't stand NOT to

[..Penelope..]

Logan is so all over the place with avocado...hates it...loves it...doesn't care for it. I just keep trying because I know that it's so good for him