Ms. Mary Silva
Specializing in feeding and nutrition.
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 Ask Mary Silva
Introducing Solid Foods to Our Four-Month-Old | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Ms. Silva,
When I had my daughter, the doctor told me to feed her every four hours and to give her as much milk as she wants. She is four months old now, still eats every three to four hours, and will only drink seven ounces of milk. She is also on a special formula (Alimentum). Is this wrong? Everyone is telling me to feed her more, to take her off of the schedule, and introduce her to foods. What should I do?— Peaches in Prichard, AL | | | ANSWER |
August 3, 2001 | | | Dear Peaches,
Babies have different appetites but it does appear that your baby is drinking enough formula. At this time she may be ready to eat solids. It depends on whether she can hold her head up independently, whether she's at an appropriate weight (generally approximately fourteen pounds) and whether she has lost the "extrusion reflex." That is, the reflex that makes her push out her tongue when a spoonful of food is introduced.
You may want to discuss her readiness for solids with your pediatrician but even if she does start to eat solids her feeding schedule should not change. Initially, she can start with a simple food such as infant rice cereal (one tablespoon mixed to a thin consistency with formula) once or twice a day. She should continue to drink her formula (after the cereal) every three to four hours, however, you may see that she will drink less formula over time.— by Mary Silva, M.S., R.D. |
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