Introducing solids was the most frequent advice I got from family, friends, strangers. I was so sleep deprived and the answer from them was give the child something solid and he will sleep. My doctor was the voice of sanity. She insisted that no one knew my baby like I did and I would know what was right. The babies game me their clues and they had different needs.

FWIW (and I don't think Laura thinks I was doing this) but I didn't mean to push solids. I was just wondering if Matilda was of an age where it was an appropriate way to supplement the pumped milk which isn't filling her up.

I had people telling me to give Ben solids when he was a couple of weeks old, which just seemed crazy to me.

My doctor had us introduce them at four months, because he said that although they weren't important nutritionally, it gave the baby a chance to learn how to deal with manipulating solids in his mouth, before he became too particular and suspicious of change. Breast milk and/or formula is where they're going to get their important nutrition for the first year, at least. But I know these guidelines change frequently, so what was good 11-6 years ago, may be frowned upon now, and with good reason.

vw, how was your day? Did you have school?

A completely different delight.

eta: I can't believe I typed that out loud.

vw, how was your day? Did you have school?

My day was fine. I did have school. And I made it through my long class and a meeting with the prof afterwards. I was quite proud of myself. I'm exhausted now, though, and heading to bed, I think.

Yay, vw! I hope you get a good night's sleep tonight.

Well you earned it, girl. I'm glad you had a good day. I hope your exhausted is the good kind, that leads to a deep, refreshing sleep. How's Toto?

You should be proud of yourself! Yay for a full accomplished day. Now for the icing, a good night's sleep. eta: the triple xpost wish for good sleep makes it a given now!

Indeed Cindy, the changing rules for baby feeding is that much more frustrating for the new parents that question every decision anyway! This is where I have to go for trusting your instincts. They are more consistently right than advice.

Yay school, vw! Sleep well.

Never did find my motivation. Got through enough at work to feel as though I made a dent in the pile. Now there is the crud I'm ignoring at home.

My doctor had us introduce them at four months, because he said that although they weren't important nutritionally, it gave the baby a chance to learn how to deal with manipulating solids in his mouth, before he became too particular and suspicious of change. Breast milk and/or formula is where they're going to get their important nutrition for the first year, at least.

Those guidelines are still the same. At four months Matilda was still doing faceplants if she sat without support, so we held off. At 5 and change, she has much better balance -- and she's also starting to watch us with interest when we eat. I was actually thinking of picking up some rice cereal at the organic grocery store a couple blocks away this evening.

{{{JZ}}} I have no advice, of course, but I think you have gotten some good advice from those who have btdt.

My family was in the meat business for about a century. If I were to become a vegetarian, you would hear the whirring noise of several generations spinning in their graves.

Also, when you actually meet cattle, you realize that cabbage might be smarter.