Introducing Solids-Many Questions

[txrangersfan]

We just started introducing solids to our LO who is 6 months. Following the suggestion of our pediatrician, we skipped rice cereal and are starting with stage 1 veggies. I have a few questions about this whole process.

1) When do you start increasing food intake? Right now we're doing 4 spoonfuls once a day and if he doesn't want to eat it all, we follow his cue. When do we start feeding him more than once a day? And how much do we increase his intake by? My gut says to just feed until he doesn't want anymore but I don't want to overfeed.

2) We're doing the 4 day rule of trying each food for 4 days to make sure there isn't a reaction to it. With this method, can you stack foods? For example, if he does good on sweet potatoes and we try peas next, does he have to do 4 days of only peas or on some days can he have peas and sweet potatoes?

3) I plan to make and store some of his food. How do you store it in the freezer and how long is it good for?

4) As far as adding water to the foods, do you just use purified water or is there a special baby water to use? I've seen some water aint the baby aisle at the store.

Thanks for any pointers!

 

[missk1989]

We just started introducing solids to our LO who is 6 months. Following the suggestion of our pediatrician, we skipped rice cereal and are starting with stage 1 veggies. I have a few questions about this whole process.

1) When do you start increasing food intake? Right now we're doing 4 spoonfuls once a day and if he doesn't want to eat it all, we follow his cue. When do we start feeding him more than once a day? And how much do we increase his intake by? My gut says to just feed until he doesn't want anymore but I don't want to overfeed.

2) We're doing the 4 day rule of trying each food for 4 days to make sure there isn't a reaction to it. With this method, can you stack foods? For example, if he does good on sweet potatoes and we try peas next, does he have to do 4 days of only peas or on some days can he have peas and sweet potatoes?

3) I plan to make and store some of his food. How do you store it in the freezer and how long is it good for?

4) As far as adding water to the foods, do you just use purified water or is there a special baby water to use? I've seen some water aint the baby aisle at the store.

Thanks for any pointers!

For food intake I followed lo. I fed until he didnt want anymore, within reason. You are supposed to give a the usual milk feed before though so it shouldnt be too much anyway.
You can do pea and sweet potato, the rule is just so you know what they react to. If he had no reaction to sweet potato then you would know it was the peas.
I made batches of puree and froze them in an ice cube tray which i then tipped into a labelled food bag. it should keep for at least 3 months.
I just added boiled water or his usual milk to foods. I certainly wouldnt buy "baby water". Water is water!

 

[HKateH]

Do you have a family history of allergies? If not there really is no need to do the four day rule... Four days of peas would surely put anyone off food for life! The only 'rule' we used was if I wouldn't eat it, I wouldn't feed it to my LO.

 

[txrangersfan]

Thanks to you both!

 

[txrangersfan]

Do you have a family history of allergies? If not there really is no need to do the four day rule... Four days of peas would surely put anyone off food for life! The only 'rule' we used was if I wouldn't eat it, I wouldn't feed it to my LO.

I do have food allergies and so does LO. We're taking this process carefully to not upset his sensitive tummy.

 

[HKateH]

Do you have a family history of allergies? If not there really is no need to do the four day rule... Four days of peas would surely put anyone off food for life! The only 'rule' we used was if I wouldn't eat it, I wouldn't feed it to my LO.

I do have food allergies and so does LO. We're taking this process carefully to not upset his sensitive tummy.

Makes sense then!

 

[MindUtopia]

We never did purees so not sure about the first few questions, but as for water, use whatever water you would give him to drink or for anything else. At 6 months, my daughter was having regular tap water to drink in her sippy cup with meals (not that she drank it! but we offered it), so I would use regular tap water in any cooking I did for her too.