Hi Mamas,
My DS just turned 6 months. After her doctor's appointment yesterday, our Ped said that I need to get her to eat more, rather that taking so much formula (she takes about 40oz/day - 5 8oz bottles. Ped says she should take NO MORE than 30oz in a day. Food should be replacing formula.)
We've been trying to feed her on a spoon since she was 12 weeks old (again, at the ped's suggestion. Our does not buy into the "wait till 6mos" business, and I agree. My 3yr old had no problem with this.). At this point, I've tried every flavor of Gerber 1sts, rice cereal, mixing the firsts with rice cereal, grinding up our regular table food.... On occasion, she will eat, but it's a force feed. She's not excited about food. I generally have to wiggle the spoon into her mouth and hold it there until she swallows.
We've been doing this for 2 mos, so the action of eating on a spoon is not new to her, and she no longer has the tongue thrust reflex. She just wants the bottle. I'm wondering if it's more about the comfort of the sucking action.
Anybody have any experience or suggestions?
I don't like force feeding her, but the doctor is concerned about all the formula.
**Some clarification: our Ped isn't suggesting that I leave her hungry. Just trying to move her towards more meals and less formula gradually. I guess I need help with a strategy. DS is in the 95th percentile for height and weight, so she's a very "sturdy" girl.
Thanks for the help mamas. Our ped was right. We dropped DDs bottles to 6oz (from 8), and now she's taking 3 "meals" a day. Huge improvement. :)
How is her weight to height ratio? If she is growing and developing normally, then you are not doing anything wrong. If you don't like force feeding her, then stop - it's not right. She's just a baby, 6 mo old, she can get all her nutrients met by formula at this age. You doctor is wrong. Give her a break for a few weeks or a month and then try again. Don't stress.
Every kid is different. My daughter was BF and some formula until she was 8 mos. Just not ready for solids... so we practiced, but didn't force feed. She's almost 5 and healthy and eats great. Don't push it - could cause other issues.
I don't see why the doctor is "concerned about all the formula" if tons of other doctors are fine with formula feeding till 6 months. It doesn't make any logical sense.
Perhaps a different brand than gerber would work. There may be different textures and flavors out there that she might like better.
Every child is different. I would just keep trying. Let her explore the food a little - touch it, taste it, etc. Don't even think of trying to force feed her - that's just an eating issue waiting to happen. Good luck!
Hi M.,
I am a bit concerned about your peds advice. The American Pediatrics Association has ALWAYS said to wait until 4-6mo to introduce solids. Also, formula/bmilk are the primary sources of nutrition for the first year AND your child is in the 95% in height and weight and he is suggesting you try to get her on table food at 6 months?
The LONGER you wait to introduce table foods, the better. Most parents I know ONLY did rice cereal, oatmeal and yogurt until between 5-8 months - then start introducing mashed potatoes, pureed squash, graham crackers etc. if you want to go straight to table foods.
I think you are setting your daughter up to battle in a power struggle with food. CLEARLY she is not interested in eating table food and/or from a spoon. Her weight is not suffering, she is not malnurished. I would leave her alone and try re-introducing solids every 4 or 5 days until she shows an interest.
Good Luck.
I wouldn't worry *just* yet. Your babe is just 6 months, not 10, and it's still OK for formula to be the bulk of her diet. At this point (and really, up to 12 months) babies are just *learning* how to eat. Formula (or breastmilk) really SHOULD be the bulk of their diets.
Try feeding her solids after she's done her bottle. Maybe instead of an 8oz bottle, give her 6oz and then offer some yummy fruits or veggies. She won't be too hungry or too full and may stay interested a little longer. Don't force her. The formula is not hurting her, but making every bite a battle might contribute to her being a picky eater.
Another thing you can try is giving her the bottles while she's in the highchair. Make the bottle about getting nutrition and not cuddling on the couch sucking leisurely. Maybe she's voluntarily drink less formula and eat more food that way? Or put her formula in a sippy cup.
Honestly, your ped's attitude about this is concerning to me. To even suggest depriving her of enough formula to keep her full and happy seems a little 'off', you know? And I have to say that if MY doctor told me what yours told you, I would out-right ignore it.
