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Here's my baby--quickly approaching 5 months!--attempting to roll off of her playmat. She now rolls very easily from tummy to back, and is getting better at going from back to tummy. Usually the latter happens only when she's after a lost toy or the remote. :) On a couple of occasions, I placed her in her playmat one way, and came back into the room to find her turned completely around or sideways! Here's a question for all you mommies: when did you first introduce cereal (or whatever) to your babes? Livvie is showing many of the signs of readiness, and I think she might sleep better at night if I start, but I just don't know. I don't want to wait til her 6-month checkup if she's not getting enough to eat, but neither do I want to pay $86 to get the doctor's go-ahead. Let me know what you all think.
Well, I made it through this hectic week! As it turned out, it wasn't as busy as I expected it to be. Tuesday night Bible study was cancelled, and I got off work early yesterday. Nate left yesterday afternoon for Indiana; he's due back around 10 or so tonight. Last night I was sincerely freaked out. I watched the first 5 minutes of the 11:00 news... the top story was about a man who has raped 2 women in the last 2 weeks. He's been prowling around Pontiac, which is about 45 minutes away. Yikes! Of course, as I headed to bed, I heard every little creak and crack. :) I knew Nate was going to call, so I turned down the ringer so it wouldn't scare me. Before I could even put the phone down, BRRRRRING!!! Sheesh. Good thing I had just used the bathroom! Of course, Nate assured me that I would be fine, and it helped some. I thought I'd have trouble getting to sleep... silly me. :) I did, however, have trouble STAYING asleep, as Olivia had a vvvvvvery restless night (again with the solids issue!). But we both got a nice nap this afternoon.
I'm coming down with a cold, which I HATE. I've got the whole scratchy throat, postnasal drip--yuck! Head is starting to feel full, and possibly the worst... a little thing I like to call sick breath. I'm sure it's from the postnasal drip, but no matter how much I brush and use mouthwash, my mouth never feels fresh. And I know that this is the time I need to be drinking tons of water, but it just does not sound good at all. I'm drinking a bottle of Fruit2O, which is better than nothing, I guess. (It's Lemon flavored, by the way.) The things that sound the best to me are soda--Diet Ruby Red Squirt, to be exact--I think for the bubbly effect, and hot tea, for the... hot effect.
Well, I think I'll clean the bathroom while Livvie catnaps.
Have a great Lord's Day!
10 comments:
Glad to hear that your week wasn't as long as you thought it was!
I started Victoria and Logan on cereal in their bottles pretty early because they just didin't sleep through the night for nothing.
If you think she is ready for it is all that matters. i know that doesn't help does it?? Seriously, though, you are the mom and you know your daughter best!
Hi Karen! I'm sure there are many many moms out their with more recent experience with cereals than I have, but for some reason 4 months is sticking in my head...I would try it, it surely isn't going to harm her. Hopefully you'd be pleasantly surprised with some restful nights. Good luck!
hey! have you breastfed only, or have you supplemented with formula? If you do use formula, you could try to up her ounces a little if you have not done that already. I started Jackson on oatmeal at 5months (cheerios at 4months)it only takes a few teaspoons - that may help to think about it that way - it's not like they are having cups/bowls of cereal. It's a very small amount, and she may not even take but a few spoonfulls at first.
If you want to save $$ on the Dr. visit, you could always just call the dr. and ask the question - that's free :)
If she looks interested, give it a try. I read a lot that you should introduce food b/w 5-6 months at the latest. Just do what you think is best!!
Bummer to hear you are getting a cold! Take some extra vitamin-C pills this week! Maybe you're craving the citrus in ruby red squirt?
I actually started putting cereal in Chloe's nighttime bottle (which my doc poo-pooed) at about 3.5 months. she was a big baby and it helped her get through the night without a middle of the night feeding. I started other solids at 4.5 months and cheerios at 6 mos.
