Hi Pat,
>It's amazing that, when a baby is started on solids, and everything starts
>going
>wrong, so few people will recommend to mom that she eliminate the solids. I
>have seen babies with serious, painful constipation following the introduction
>of solids and the Ped says, "Oh he will get used to it after a while. Just give
>him some Caro Syrup or prune juice."
>
Ouch! You have just reminded me of my foolish mistake with my second
baby! I did exactly this (although she was 6mo at the time - 2 full
months after most British health visitors start pushing it). She had
such severe constipation, I had to give her gallons of prune juice,
which I am sure contributed to her weaning at 14mo. With my second baby,
I too started solids at 6mo, but when he had the same problem, I took
him off them again and he wasn't on regular solids until 8mo. He is
still nursing well at 14mo (with regards to my first baby, she was on
solids at 3mo, as was the UK advice at the time - that was so stupid I
have no words for it).
Anyway, my point in sharing this is that too often, mothers believe that
once solids are started, that is it. I was told that the baby would
"expect" solids and it would be cruel to withhold them. I believed this
the first two times. I make a point of telling mothers that (a) solids
are not recommended until around 6mo (most believe it must be *before*
6mo, preferably 4mo, or the baby will turn green and grow two heads or
something) and (b) if the baby doesn't take to solids, feel free to go
back to breastfeeding only...oh and (c) they don't need a cup in the
first year if you can nurse on demand :o)
I am aware that the issue isn't as simple as that, and would value your
opinions, but I got a call today from my sister to tell me that she had
taken my 5mo nephew off solids again, after she realised he wasn't
swallowing it! Despite dire predictions from her health visitor, she's
decided to just nurse more often to get her supply up :-)
--
Anna H.
mailto: [log in to unmask]
http://www.ratbag.demon.co.uk/anna/
***********************************************
The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned
LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM)
mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to:
http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html
|
