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Daughter on a food strike -
help!
| NAME: |
Kym
|
| BABY'S NAME: |
Olivia |
| BABY'S AGE: |
6 1/2 months
|
|
BIRTH WEIGHT: |
6 lbs, 5 oz
|
|
CURRENT WEIGHT: |
16 lbs, 4 oz
|
My
daughter was started on solids at 4 1/2 months because of a
reflux problem. We started with rice and moved on down the line
of first stage foods. She would eat solids two times a day and
breastfeed the rest of the day. After a few weeks, she stopped
eating except for one solid feeding of about 2 tablespoons and
2-3 breastfeedings for about 5 minutes each. Her pediatrician
told me to stop the solids and at her 6 month check up I was
told to start her on solids again. I have done this, and for the
first 3-4 days she was okay but now she is going back to not
eating. I have tried to give her juice and water so she won't
get dehydrated, but she vomits this up every time. (She refuses
the breast during her food strike.) I feel compelled to stop the
solids again, and continue breastfeeding her exclusively and to
offer food only on occasion. But my daughter loves food and
wants mine all the time! I was wondering if my breastmilk is not
appetizing to her when she has food to compare it to or what?
Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!!
At
this age, I wonder if your baby still has reflux or not. Often,
this disappears at about 6 months or begins to improve, so how
you handle the solids would really depend on what the status of
the reflux is. Six months is the time that solids are
recommended for all babies, so your baby has arrived at a time
that it is appropriate to be introducing them.
Your comment about your daughter loving your food is an
interesting one, and it may be a social issue. There are
certainly foods that adults eat that babies can try too, such as
small pieces of banana or other soft fruits or cooked
vegetables. Sometimes that is a way to get babies interested in
solids - to have them eat what other people are eating.
In terms of the food strike, I would continue to offer the
breast and to offer solids, but not both together. Usually, if
you are trying to get a baby to eat solids, you should try to
give them solids, then offer the breast shortly thereafter.
If
you are concerned that your baby is not getting enough
breastmilk, you would try the reverse. Don't offer solids and
breastmilk at the same time, though - make each a separate
episode.
In terms of growth, we like a baby to double birth weight by
about 4 months. Your baby has gone beyond this at 6 1/2 months,
so her weight seems about right. She should approximately triple
her birth weight by the time she is 1 year old. At 6 1/2 months,
skipping a few feedings isn't going to make a big difference
in her hydration or growth. However, if she stops having bowel
movements for more than several days or has fewer than six wet
diapers each day, you should contact your pediatrician as these
are signs of dehydration.
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