Hear, hear to Heather's advice! God gives you wisdom as a mom so you don't have to worry about always getting the ok from the doc. Especially if you are researching the issues yourself.
Let us know how it goes!
So sad about your horrible night. I HATE it when Josh is gone, I just wake up all the time.
About cereal, up here they say not til after 6 months - but it seems like they change the rules all the time. When Ella was born it was 4 months, but by the time she reached that it was up to 6. I think they do recommend supplementing formula like Shyla said. But it seems as though the consensus is - you are the mom. Do what you think she needs.
I hate just worrying all the time if I'm doing the wrong thing. In the end, it's probably not that big of a deal.
I guess I'm the weird one here! :-) I haven't started Aaron on cereal yet, but we have given him avocado occasionally, which he loves. (and it doesn't stop him up at all) I haven't bitten the bullet and given him solids every day yet, just kind of giving it to him when it works for the rest of us, LOL. And everyone differs on when is "right" - my dr. wanted me to start him at 4.5 mos and the lactation consultant said the AAP now is saying 6 mos minimum, but whenever they are ready is the right time. You will know - trust those mommy instincts!!
I'm sure you will get all kinds of ideas on this one. When got to be that age, she started sleeping less, so I did start Audrey at 4 1/2- 5 months on cereal. The think to keep in mind is for the first month or so she probably won't be getting much; it will be getting her used to the spoon, etc. This is something I didn't realize. We started veggies once a day just before 6 months. I now feed Audrey twice a day. I would warn you that the cereal may stop her up for a few days. When you do talk to your pediatrician, I would ask them what they suggest if this happens (maybe how long to wait to try to help the situation and how to help. . . ) These are the things I wish I would have found out before I gave her cereal. Now I give her 1 tablespoon cereal and 1/4 cup of applejuce dilluted to half the strength. Sorry this is so long, hope it helps; in the end whatever you choose will be just fine!!
silly girl...don't you know that first time mommy's are always full of advice? you'll be reading forever. :) we're full of advice until we need it, right?
ok, my official two cents: i'm with shyla on the free call. i call all the time. first i just ask for a nurse and if i don't like what she says i ask to leave a message for my doc to call when he got a free moment. it's worked very well for me.
i think i didn't do cereal until after 6 mos...BUT connor was sleeping through the night at 3-4 mos. i think he was sleeping well b/c i supplemented breast milk with formula. i too mixed his cereal with apple juice instead of water to help keep things moving. and it took him a while to actually get cereal in his mouth b/c he sucked at spoon feeding. i've also been told (by church ladies) that the cereal in the night bottle helps them get those extra calories until they are used to spoon feeding.
so pick and choose what you like about all of this and chuck the rest of it. whatever you do, do it with confidence and everyone will think you are a master mommy. that's what i did. i just pretended i knew what was going on....it's only now that i am willing to admit that i totally screwed up connor's eating schedule daily and gave him major gas in the process. hey, he doesn't remember, right? he just blazed a trail for future brothers or sisters. :)
wow, you get a LOT of comments when you ask for advice.
i am sorry you are feeling sick. that is a bummer when you are craving something you can't have. i always crave anything grape.
wow, livvie is rolling all over. how awesome. we got anna when she was five months; she didn't do anything but lay there... she hardly even cried. (poor thing.)
as far as advice... i have some for you... i would caution you on feeding livvie cereal through her bottle. everywhere you read... they will tell you it can cause your baby to choke. of course, being a wanna-be-multi-tasker i put it in anna's bottle just because "everybody else does it" and anna did nearly choke on it and she ended up caughing it up and vomiting. it was really scarry.
when anna was five months i gave her a little bit of cereal but she never did learn to like it. she has always been a good sleeper, but i never breastfed... i just used formula (in case you were wondering... ha ha.)
i hope i can meet olivia someday soon. maybe she and anna can be friends.
janelle
Olivia is a doll! Congrats!
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