I have several friends with three or more children. They amaze me. What I admire the most is their mothers intuition. I have one particular friend who has two boys, and a little girl. Her boys are rough and tumble, always running, jumping, climbing and in turn, getting hurt. She handles their scrapes with such an clear head...no pressing the panic button, no hysteria. Recently, one of her boys fell off some kind of play structure and busted his head open. She took him to the hospital for stitches, and never even thought to call off our dinner. It wasn't until we came over that we discovered they had spent the afternoon in the ER. If that were me...I would have needed a week to recover and get my wits about me.
During my little one's first few months, I spent a lot of time at the pediatricians. Not because he was sick, but because I worried over every little thing. He scratched his face and it seemed
really red. He pooped and it seemed
really green. He had a runny nose and it seems
really thick. You get the picture!
I am just now, five months in, learning to tap into my mother's intuition. I respect my pediatrician, but I am starting to realize that no one knows my baby as well as I do. My little guy weighs 17 pounds, at five months. He has a huge appetite, and because of this, had stopped sleeping through the night. He was back to waking up, starving, at 3am. I knew it was time to start solids. My pediatrician told me to wait until six months. After talking with several moms and researching the topic, I determined that there is no cut-and-dry age for starting solids. So...we gave it a try. He LOVED it...he was opening his mouth, gumming his food and easily swallowing...all signs that he is absolutely ready for solids. His first meal was banana. He is in love. As for me...I am learning to trust myself, trust my mother's intuition, and trust that sometimes (perhaps most of the time) mama really does know best!
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Glad to hear that you are settling into trusting the intuitive part of being a Mama.
My guy got solids at 5 months too...because he was nursing ALL of the time. Poor little (BIG) hungy man. He seems to have suffered no ill from a slightly earlier solid.
I remember another mother telling me about the introduction of solid food. She told me that "in her day" babies were given meat at 3 months! The introduction of solid food has even changed since my little man was a baby (only 4 years ago!). I find it comforting to know that there have been so many researched approaches in the history parenting, and that all of the options have produced some healthy well adjusted people. Sort of takes the pressure off of "getting it right" and allowing yourself to do what feels right for you and your little one!
Also a mother of big boys. We started at 4-5 months with each- when they'd start nursing every hour and a half because they were just so hungry! I did so with the blessing of my pediatrician, who told me what you've learned here- trust your instincts, you know what's best as their mother. Remember, too, that your sanity is best for them (getting sleep is a key to that!!!)
My first child, 32 years ago was put on solids at 3 months. Three years later, they changed it to 6 months, and my second daughter had to wait. They both survived, but I didn't nurse baby number two as long, because my breasts were worn out.
Looking back, I was so nervous with the first, but the second was easier, because I was more laid-back. Just relax and enjoy, you're doing fine.
Way to go Christine! Doctors are always changing their advice. ugh. I remind myself that people in older times didn't rely on a pediatrician for advice and lots of people came out ok. LOL. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Good for you friend! The beginning, the first couple of months, is like treading unfamiliar waters. But, you find your groove and you learn just what you're baby needs. What a great feeling and I am so excited in your new found confidence.
-Funny on topic story - when my daughter was 2 months old on formula for colic (which is really thin & water like), my mom came over for a visit. My baby cried and cried and I didn't know what to do to soothe her. Mom was like.."this child is HUNGRY!!" So she mixed a little baby rice flakes into her formula, which she gulped down... and slept the whole night through. I had no idea how hungry she really was. Solid fruits, stage 1 started soon after for us.
hi christine
long time reader, first time commenter. you have a really beautiful blog and i have always enjoyed reading about your projects and art work and the beautiful photographs. but your baby is your most adorable creation. he really looks like he could model one of those johnsons baby ads with his angelic looks and chubby cheeks.
meera
What a wonderful realization! You sound like a fantastic mom. :-)
Kim
have to say... I second meera's opinion.
Mother's intuition is such a wonderous thing. That moment when you realize that YOU are the expert of your little one and you really do know best is like a right of passage. Once I had that epiphany with my little girl, I was surprised by how much more confident it made me feel with anything that was thrown our way.
yay! ada gobbled up food at 5 months and hasn't stopped! : ) she now eats 3 meals a day, whatever we eat, and is so happy! the world of food is so fun, but also something that can be confusing if you read too much. i have lots of good recipes that i found after lots of research... i'll email you.
: ) use your intuition on the food too, don't read too much and just take things one at a time... he'll tell you what he likes and dislikes! my husband was fed food when he was 3 weeks old, and he's the healthiest person i know! ha! isn't it funny that we don't always think we are the expert? but we are! moms do know best. : ) xoxo