Feeding Baby? - Fleming Island,FL

I have very little patience for people who want to convince me that my pediatrician and motherly instincts are wrong and they know better. Remind these.... people that she is really more than a month younger (gestationally) and it will be quite a while before her digestive system is on par with her peers. Tell them they will have plenty of opportunities to introduce her to new and exciting foods when it is not a danger to her health. If they persist after that, I would not be able to contain my temper. Good luck to you.

When you leave your baby with others, just tell them she is not to receive any real food. Remind them she was a preemie which means her digestive system needs longer to develop to be able to handle solids. If you explain it like a medical condition/need (which it is), people are sometimes more willing to accept it. You can also tell them the doctor flat out said no until she is six months old.

Tell them because she was premature it is double important to wait. Tell them that they could be putting her at risk by not following your requests. Tell them the doc said 6 months.
Tell them if they keep bugging you about it, you'll stop bringing her around them.

Be very direct about the issue with whoever is looking after your baby. If you go about this passively, then they will think one little bite here or there won't matter. If you tell them YOU don't want her to have solids just yet, they might just think you are being an overprotective mom and do it anyway. But if you tell them that per the doctor's orders you will not be introducing any solids until she's at least 6 month old, they may take it a bit more seriously. BTW, there is nothing magical about the 6 month mark, and some babies are not ready for awhile after that. Some babies are ready before it. It just depends on the baby. The commonly given advice is to wait until 6 months, which is based in medical research. But, it is a guideline, not a hard and fast rule. Do what you feel is best for your baby, and listen to your trusted doctor's advice.

What? This is nuts. SHe should not be being fed from others off their plate! Even if she was eating food she doesn't really know how to chew and all that so I'm not for this and I don't think you're crazy. I would just tell people clearly that you expect they not feed her. Tell them they can think you're crazy but this is what you expect. I got plenty of crazy looks from our family when I was adamant about something, but oh well! Good luck!

My answer is going to be a bit different. Now let me start this off by saying if it is YOUR CHOICE THEN IT IS YOUR CHOICE AS THIS IS YOUR BABY!!!

Here is a bit about why I am going to say what I am going to say (Sorry this is long)

I am the mom of 3 girls - and have had 3 losses. Of my 3 girls - 2 were preemies the first one was 4wks early and I was in the hospital 6wks for preterm labor. The 2nd one was 6wks early and I was in the hospital for 6wks for preterm labor and at home on FULL Bedrest for 3months (I couldn't stand the hospital anymore). So I can understand your fears/apprehensions/etc... She is your miracle baby (thats what I call my two girls). In addition to that I am also the daughter of a Pedi and my children's pedi and he also has given the 6month "rule".

BUT I didn't listen to him b/c I took the lead from my child (which he says as a Grandfather to do lol - he also says the Pedi can be an idiot - he can be funny). Which as Moms we know our kids best.

Anyway, what I am saying is talk to the Dr. and see what his/her reasoning is for the 6mo rule for solids. Is he going by the new standards? Is that just his thing? Is there a medical reason for your daughter to wait? I will say this my last daughter was in the NICU for a week after birth and on an apnea monitor for 6months (what a PITA that was) due to having SEVERE Reflux. Because of that I watched what I ate and what I would feed her when I started solids (at 4//5 months - she was a PIGGIE). I started he VERY VERY Slowly and explained to people that b/c of her reflux WE (Daddy/I) MUST APPROVE ALL FOODS!!! She was on 3 different meds for her reflux and so I watched what I gave her. She was on a modified BRAT diet for 3months with Solids. Let me tell you if I had waited for the 6mo with her she would have had a boob or bottle in her mouth 24/7 LOL

With all that said - I have gone along with alot of what my Dad has said and there are things that I don't do - I know my kids and if they are ready for something we try it, if it works great if not we wait.

Basically, Talk to the Dr and then follow your gut. If she is hitting all her developmental marks that is great.

Be firm and direct.
My fourth baby's first taste of food was the cream in a cream donut, thanks to my aunt. :-/
Now I have a baby with allergies, so I add the death stare to my firm and direct announcement!

Say something about that. Be honest. I should take my own advice, tho, cause i have to worry about the same thing with my daughter and my father-in-law. He'll give her anything if it makes her happy,, even fully knowing i dont want her to have it.(i caught him) So i just opened my mouth one day and he hasn't done it since....at least that i know of.

I think you've gotten good advice here already. The only thing I would add is do not leave her alone with anyone that you do not think will respect your decision... whoever that may be. Regardless of their beliefs, they should be deferring to the parents. Since it's only a couple of months, hopefully one of you should be able to be with her to monitor her eating (or lack there of) until you are able to start her on solids.