baby food?

June 7, 2001

On Thu, 7 Jun 2001 Respite wrote:

> Once the baby is weaned, (do you wean humans, or just cats and dogs?)

> is this milk enough protein, etc.?

Yes, humans wean. But no, we don't wean humans - at least not in the ideal

situation. The weaning is done by the baby, not the parents.

N.

June 8, 2001

>

> I have a friend who has a beautiful baby girl. They are looking for

> alternatives to breast milk because this little one happens to have a

> voracious appetite.

If the baby is at least 4 months old you can supliment with rice cereal which

you can get in the baby food section of your local grocery store. They

ussually recomend that you wait until 6 months, but some doctors will recomend

it as early as 4 months if the baby shows sign of needing more. I am seriously

considering it because my little one still wants to nurse every 1.5 hours in

the afternoons. She is only 3.5 months and is wearing 6-9 month clothing, so I

know she isn't starving. But then at 2 weeks we took her to the hospital for

vomiting and was told that she was just overeating. 4 months is considered the

earliest due to the baby not having the ability to eat the rice mush any

earlier and i would recomend talking with their pediatrician first. That is my

plan as soon as I see her doctor for her 4 month appointment.

The rice ceral is also something my grandmother used with her little ones. she

would give them about one or two spoon fulls just before bed to encourage them

to sleep through the night. But back then doctors were suggesting it as early

as 3 weeks. Of course that is also the generation that had formula introduced.

Also sometimes the baby wants more than it needs. manytimes the sucking is for

comfort not hunger. My little is like that as well and she is HUGE. Everyone

is surprised to learn how young she really is. She isn't fat, she is long and

a healthy weight (her legs out grown clothing first). I had to start with a

pacifier with her. I know many breast feeding advocates discourage it, but

every baby is different and has different needs. My little girl is uptight and

wants to suck on something all the time. I understand that her father was like

that as a baby as well.

i have learned that Ican tell when Katie is actually hungry by letting her suck

on my finger for a moment. If it feels like she is going to suck the nail off

she is actually hungry if it is a nawing sort of sucking, she just wants

SOMETHING in her mouth. Fingers, entire fist, pacifier, rattle, whatever will

fit will work.

I guess my point is that you have to take your cues from the baby and take some

recomendations from specialists along the way. I think Katie will get to start

some rice cereal pretty soon as she is facinated with watching people eat.

that is always a good sign for introducing solid foods.

Melia Newman

hunin

" If you find a friend you fully trust

And wish for his good-will,

Exchange thoughts, exchange gifts,

Go often to his house. " - Havamal

October 17, 2003

While breastfeeding, you don't need to have a " set " meal plan or menu for a

baby. We started my son on solids around eight months. I breastfed all he

wanted, then he would have just a little of whatever we were eating. The

first year is about learning about new foods and isn't necessarily about

making sure that they get enough of these foods, of course whatever you feed

them should be healthy. Breastmilk is the perfect food for babies and

beyond, no other food can match the nutrition that breastmilk provides, it

has everything that a baby needs, the more they get, the healthier they are.