When to start solids?

[megs0927]

So we had DD's four month appt yesterday and he gave us the go ahead to start solids. Most of the literature I have read seems to favor waiting more towards 6 months. DD is a spitter and our pediatrician said that rice cereal could help keep more down. She can sit with support and has great head control. She is constantly eyeing us and tracking food from my/DH plate to our mouths.
When did you start solids with your little one and how did you know they were ready?

[berryblondeboys]

I would hold it off and when you do introduce, PLEASE follow some guidelines about reducing risks of food allergies. I want to scream every time I see a little one with strawberries or corn.

Tracking is not the same as trying to grab for your food. Then when you do try, one food a week. With simple foods first. I would personally skip rice as it's constipating, go for oatmeal cereal instead. Also, if they clamp their mouth shut or turn their head, that's it, don't force it. From when they try until about a year it's more about food tasting and experimenting than actually eating it in large quanities. Though, every kid is different. Some devour it, others nibble... just follow there lead and NEVER force it.

There are some great books out there on food introduction - sounds like your pediatrician is pretty old school and for what it's worth, they DO NOT learn a heck of a lot about when babies should eat and what. They mainly train on illnesses, so their parenting advice is often not any better than listening to anyone else.

Just go with your gut.

[chinahopes]

I introduced both of my babies to solids at four months without any problems.. I think it's a matter of preference

[megs0927]

^^^^Thanks :)
I am reading Happy Baby- An Organic Guide to the Baby's First 24 Months. They say wait until 6 months. I think we are going to try and wait. It's just so tempting when others say that their babies started sleeping once they introduced cereal. I keep telling myself that soon she will be STTN and to enjoy the special time with her in the wee hours :)

[berryblondeboys]

We started my oldest son on solids at 5 months to try to get more sleep - didn't work, sorry to say. Neither of my kids sttn forever!!!! First one was about 2 years old and I thought that was rough. second one was over four! And we're aren't talking just waking up once - but multiple times of for several hours. PURE TORTURE that lack of sleep business.

[Swanky Mama Of Three]

research shows that beginning solids before 6 months could lead to allergies. I didn't start before
Nutritionally, it's unnecessary.

[ilovepinkhearts]

i introduced all mine at about 4mths...they all went after the food like gang busters. i started with rice and then a new fruit/veggie every 5 days and then after the first box of rice was gone i went to oatmeal and i just bought the mixed whole wheat...which i will start once she is done with the oatmeal.

start with small portions [so you aren't wasting much] and if a baby food jar has been opened and eaten out of it can't be saved, so i always pour half the jar into a bowl with the rice/oatmeal and the rest of the jar is good in the fridge for 3 days.

and i also never started out with a fruit, they are sweeter so then baby will like the sweet stuff, i always stagger the fruit/veggies. GL either way you decide to go. baby foods are a whole new big step...it's so much fun to watch her attack the spoon :)

**and i just saw swanky's post, and none of my kiddos have any allergies and they love all fruits and veggies. i wonder if it has a lot to do with the parents/genetics...hmm.

[Korilynn]

I started DD at 4 1/2 mos. But she was not really interested, so I would keep trying every 2 weeks until she finally was interested. I think she really got into it around 5 1/2 - almost 6mos. You could always try it, and let baby lead the way. If she doesn't like it she'll let you know!

[Jill]

I added cereal to the babys bottle earlier as he was OVER 10 pounds at birth and couldnt eat enough....
However ALL of my kids werent able to tolerate foods till 6 MONTHS.....Id advise to wait till then.The cereal should be enough till then..HTH!

[berryblondeboys]

Originally Posted by Jill

I added cereal to the babys bottle earlier as he was OVER 10 pounds at birth and couldnt eat enough....

Henry was just shy of 12 lbs at birth and stayed that big. He was exclusively breastfed until he was 11.5 months and was mostly breastfed until he was about 20 months (he just wasn't interested in foods). I nursed every 2 hours around the clock. His weight and height remained over the 99th percentile line. I never pumped, but I always wondered how much milk I must have been making? Sadly I GAINED weight during that time instead of losing too. I was just HUNGRY and with him not sleeping, I used sugary foods to survive the day. Ah... good times, good times

My oldest was ten and a half pounds at birth and hovered above the 95th for weight and height but he was ready for food early... didn't help with sleeping though. But he LOVED his food (still does and is SUPER skinny).

[bohohobo]

doc said start at 4 mos but we wanted to wait till his teeth came in. however he was always showing interest in our food and the time came when he seemed increasingly hungrier so we intro'd at 5.5 mos. Allergies is overrated really every kid is different. I have food allergies. DH does too, DS not so far.

[HauteMama]

I definitely agree that babies do not need solids before the age of 6 months. The first year is about tasting and adjusting to texture. Studies indicate that despite the wive's tales, babies taking solids do NOT sleep any better than infants who are still breastfed or bottle fed.

I waited with all of my children except my second. My second son went from eyeing our food and watching it go from plate to mouth to reaching and lunging for it while at the table. We allowed him bits here and there, and he began eating food with serious texture almost immediately. So he started solids at about 5 months instead of 6 or later, but that was on his schedule and not because we wanted him to try them!

And I also agree that you ought to look up introduction schedules and keep potentially allergenic foods away until he less likely to develop food allergies (nuts, strawberries, citrus, etc.). And it is completely unnecessary to puree meats - they can wait until he can pick up and eat bits of solid food.

[megs0927]

Thanks for all of the replies. I am really enjoying the Happy Baby book and its philosophy and introduction schedules. Kellymom also has some great information about reasons to delay and then how to introduce when appropriate. I plan on making a lot of my own baby food. I am just excited to start but will be patient!

[HauteMama]

That is great that you are planning to make your own baby food! It is easy and so much less expensive, too. Plus it is fun being able to create combinations that you know YOUR baby will like instead of having to choose from the combinations available in the stores. It is exciting to start solids, but it won't be much longer!

[silverfern]

I started my first two on solids at six months and plan to do the same with my third.

Try getting a hold of British author Amanda Grant's "Baby and Toddler Healthy Eating Planner" book. I can't recommend it highly enough. There are some fantastic ideas from combinations of fruits and vegetables and suitable from 6 months to full meals and party foods for 4 year olds.