Bitting update

So the bite count has come to about 15 total bites. He has not bitten me in several days and I think he may be done with it..... I have come to learn that if he does bite he is usually done anyways, so i never latch him back on unless he acts hungry again. There where a couple times i latched him back on right away because he was very fussy. But I would get bitten every time. Stick to unlatching if you get. A bite and try to sooth some other way. If N stops nursing it usually means he is done or he has a burp. If he burps good I will re latch and see if he eats more, no burp I have learned just means he is full.

Starting Solids

How do you know baby is ready to start solids? Our clue has been interest, and age. RL started showing interest in food around three months old. We waited until after our four month check up to actually start solids. N however did not show interest until well into his fourth month. With both children we double checked with our pedi before we started solids. This is always a good idea. 

What do I mean by shows interest? Does your baby stare you down as you eat? Do they reach for your fork? Do they babble more when they see or smell food? They are showing interest in the food you are eating. That is a great sign they are ready for more then just boob. 

Some moms like to EBF for a full six months. I see nothing wrong in doing that at all. You can consult with your doctor about the benefits of starting or waiting. For our kids starting around four months works. 

Here are 5 hints to a smooth transition. 

1- Go slow, it should not be an over night change. We started about four months and N is nearly 6 months and has only had 5 foods total. 

2- Start simple, try cereal and breast milk first. 

3- mix in breast milk or formula with any food. In doing this the taste is still familiar, it is thin, and baby wont loose as many calories. 

4- Enjoy it. I promise it will be messy, have fun and laugh. Don't stress the mess. 

5- Start green, then move to then move to the sweeter veggies, and add fruits last. Let baby get use to peas and beans before giving bananas. Then baby won't decide bananas are the only food they will eat. 

Tip 3 comes from a personal experience. RL actually dropped a little weight when we started solids because she was not getting enough calories. Veggies and cereal have a lot less fat then good old boobie  milk. After adding formula she gained weight again, but it was something that we never even thought of until it hit us in the face at a doctors appointment. Just because baby is full, does not mean they are getting all they need. Remember unless your doctor is concerned about a baby's weight you should never put them on a diet, babies need fatty yummy thick milk. They are very active, they will burn through it.