Starting solids

[mommyof3co]

Ok do not turn this into a debate.

The absolute earliest I will even consider is 4mo. So if you started before then I'm not asking your advice, and I mean that in the nicest way possible, I just don't want this to turn into an early weaning debate

When Hayden was a baby the recommendation here was 6mo to start solids, that's when we started but he refused until 9mo. He is the latest of my kids. Landon was way too young (3mo, because that's what family and my pedi at the time, 8yrs ago, said) and Casen was about 5-5.5mo. But both of them took right to it, unlike Hayden. I almost wonder if we possibly waited too long? He actually has more digestive and allergy issues than any of the others. Though obviously he's his own person and this may have nothing at all to do with when we started weaning.

The recommendation here has been changed back to 4-6mo. Preston is coming up on 4mo now but he was a little early and had a VERY rough start at life and I feel like he's actually about 6wks or so behind other kids his age...he's 16wks. I don't feel like he's ready right now but my plan had been to wait until at least 6mo, no sooner, but possibly later depending on him at that time. But now I'm wondering if that's the best idea.

I see some places, like dr sears, still says 6mo but then places like the AAP say 4-6mo...both stating for the same reasons, the gut maturing, reflex of pushing the food out disappearing, lessening the chance of allergies. So which is it...is it after 4mo those things are "resolved" or 6mo? Are you going off of a certain age or just when your baby seems ready? (after that 4mo age) We will be doing a mix of blw and tw because that's what's going to work best for our family as a whole seeing I have 3 older boys we are running around all the time too. So I can't just do only BLW and say when he starts eating that's when I should...but if that's what you choose to do when did you decide to start offering

Oh and he's exclusively breastfed if that makes a difference in your opinion on when to start

 

[Mum2b_Claire]

Right well even if you don't want to do BLW, I still think it's really good way of having your baby demonstrate whether they're ready or not. So you could see how he gets on with some soft finger foods when he is able to sit very well with minimal support. If he can bite a piece of food off and chew it he is probably ready to start exploring solids. As I'm sure you know, it is easy to get a younger baby to take puree / cereal from a spoon and that doesn't mean they are ready, so offering the finger foods when you think he might be is a good 'test', even if you then started to offer spoonfeeds.

It also really depends on what you see as 'ready'. I am strongly of the opinion that a baby is ready when they can sit well and pick the foods up and eat them. Others will disagree...

Another thing I would say, is that I can imagine it would be more difficult generally to get a 6 month old to take spoonfeeds than say a 4 month old. Just because 6 month olds are that bit more independent and likely to resent things being 'done to them'. So difficulty weaning when starting at 6 months could well because at that age, TW is just not needed / wanted as at that age, they can chew and are able to learn to eat normal foods, rather than 6 months being too late to start offering.

I started Ruby at 6 months with BLW and she didn't eat until 7.5 months. Neither would she accept a spoon though. I may well have been able to get her to spoonfeed at a younger age but she just didn't need the food, simple as that. (and I didn't need the hassle of pureeing foods either haha, wouldn't you find BLW would save you time in that way too? When no2 starts BLW it'll be super easy becasue she'll just share Ruby's meals that are already at 'baby friendly' times)

Sorry for the essay! Hope that helps in some way!

 

[georgebaby1]

ive not started yet but have been advised by health visitor to start giving my lo solids in a few weeks (he as reflux) weve been told just to offer small amount on a spoon of baby porridge. i think its youur decision but from what ive read if you are going to start just start small.

 

[Thumper]

I'd say you will know when he's ready. I'm no expert though! We started early as Billy was stealing food of our plates and shoving it in his mouth if he's interested before 6 months and you feel he's ready then go for it. Who's to say at 5 months and 29 days a baby isn't ready but a couple of days later all are?

 

[mommyof3co]

Thanks ladies. Preston is no where near ready for sure, he still isn't reaching out to grab things and has zero interest in any food we are eating. You'd think after 4 kids I would know these things