Alternative to baby rice?

[BellaBoo0512]

Ever since Thomas turned 3 months friends and family members have been trying to pressurise me into introducing solids saying that he needs it and that it never did me any harm, well I made the decision to hold off weaning until Thomas was as close to 6 months as possible.

A few weeks ago Thomas started to wake during the night for a feed (he'd been sleeping through and completely cut out night feeds for about a month) I spoke to the health visitor about this and she said to try a bit of baby rice during the day.

I was against this idea and felt it was too soon so I held off. It's been a good feed weeks now and Thomas is still waking for feeds in the night, is still hungry after his bottle and is constantly reaching out for my food when I'm eating around him. I decided to slowly introduce food to him and tried the rice as I can mix it with his formula milk which he is familiar with.

He seems to be interested in it and has a few small spoonfuls after his lunchtime bottle. Today I tasted a bit myself and its bloody awful! It is so bland and I've read that it has no nutritional value whatsoever. A friend recommended rusk but I have been told that these are quite sugary, even the low sugar ones.

What else can I try? And when do I start giving food twice a day instead of once etc?

I feel like I'm a bit in over my head. I'm so glad I didn't start this any earlier!

 

[melfy77]

Try some oatmeal baby cereal. It's quite tasty and my DD loves it!!!

 

[BellaBoo0512]

Thank you ill get some when I go shopping

 

[megrenade]

That seems way too young for any kind of solids All you're doing is giving baby empty carbs that stretch out his stomach.

As long as you're giving it with a spoon and not putting it in a bottle, I guess oatmeal would be better.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

If LO was too young then surely the health visitor wouldn't of recommended it to me? Also I'm not giving him full meals I'm only giving him a couple of spoonfulls after he has had a feed.

 

[fieryphoenix]

I've heard some pretty horrible advice from these health visitors, I wouldn't necessarily trust every word they say. Rice won't do anything for your lo, I'd stick to milk for another month or two personally.

 

[melfy77]

Don't beat yourself up. Now they say 6 months, but a year ago they were still saying 4-6 months, and those babies are doing just fine. And in some western countries, such as Australia, they still say 4-6 months, even when EBF. With my daughter I wanted to wait 6 months but I ended up starting when she was 4 1/2 months. She was a great sleeper, then at 3 1/2 months she started to wake up 4-5 times a night to feed (she's been formula fed since 3 months). I waited, thinking growth spurt and/or sleep regression, but after 1 month of barely getting any sleep and this pregnancy, that was it. So I started oatmeal once a day, and within 2 days she was back to her usual sleep pattern. And when I started solids she FINALLY started to gain weight (she was in the 8th percentile or so, now she's pretty much in the 50th). We all want to be textbook mothers, but truth is if your baby is not textbook then you will likely stress yourself out, which will make things even worse. When I saw my ped last time I told her about solids and she said it was totally fine.

 

[baileybubs]

I think that 4 months may be quite young but it's completely your own decision Hun, I have tried my LG a couple of times with some creamed porridge by Heinz (it tastes quite yummy actually). Maybe give that a go Hun. I have only given it my LG twice though as I decided from how she dealt with it that she isn't ready yet and will try again in a few weeks.

 

[lozzy21]

Don't beat yourself up. Now they say 6 months, but a year ago they were still saying 4-6 months, and those babies are doing just fine. And in some western countries, such as Australia, they still say 4-6 months, even when EBF. With my daughter I wanted to wait 6 months but I ended up starting when she was 4 1/2 months. She was a great sleeper, then at 3 1/2 months she started to wake up 4-5 times a night to feed (she's been formula fed since 3 months). I waited, thinking growth spurt and/or sleep regression, but after 1 month of barely getting any sleep and this pregnancy, that was it. So I started oatmeal once a day, and within 2 days she was back to her usual sleep pattern. And when I started solids she FINALLY started to gain weight (she was in the 8th percentile or so, now she's pretty much in the 50th). We all want to be textbook mothers, but truth is if your baby is not textbook then you will likely stress yourself out, which will make things even worse. When I saw my ped last time I told her about solids and she said it was totally fine.

It's been 6 months in the UK for over a decade now.

 

[lily28]

I'm a big believer that babies should wait until 6 months for weaning. No food is better for them than mother's milk, in terms of calories, vitamins, and overall nutrition.
HOWEVER: My son will be 5 months in 2 weeks, thrives on EBF, but lately he seems genuinely interested in different tastes and food. He watches us eat intently and mimics the chewing movements, he easily picks up things with his hands, passes them from one hand to the other and puts them in his mouth. I know it is a kind of exploring so I tried to give him half a damson plum (which is quite tart) I was eating, for fun. Of course he put it in his mouth immediately and started sucking as if he hasn't eaten for days! I expected a sour face, but he really loved it. It was hard for him to really "eat" anything, but he sucked a bit of the juice. When I took it away he started crying, something he never does with regular toys.

Now I'm contemplating solids... Tonight I'm meeting with the pediatrician to ask her opinion, I know she is a breastfeeding supporter but she may agree that my son shows signs of wanting solids.

I also have a problem starting with rice. I think it is nutritionally inferior to other foods. I asked other mothers, some started with rice cereal, others with oats, others decided to not give their babies cereal at all and only give veggies fruits and potatoes.