You need to get another pediatrician - - one who actually has the long term health of your infant in mind. As the Mother - you also should research this because you are following along and feel it's right too... when it's not biologically correct.
Starting solids as a main course so early was researched and found to be the main cause of diabetes and obesity in children.
*** http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=14289444 ***
Breastmilk is the only nutrition for the 1st year of life... if baby wasn't lucky enough to get that, and didn't get donor milk - - then formula is the 3rd best form of nutrition and should be the main course (as in 90%) of nutrition for the first year.
Why Pediatricians are forcing smaller framed petite children to over eat in order to match the current standard of obesity is SO counterproductive and unhealthy. Your baby is telling you want she wants and you are trying to force what YOU want down her unresponsive throat.
My little guy did not like baby food, and he didn't like anything that he could not feed himself. I didn't get him onto solids until he was much closer to 9 months to a year old. He also hung on to his bottle long past the pediatrician's recommendation. At 3 years old, he has always been happy, healthy and a pretty good eater. I think your pediatrician, like mine, is probably overreacting. Babies should be getting most of their nutrition from milk for the first year. The purpose of introducing solids is to get them used to eating solid food, not to provide most of their nutrition at 6 months. It isn't until they are over a year that they need to start getting most of their nutrition from solids. Like many of the other mommas, I've been reading up on the latest research, which does recommend waiting longer.
You may also want to read up on "baby-led weaning," which is a different approach to weaning altogether. I basically waited until my son was older and became interested in things that he could feed himself, because he didn't want me to feed him. I started with cut up bits of fruit and cooked veggies when he was old enough to pick them up and gum them. He didn't like the mushy stuff, so we never did baby food or cereal. He gradually moved off of the bottle, but not on the pediatrician's pace. He did it on his own pace and is perfectly fine.
I watch a 6month old and I put her in a booster seat and put mushed bananas and those little baby puffs on the tray and she will grab the food and put it in her mouth...Try this first and as she is playing with the food on the tray then spoon feed her as it's a good distraction and also helps with her feeling like a big girl feeding herself...good luck...
I think your Pediatrician is not a very good doc. Baby food and table food are much less healthy than formula or breastmilk. They have more fat, salt, sugar, etc.... If another Pediatrician gives the same advice then I would take their advice into consideration.
That said. I think a visit with a nutritionist might be a good idea. Obviously your baby is large. At 95% she is about double what her expected weight should be. Some people have more body mass, weight, than others. I have tiny bones but weigh a lot. As a child I was pretty thin, even up through high school. I expected my kids to follow the same path. I used to take care of a little girl that I would have put on a strict diet due to her being 2-3 years old and wearing a 6X. I made her a few things because she looked odd in clothes that were so long but smaller clothes would not fit around her. Her mom said every child in her husbands family were the same, they would shoot up around 7-8 and be normal size so she wasn't worried about it. I worried about it. Now the girl is 7 and looks completely normal.
I think your baby is too heavy for her development. I think it will hinder her to scooting and crawling if she is stays this heavy. The doc may have this in mind due. I think the baby needs to be on formula but adding in the cereal and gradually, SLOWLY, adding in other foods over the next 6 months can be good for her too. But not substituting the formula.
I think if I were you I would add a bit more water to the formula. Not much maybe put 6 oz. of water to the 3 scoops of formula and after it's mixed up well add maybe another ounce of water. That way she'll still be getting the nutrition of 6 oz. formula but getting a bit more fluid to fill her up.
If she needs to suck she'll find something to suck. If you have a pacifier then try it. If she needs to suck and doesn't find the right thing to such she'll start sucking her fingers or something available. Try some things out and see if it makes a difference. If it's just the sucking motion she needs then a pacifier is the best way for me instead of the bottles or a finger.....
I would try to alternate the food with the formula. Let me explain, take the food and a bottle to where you feed her, once she eats a bite let her have some formula. And so on. No food = no formula. Then 2 bites = 2 sips formula. Maybe this will help. Good Luck Mom.
