After watching babies and listening to mothers for years, I again have a baby
who is just starting solids which has been like having my own little "lab."
After hearing parents over and over talk about babies being "obviously ready"
for solids, I was wondering how Sierra would exhibit signs of being ready for
solids.
Around four months, she became VERY VERY interested in food- watching every
bite that went into our mouth and checking out everything on the table. I
knew we were not starting solids until at least 6 months so I resisted
everyone's advice that she was OBVIOUSLY ready. After watching her a few
days, I realized she was watching EVERYTHING with great detail- how the
carseat worked , what we did when we brushed our teeth, how dad shaved, what
the dogs did, how I worked in the kitchen, everything. Did that mean she
could do all those things? no.
So, I interpreted her behaviors as her wanting to interact with us during
meals and gave her a spoon. It worked. She just wanted to do what we were
doing. Now at 6 months she will eat a little bite here and there but still is
mostly playing and having fun being at the table as one of the family.
I now can really understand how parents can interpret the kind of behavior a
baby has at 4 months with being "ready" to eat. I told people "she trys to
drive the car too but she's not ready for THAT yet", or "she looks at the
dogs just like she does my sandwich and I'm not going to feed THEM to her."
While every baby is not the same, I feel even more stongly now that it is
easy for parents to misinterpret behaviors and follow cultural pressure about
solids. Even all the staff at the WIC department where I work could not
believe Sierra did not have any food before 6 months ( or EVEN FORMULA!).
They are all also amazed that she has never been sick in spite of being
around all my clients and friends at the clinic since she was 3 weeks old.
I'm sure others will have opinions on when and what to start when it comes to
solids but in my experience, peer pressure is still a strong force even in
adults (even those of us who know the route we want to take)!
As far as what could be causing vomiting- even a few teaspoons could be too
much when babies are just starting out. Now having children who have jobs and
get to BUY whatever they might want to eat- I enjoy thinking that Sierra is
benefiting from having a "pure" system for the only time in her life and that
every ounce of something else means an ounce less of that perfect food that
she gets.
Debra Kearney IBCLC
WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator, Seminole County FL

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