Introducing solids to breastfed baby

CL

My DD2 is breastfed and just over 5 months old. Last week I decided to start to introduce spoonfeeds, using Annabel Karmel's "first foods" list of root veg, butternut squash, pear, apple & banana, with a couple of teaspoons per feed. DD1 was treated exactly the same.

DD2 has gone from the usual breastfed baby runny poo every couple of days to being constipated. I have gone back to breast only today to see if this resolves it. Any advice?

Kayalana99

Maybe not quite ready? Every baby is differnert but personally would of thought by 5months they would be ready tho to take soilds, you a couple of teaspoons per feed...did you start of one feed a day btw and break them into it?

With my baby he went through runny/consipated when first being fed...is the baby really conispated or is just because your so used to DD pooing so much that it scared you? Now your using soild food its going to make the poo differnert I'd say if she's pooing at least every 2-3 days to be ok.. (as long as shes not struggling to get it out thats when it can be abit worrying)

CL

She seems to be struggling to push, and at every nappy change has a tiny bean sized amount of firm poo and has within two days of this has got a bit of a nappy rash.

Sorry if TMI, but yesterday evening she was struggling and I took off her nappy and cycled her legs and she squealed and cried and then a 2 inch long solid bit of poo came out.

I started her with 2 teaspoons of fruit at breakfast and 2 teaspoons of vegetable at lunch. She seemed to enjoy it.

Kayalana99

Well im no expert just only got my first to go on but I'd suggest only doing it one meal a day and stick to fruit to start (Im saying stick to fruit as I am assuming it has more fibre in it but suppose its what you give) and see if she's still stuggling.

And perhaps BF a few more days only just to clear her system up abit...if she still stuggling with just 1 feed a day perhaps shes just generally not ready after all.

CL

Thanks. I felt like she was less ready than DD1, who was 11 days overdue (DD1 was 1 week early), but felt like, because she is BF, I should get some vitamins/iron, etc in her sooner rather than later, but maybe I'm being stupid and should leave it another 2 weeks.

Gillyx

I think when they start weaning it can upset the balance a bit and it takes there little bodies a little while to get used to it. All babies are different too with different digestive systems.

If she is sitting up independently, reaching for food/able to get hand to mouth she is ready for food

CL

Gillyx wrote: »

I think when they start weaning it can upset the balance a bit and it takes there little bodies a little while to get used to it. All babies are different too with different digestive systems.

If she is sitting up independently, reaching for food/able to get hand to mouth she is ready for food

She is not sitting up independently, but DD1 didn't until nearly 8 months and my 2 closest friends have babies aged 8 months and they only started sitting up independently in the last couple of weeks.

As far as I know (from reading articles) it is important that breastfed babies get other nutrients (especially iron) from 6 months.

Am I off the mark on this?

Gillyx

CL wrote: »

She is not sitting up independently, but DD1 didn't until nearly 8 months and my 2 closest friends have babies aged 8 months and they only started sitting up independently in the last couple of weeks.

As far as I know (from reading articles) it is important that breastfed babies get other nutrients (especially iron) from 6 months.

Am I off the mark on this?

I wouldn't be too concerned, Baby led weaning is recommended these days from 6 months and to start with very little food goes in. I think the new advice is that food before 1 is just for fun, and that milk is the main source of nutrition until 12m. As far as I'm aware breast milk does adapt as babies grow and adjust to what they need at certain ages.

I do know that they recommend vitamins for breast fed babies after 6m, whether they're weaned or not. boots sell a few different brands but you can get them cheaper from your HV/sure start centre.

I do think no matter what age you wean at though the bowels take a while to catch up, imagine as an adult being on a completely liquid diet for 6 months and then changing to solids, you'd probably be bunged up too :rotfl: offering fruit and veg is a good way to get things moving, and it will adjust itself I'd imagine. If not brown sugar in water is very helpful (I speak from experience with my LO)

CL

Thanks. Have asked DH to get Wellkid syrup tomorrow and will stop rushing it when I think she's not ready.

http://www.boots.com/en/Wellkid-Baby-Syrup-150ml_999102/

Gillyx

We use wellkid too I don't think you're rushing at all babies have a tongue reflex and if they don't want the food they'l push it out with there tongue, turn head away etc. Sounds like your LO is enjoying it so I wouldn't worry (easier said than done as a parent though )

Kayalana99

My LO doesn't seem to have a tongue reflex....he eats anything you put in his mouth including everything he can get his hands on!!