My nanny suggests I start him with banana, avocado and yogurt, and to use rice cereal only later to thicken purees, not as a first food.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

I originally wanted LO to wait until he was 6 months and that's why I didn't want to start any earlier but as a first time mum I'm obviously going to take my health visitors advice on board. LO is still having his feeds as normal and then is offered a tiny bit of rice after his bottle so it's not like I'm replacing his food. I have actually made the decision to hold off a while longer. Not because of what other people have said to me but because I am his mum and no one knows my son better than I do.

I don't see why people see the need to try and put people down because they decide to try solids earlier. As mothers we all make decisions based around our children and do what we think is best. When I wrote this post I asked for advice, not for negative comments and for people to try and put me down.

 

[baileybubs]

I originally wanted LO to wait until he was 6 months and that's why I didn't want to start any earlier but as a first time mum I'm obviously going to take my health visitors advice on board. LO is still having his feeds as normal and then is offered a tiny bit of rice after his bottle so it's not like I'm replacing his food. I have actually made the decision to hold off a while longer. Not because of what other people have said to me but because I am his mum and no one knows my son better than I do.

I don't see why people see the need to try and put people down because they decide to try solids earlier. As mothers we all make decisions based around our children and do what we think is best. When I wrote this post I asked for advice, not for negative comments and for people to try and put me down.

Bella you are 100% correct Hun you are his mother and you know him best, I hope my post did not come across as negative, perhaps I should have said that personally I felt that 4 months was too early for my own daughter, hence why I am now waiting a bit.
But when you do try the creamed porridge is quite tasty, a bit like rice pudding with no rice.

 

[Paperhearts]

I don't think anyone is trying to put you down. Just trying to give you all the info so you can make an informed decision. That's what all good mamas want right?

There are actually risks to introducing solids too early that you can look up if you're interested in both sides!

 

[lily28]

I'm updating after I saw the pediatrician last night. She agrees my boy is advanced and he seems to want to taste things, but she tells me to hold off solids for another month. However she said it is ok to give him a piece of fruit to play with and occupy himself, just not a meal yet. She thinks he still has to benefit a lot from breast milk.

 

[xxxemmaxxx]

I originally wanted LO to wait until he was 6 months and that's why I didn't want to start any earlier but as a first time mum I'm obviously going to take my health visitors advice on board. LO is still having his feeds as normal and then is offered a tiny bit of rice after his bottle so it's not like I'm replacing his food. I have actually made the decision to hold off a while longer. Not because of what other people have said to me but because I am his mum and no one knows my son better than I do.

I don't see why people see the need to try and put people down because they decide to try solids earlier. As mothers we all make decisions based around our children and do what we think is best. When I wrote this post I asked for advice, not for negative comments and for people to try and put me down.

I was going to say the question was "What's an alternative to rice" not another conversation on the fact that some people do wean earlier than 6 months! I have just started and I cannot believe what a difference it has made already. He sleeps more at night, generally happier and not so grizzly between feeds. I am taking it slowly and one day at a time though as there is no rush but at the moment it is working for us!

 

[xxxemmaxxx]

Just to add.. I'm not saying my way is the right way or telling anyone to copy or tell people what to do, just that I agree every baby is different and ready at different times.

What works for one doesn't work for all!

 

[Butterball Ma]

OP, you know your baby better than anyone else Guidelines are well, guidelines. They're meant to serve the average. Not everyone fits into that range. I went the old school "my grandma did it this way" with my DD, which flies in the face of most ped recommendations. It worked for us and she's happy, healthy and bright at 11 years old and her doctor has always commented on her health. Pediatrics is scientific and can do a lot ( I used to work at a children's hospital, so I'm not against medicine at all), but it still lacks instinct. Instinct can go a long way. So, don't feel beaten up, although I'm sure everyone meant well

And as for your actual question...I used baby rice for Tori and probably will with this LO, too. I know it tastes terrible, but babies don't really know about taste at that age. As for rusks, I don't think we have them in the US? I will tell you this, the traditional first "real" food in my family has always been mashed potatoes. You can make it without salt and mix it with formula or breastmilk. I'm not sure if it has enough nutrients for you, but you can look into it.

 

[Mia Evan]

My friend sort of had the same issue with her little one when he was about 3 months. She said he was always still hungry after breastfeeding so they ended up supplementing with formula in addition to breast milk which helped him sleep better. Granted her baby started teething around 4 months so every baby is different, you just have to follow your instincts. But it's probably worth experimenting a bit if it seems like your baby isn't completely full and satisfied after feeds?

My lo started baby cereals at 6 months, then I made my own rice porridge for her around 7 months adding pureed meats and veggies, which she loves. She actually rejected store bought baby cereals once we introduced homemade solids haha. In terms of their taste preferences, ours will vary greatly from babies I think. I tasted her formula once and it tasted awful! But babies drink it just fine.

 

[kittylady]

Babies go through a major growth spurt for a few weeks at 4 months and do wake through the night, this is totally normal, early weaning isn't needed and it will calm down after a few weeks just stay strong.

 

[BellaBoo0512]

I only gave it him a couple of times and then decided to stop. I upped his bottles and he is satisfied with his milk so holding off weaning for as long as possible. Think I gave in to family members and friends trying to pressurise me but I've decided that he isn't ready yet. He is also sleeping through the night again so he obviously wasn't waking because he was hungry.