Here's the background on my little peanut:) She is nursing well and at 4-months, she seemed interested so I let her have some tastes of rice cereal. She really didn't eat it, just gummed at it. Around 5-months I gave her a taste of pears. Again, she didn't really eat it, just tasted it. Now, she is 5 1/2 months. She started to act hungry ALL the time last week, and waking up at night again (hadn't eaten at night since 2 1/2 months). So 4 days ago I decided to see if maybe it was food that she was hungry for...well watch out world, this baby wanted to EAT!! After a couple of bites trying to figure out the spoon, she gobbled it down. By her second feeding, she ate 1 3/4 jars of sweet potatoes! She is now eating 3 meals a day along with nursing every 3-4 hours!! It all happened so fast, I'm a bit stunned. I don't remember my first daughter eating so much so, very quickly. Now, my bigger problem is that she hasn't pooped (although she had a small smear in her diaper yesterday...) in many days! I'm afraid that so much food has been hard on her little digestive system:( Is this typical with first starting solids, especially so quickly? Do I just keep waiting? She has only had rice cereal, pears, and sweet potatoes, so the pears in themselves should help with constipation. Now we've started a new day and she is about ready to eat again. I feel bad feeding her more solids, when she hasn't been able to clear out, so to speak :-) Thanks ladies for your ideas and experiences. Every kid is sooo different!
thanks Ladies for your input! Well, she finally pooped today--2 times :-) I tell you, I am going to call her pediatrician tomorrow. I tried everything today to keep from feeding her as much food, but she truly demanded it. I nursed her probably 8 times or more today, and even after nursing for 30-min. or so, she would not be completely satisfied, and would want to eat within an hour or so...I hope my milk production is ok. Nothing has changed with me, and she has been thriving on just breast milk up till now?! She had 3 meals today, late morning-pears, lunch time-sweet potatoes, dinner-rice cereal and pears. I also introduced some water in a cup today. She knew EXACTLY what to do and gripped the cup with both hands, brought it to her lips, and began sucking on the edge of the cup :) I have been putting her in the highchair while we eat for a couple months now, so she knows what is going on while we eat. Maybe that has really amped her interest in food! Thanks again ladies!!
you should always nurse before offering foods, this will not only help with constipation but it will keep your supply up & ensure that she is getting enough bm which is still her main source of nutrition until she is one year old. i would try to nurse a little more today & that should get things moving, if not you could offer her some prunes.
Cut out the rice cereal. Only give fruit for a while and maybe try green beans or some non starchy vegetable. Putting real food in the blender has more fiber and nutrition too. Lots of fluids,warmed up,watered down juice is good. Be careful about giving too many foods this young because of possible allergies as well. Babies are so cute when they first start to eat but try to slow her down a bit.
Is her belly hard? She could become very uncomfortable, very quickly if she gets constipated. My dr told me - food goes in everyday - so waste should come out every day! Be sure she is getting a lot of water. It is hard to make the switch from liquid diet to solid. Her body doesn't know how to break stuff down yet. Water will help. Maybe slip in some dried prunes she can gnaw on. Of course it's best to help her body make waste naturally, but if all else fails, they make a baby suppository. Go to www.babycenter.com and see what advice they have.
one thing i would say right away is to nurse first, then give solids.
no matter how much she eats; her main nutrition should come from your milk! :) its perfect for her age, and perfect for her in every way. then give solids.
:) otherwise, this is probably normal. she might be having a growth spurt, in which case she could probably be using all the food up! this happens now and then, especially with breastfed babies! :)
so just keep doing what you are doing, see how much she eats when she nurses FIRST. its important to keep your milk up if you plan on continuing (i highly recommend it! its awesome!:) and to keep giving your daughter the best nutrition you can possibly find!
and if you keep nursing, she will poop. solids might constipate her, but if you switch to nursing first, then less solids, she will probably have a BM. :) if not, and if she gets very cranky like shes having pain, bring her to the doctor. ;) but very likely, she will just go soon. she might just be using all the fuel up! :)
Ask your pediatrician - very few of us on here have any medical training to be able to properly point the finger to the cause of her change in pooping habits.
Because both of our kids were thriving by 4 months, our pediatrician (who is generally very conservative and follows AAP guidelines to the T) had us start both on cereal/baby food.
In addition to the big changes in her diet, she's also at that stage where she's going through major developmental changes and is likely undergoing a big growth spurt. She'll soon be sitting on her own (if she isn't already) and spending more time on her tummy which will quickly lead to crawling, etc.
I'd make a quick, simple call and ask what they recommend. But, be cautious taking our advice over your pediatrician's.
Its normal; the bm changes after baby food is introduced. If your little one has not produced in 2 days; give her a few spoons of baby prunes it will do the trick. Keep the meals nutrious as you are doing with your child getting enough fruits, grains, and veggies. Sweet potatoes always made my little ones gasy and consto. Give her a spoon or two of prunes as soon as you can. Your doing an awesome job mom.
