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Bunch of Baby Questions
Sorry for the multiple questions, but I love the support and knowledge that you ladies provide.
1) Ella is 4 months old. She is underweight, but eats too much/too often according to the doctor - 4-6 oz every 3-6 hours, except overnights. Dr says she's ready to start on food. My mother got on my case tonight because I was talking feeding Ella food. She said that I can't feed her food without feeding her cereal for a few weeks first and even then, I need to mix the food with cereal. And then when I brought up avocados - oh man, babies are not allowed to eat that! I was basing my information off of what the doctor said and what I've read online (aka here). What do you ladies suggest in terms of eating?
2) Is there a developmental milestone guide online? I need something.
3) Same with a feeding scale/suggestion guide.
4) What happens when someone enters Pampers GTG points off of products that are still in the store? I know you can call Pampers if the code on your product doesn't work so does Pampers look to see where the code was used and take the points away or something?
5) Why do you chose to give or not give your baby a flu shot? I'm more interested in the not reasonings, I suppose. I've never had a flu shot and honestly didn't even think about giving her one. (It does seem like I have a few months though.)
6) I've started my period. Isn't that the beginning of the end of breastfeeding?
Re: Bunch of Baby Questions
1) What do you ladies suggest in terms of eating?
I referred to this site often when I had questions: http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/babyfirstfoods.htm & YES to avocados! Absolutely!
2) Is there a developmental milestone guide online?
Yes, on Babycenter.com. But don't let it freak you out, every baby is different.
3) Same with a feeding scale/suggestion guide.
Not sure.
4) What happens when someone enters Pampers GTG points off of products that are still in the store? I know you can call Pampers if the code on your product doesn't work so does Pampers look to see where the code was used and take the points away or something?
Not sure.
5) Why do you chose to give or not give your baby a flu shot? I'm more interested in the not reasonings, I suppose. I've never had a flu shot and honestly didn't even think about giving her one. (It does seem like I have a few months though.)
Cole had a bad reaction with the first one and we discussed with Dr.
6) I've started my period. Isn't that the beginning of the end of breastfeeding?
Not at all. I am still breastfeeding and going strong and I started my period when Cole was about 6 months. Major bummer to get it so early!
1. You can't force feed a baby. Reese never took more than 5 oz at a time. She ate every 3 hours during the day until she was a year old. Grier has never eaten any more than 4 oz. Again, she eats every 3-4 hours during the day and goes about 8 hours at night. Feed Ella when she shows signs of hunger. The pedi told me that I should only be feeding Grier 6 times a day, but that's not going to fly with her. I just feed her when she's hungry. Babies won't overeat, so I don't worry about it.
As far as solids, I didn't start them until both girls showed signs of readiness. Reese was just shy of 6 months, Grier was just over 6 months. Again, if she's not ready, you can't force feed her. Maybe try and if she's not interested, then revisit later.
You can start with cereal, but you don't have to. The reason they push it is because of the iron in it. Your breastmilk is lacking in iron starting around 6ish months. If you want to start with something else, you can. Reese started on avocados and didn't have cereal until closer to 7 months. And even then, we did oatmeal and not rice. Grier wasn't having it with veggies or fruits, so we switched to cereal for awhile. She's now eating veggies and fruits like its her job, so we don't do cereal.
You really need to follow your gut on this one. don't do something because your mom thinks its the right way to do it. More than once, I've had to tell my mom and mil that they've already raised their children
2. I get the email from babycenter each week and have an app on my iphone.
5. We do the flu shot. Both are in daycare and I work with sick people. Enough said! lol!
6. Just because you've started your period doesn't mean that breastfeeding is over. I got mine at 8 weeks pp with Reese and pumped until she was 9 months. You will probably just notice a drop in supply around the time you have it. Just make sure you are drinking a lot of water, eat oatmeal and take fenugreek to help maintain it.
And check out kellymom for info about the signs of readiness to start solids. I found it really helpful!
And a question for you-is Ella not gaining weight or is she just low percentile? If she's gaining and following her own curve, I wouldn't be too worried. Someones got to be in the 5th percentile, kwim?
Ella is gaining weight and is at the 50th percentile. Our doctor said that she's supposed to be at least double her birth weight at 4 months. She's only a half a pound under that, but he wants to make sure she doesn't slow/stop her weight gain.
1. with Will, he was at daycare. he ate 4 oz 3 times there, and nursed at least 3 times at home in a 24 hour time frame. He ate every 3 hours around the clock until he was nearly a year old. Chance eats every 3 hours from 8-8, and sleeps about 10 hours at night. he does tend to nurse to sleep for naps and at night though. Every baby is different. My gut on nursing is that they cry and you feed them when they're hungry. I started feeding W food about 6 months. It's when he got interested. We started with rice, then moved to oatmeal, and did that for a month. With C, he's been super interested in food, so we started oatmeal when he was just over 4 months, and moved to sweet potatoes and carrots. It's giving him some nasty rash though so we've stepped back and are going to go back to cereal. Go with your gut. and avocado is a great starter!
2. There was one in Baby 411 that we used.
3. again with Baby 411.
4. n/a
5. we did with Will since he was in daycare, and we'd already been sick enough. I got one starting the year I was pregnant with him, and we've gotten them every year since. Will is going to get the mist this year, and DH and I are going to get them too. Chance will get it at his 6 month appt. I'd rather get one shot and try to avoid one illness-kids touch enough other stuff that we're going to have to deal with-licking shopping carts anyone?
6. NOPE! drink more water, eat more oatmeal. I hear you'll have a dip in supply, but it shouldn't be the end. Not that I have a ton of experience in this.
If she is in the 50%, there is definitely no need to worry. The idea about doubling birth weight (or 3x by age 1) are just really rough guidelines. Gretta was barely double her birth weight at age 1. I have big babies who didn't eat well. ha!
I'm not much help w/ the other questions. I know that getting your period is def not the sign of the end of bfing. I didn't get mine until I stopped (which was awesome), but most of my friends got theirs and just kept right on going.
As far as the flu shot, there isn't anything you need to worry about or any "scary" reason not to get it. I think some people just don't b/c unlike polio, etc. it isn't 100% since there are so many strains of flu. Supposedly they have a really accurate match this year, so they are predicting the shot to be very effective. I think its a good idea, but not necessary.
This is a good guideline but it doesn't mean she's underweight.. Aubrey was 8 lbs at birth and 18 lbs at a year.. she was no where NEAR doubling her weight at 4 months.. she was only 12 lbs, 12 oz at 4 months.. Our doc basically said as long as she's gaining weight not to worry too much and that their birthweight is more indicative of a healthy pregnancy and of the mom's size than what they are supposed to weigh. Aubrey didn't double her birth weight until 10 months which was also when she started walking. Just watch for her to thrive in her other areas and make sure she is gaining and I wouldn't force her to eat or not eat.. Just feed her when she is hungry!
I wish doctors would give the same advice to everyone. Ours insisted that she was underweight because she hasn't doubled her birthweight. I know she looks healthy - chunky even - and she has been gaining rather steadily.
We do feed her on demand, which is why her feedings range from 3-6 hours. If she does take 5 oz, then she will last closer to the 6 hours. Sometimes when she's nursing, it seems like she barely takes anything before she's done; then she tends to be hungry in 3 hours.
I'll have to check out kellymom. The more I read, the more I want to wait to start her on foods anyhow. (Allergies are very prevelant on H's side and I don't want to increase her risk of getting them.)