I had a WIC appointment today for my DS, who just turned 6 months. I had to speak to a nutritionalist about his eating habits, and she made me so angry! I understand what her job is, but she lectured me about started him on solid foods too early (when he was 4 1/2 months), and lectured me because he doesn't hold his own bottle yet. She says I should be making him by putting his hands around the bottle.
This whole thing just frustrated me. When I started my son on solids, it was because even after 8 oz of formula, he was still hungry, and would want to eat again in two hours or less. He was obviously ready for food, he was staring at everything I ate. I never had a problem getting him to eat solid foods, and he has had much better feedings since we started.
About the bottle thing: I'm not going to make my son hold his own bottle. We practice but I let him do things at his own pace.
I just needed to vent about all this. I understand guidelines and recommendations, but sometimes I think your instinct as a mother is more important!

By Amecmom on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:30 pm:

I started my son on solids around the same time with the rec. of a doc. as far as holding the bottle, he will do it at his own pace. Are you really required to llisten to their lectures? You're the second person I've heard complain about these people. Aren't you entitled to your WIC, regardless of what they say?
I would be angry. And I'd probably tell them not to interfere with how I was raising my child.
You're doing the right thing. Don't let them make you question yourself.
Ame

By Emily7 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 12:32 pm:

Do you know I am sick of these so called professionals making Moms feel like they don't what they are doing.
My MIL was told when she brought my dh home from the hospital to put give him cereal. The doctor said just formula was not going to be enough, he was almost 11 pounds & 24 inches long. I was told at 4 months I could start my dd on cereal. I agree that instincts as a Mom are sometimes better than guidelines, babies are all different. Although, I have a friend that at 10 months her son is still not holding his own bottle, not because he can't but because he is lazy. So she props it up, not sure how I feel about that. He also would not try to put weight on his feet, until I gave her a Johnny Jumper & told her she needed to make him use his legs.

By Vbw1978 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 01:34 pm:

i was just told them same thing to give my 4 1/2 motnh old cereal too !!
they follow a book at the WIC offices most of them have no children atleast the one that my sis worked at did not !
who cares if he does not hold the bottle atleast you still have more bonding time with him

i got a ? if they do not sit up by them selves completely can you still start solids ??
he can sit up if i help.

By Tonya on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 02:06 pm:

I do WIC also and I know what you mean just do as I do and don't tell them. Yes we are required to listen if we want the formula I would just tell her I am using my own gut on this and whatever you tell me is not going to change that. You are requird to listen but not to do as they tell you. And they know that.

Just go with your gut it won't fail you.

By Emily7 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 02:13 pm:

Olivia started cereal at 4 months & her first veggie the following week. She wasn't sitting up by herself. I just put her in her bouncy chair & feed her.

By Ladypeacek on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 02:25 pm:

i started my ds early too! I have dealt with those WIC people for a long time too with my dd when she was young. I was lucky enough that mine had a dd the same age, lol so she was doing all the same things as me! But she even admitted that the guidlines there don't make any sense since all kids are different about what they can handle and what the need. My dd had to go off formula very early at 2 months cuz she could not hold it down, she had reflux so badly that she was losing weight and of course WIC thought the dr was wrong! Just pretend you understand those WIC people, nod your head as it goes in one ear and right out the other!

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 02:46 pm:

I started cereal at 4 months. Doc said I could. She wasn't impressed. About 2 weeks later, it went better and we went gung-ho into solid foods by 5 months.

Second daughter didn't start eating solid foods regularly until about 7 months. Her tummy just couldn't handle it.

Those WIC people can be so rude!

By Amy~moderator on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 02:51 pm:

Here is what I do for my WIC appointments - All of my children are on WIC and have been since birth, therefore I pretty much know what they are going to ask and say. So...I tell them EXACTLY what they want to hear. I just agree with everything and I get out faster. They are like the many other rude people we meet in this world, and so I treat them as such. I am very polite, listen to what they say, and even though I don't agree, I nod and say thank you for your advice. And I get out quickly! No aggrivation, no waste of time. You should try it!

By Carolk on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 02:55 pm:

I started my daughter around 5 months for the same reason as you, she would try to grab our food and she always stared at us while we ate. My daughter never held her bottle either. I think partly because she was breast fed for 6 months and then I went to the bottle until around 11 months and then sippy cup (I wish I would've started the cup sooner). She held her sippy cup right away, she's now 13 months. I would be mad too. Like Emily said, not all babies are the same.

I've never dealt with WIC, but I really hate it when friends compare their babies progress with mine. I have one friend whose baby is a month younger than my daughter and she's already walking. My daughter isn't and you know the type, " She's not walking yet?" Like it's the most horrible thing in the world. Anyway, I've gotten off topic.

I agree with Tonya. It seems like they're on a "need to know basis"

By Happynerdmom on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 03:02 pm:

It's too bad that they are rude. I will say, though, that I agree with them at least having some guidelines and giving some advice. I know you guys are good parents with common sense, but you can't say that for everyone. For some young moms, that may be the only nutritional advice they get. LOL, Amy! I used to do that with my ped. sometimes! He didn't think my dd should be on solids yet, but I was giving her cereal. That's an important thing to learn as a parent...(whether you're dealing with WIC or your MIL)smile, listen, nod, then go do what YOU think is best!

By Emily7 on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 03:15 pm:

Michele does bring up a valid point...some Moms do need guidance. However I feel like these trained professionals should know when to give it. My son was born very sick..I was told that he should be gaining about 1 ounce a day, that means almost 2 pounds a month...not even close. I was then told he should be getting about so many calories a day, I started counting his calories down to the ml. Some of the advice was helpful, but a lot of it made me even more of a nervous first time Mom and greatly contributed to my postpartum.

By Boxzgrl on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 03:52 pm:

I just say what makes them feel good too. I really do think they come without any prior child experience. YOU know more than anyone else when your child is ready for solids and anything else. When I get the paper where I have to write down what she ate the day before, I just take a minute to think of what they would *like* to hear and write that. I know i'm feeding her well and I could care less what others think.

You're doing fine... ignore them!

By Jelygu on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 03:52 pm:

Thanks for all the support... I am a lot calmer now.
Amy- I think I will take your advice and just tell them what they want to hear. Less stress for me that way!

By Ginny~moderator on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 06:45 pm:

I don't believe in having babies hold their own bottles. When mom is holding the bottle and the baby, it is a time for growing togetherness and relationship. If the baby is ready to hold the bottle, I think it is then time to switch to a sippy cup, but only if the baby is sitting up erect by him/herself (that is, not needing a back support or padding). That is my opinion.

If it were me, I would simply respond with - this is what her pediatrician said to do, and I think her pediatrician knows more than guidelines meant for the "average" child, not my individual child. But only if you want to fight that battle - otherwise, follow Melissa's guidelines.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 08:40 pm:

The fact that many of these people do not have children of their own is very true. Same will CPS/DHS. They take some young kid and have them explain to you how children should be. Yet their only experience is in a text book.

I had the older two on WIC and I can tell you I did exactly like Amy did........ Let the lady lead my answers and agreed with everything... And went about my business.

By Momaroze on Tuesday, June 8, 2004 - 10:56 pm:

Ditto Bobbie. And BTW my ds is a little older than six months and cannot hold his own bottle yet. You are rightm most of us mom's do know best. I started my ds on cereal at around 4.5 months too.