seven and a half month old baby girl. For the first four monthsI was only breastfeeding her. On the instructions of the peadiatrician

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Hello,I have a seven and a half month old baby girl. For the first four monthsI was only breastfeeding her. On the instructions of the peadiatrician,I started her on semi solid food like ragi in the fifth month. Slowly Imoved her on to other food stuff and now I give her cerelac in themorning for breakfast, apple juice at around 10:30, rice, potato,carrots and beans all pureed for lunch, again a little cerelac, or alittle bit of banana, or sometimes even 1 marie biscuit mixed withlactogen in the evening at around 4 and then ragi for dinner. • Is this diet adequate for her age? • Can I start introducing other vegetables and fruits? • Most of the above said food is given in a semi solid form. When do Istart introducing solids? She is in the process of teething as she bitesand nibbles a lot. • I want to slowly wean her off by December. Can I give lactogen as asubstitute for breast milk or should I start her on cow’s milk?• After every meal, she brings out a little – sometimes immediately,sometimes after about an hour or so. Is this ok?• How much of water should she have a day? As of now, she has lessthan 3 oz of water. Should I increase her water intake?Another concern that I have is about her sleep pattern. She does notsleep much during the day. When she does sleep, she sleeps only forabout half an hour at a time. It’s like she has got this in builtalarm that wakes her up exactly after half an hour. She now sleeps forabout 2 hours totally during the day. She used to sleep through thenight when she was about four months, but from her fifth month onwards,she started getting up again for her nightly feeds. Now she sleepsreasonably well at night, but she does get up for her nightly feeds atleast 3 times. Because of this we co-sleep.• Should children her age sleep longer during the day? If so how can Ihelp her sleep longer?• Is there anything I can do to make her sleep through out the nightlike she used to in her fourth month?• Is co-sleeping good for her?• Is it too early to for her to sleep in another room?Hoping to hear from you soon.


Answers:

Hello,I have a seven and a half month old baby girl. For the first four monthsI was only breastfeeding her.
======== very good!

On the instructions of the peadiatrician,I started her on semi solid food like ragi in the fifth month.
======== early introduction of solids before 6 months is not recommended as the gut may be immature.


Slowly Imoved her on to other food stuff and now I give her cerelac in the morning for breakfast, apple juice at around 10:30, rice, potato,carrots and beans all pureed for lunch,
======= well the quantity is more important.

again a little cerelac, or alittle bit of banana, or sometimes even 1 marie biscuit mixed withlactogen in the evening at around 4 and then ragi for dinner.
======== how much? little is too little!

• Is this diet adequate for her age?
======== well, children at this age need feeds almost 6-8 times a day

• Can I start introducing other vegetables and fruits?
==== sure, but give adequate quantity of diet and then change the quality.

• Most of the above said food is given in a semi solid form.
========= thats ok till 8 months age.

When do Istart introducing solids?
======= as soon as your baby asks for it, i mena he will start biting... thats the time he should be introduced to solid edibles.

She is in the process of teething as she bitesand nibbles a lot.
====== normal for her age to taste chew and spit.

• I want to slowly wean her off by December.
===== yes by december u can easily get her to normal adult diet. but in half quantity.

Can I give lactogen as asubstitute for breast milk or should I start her on cow’s milk?
===== as far as possible, start on complementary feeding. yopu need not need replacement for milk, just add variety of diet balanced in calorie and proteins.

• After every meal, she brings out a little – sometimes immediately,sometimes after about an hour or so. Is this ok?
===== yes, this is called possetting. this is totally normal. no need to give any meds for this unless the child is facing some other problem due to this. (that is very unusual)

• How much of water should she have a day? As of now, she has lessthan 3 oz of water. Should I increase her water intake?
======= thats enough, you may give frequent water sips between feeds. how about half punce 6 times a day? most her feeds now are semisolid, they contain good water, unless constipated, increase in extra water is not recommended.

Another concern that I have is about her sleep pattern. She does notsleep much during the day. When she does sleep, she sleeps only forabout half an hour at a time.
===== well, that will pas off in 2 months. its normal for age.



It’s like she has got this in builtalarm that wakes her up exactly after half an hour. She now sleeps forabout 2 hours totally during the day. She used to sleep through thenight when she was about four months, but from her fifth month onwards,she started getting up again for her nightly feeds. Now she sleepsreasonably well at night, but she does get up for her nightly feeds atleast 3 times. Because of this we co-sleep.
========= i think co-sleep is a good habit till 1 year age.
her sleep pattern seems normal.

• Should children her age sleep longer during the day?
===== they will sleep if made o but you should not, as she is adjusted to night sleep clock.

If so how can Ihelp her sleep longer?• Is there anything I can do to make her sleep through out the nightlike she used to in her fourth month?
======= sleep reduced naturally after 4 months age.

• Is co-sleeping good for her?
===== yeas.
€¢ Is it too early to for her to sleep in another room?
======= wait for 4 more months.

Hoping to hear from you soon.

===== thank u for ur patience.

---

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