Introducing solids and weaning

Gingermom15

I know it's early in the game for us, but has anyone decided what type of weaning you're going to do? And when do you plan to introduce foods?
Our pediatrician said she is usually ok with letting the baby explore purées and cereal at four months depending on development, but I'm not sure I want to start that early. I read some about baby-led weaning and think that is the path I will take. 

blended10

We let ds try some purées around 5 months last go-around bc he was ready per our pedi - he bf until he was 2 1/2 & probably would've gone on longer if I hadn't ended it. This time around I plan to do the same - let her development dictate when we start food & weaning.

navyblueladybug

DD loves watching us eat... She's very interested in food so we will probably start on the early side of when you should start, I'm thinking right after 4 months. Of course her mouth reflex will dictate if she takes to it that early... But I want to start soon, it's so cute when they start eating real food! DH works for Nestlé and they have a company store at his office so yay for cheap Gerber food!!! 

TomekiaB

It seems to change a lot but I believe in the USA the current official recommendation is to wait until 6 months unless they are showing significant signs of being developmentally ready earlier but not before 4 months. Some doctors do start baby cereal earlier for reflux though.

I'm currently in the UK and they no longer recommend purees just soft foods in not choking shapes and finger foods, and they are pretty firm on the 6 months here from what I gather.

taysun

I've read that breastfed babies aren't recommended to start until 6 months. That's when I plan on starting because I feel there isn't much point before. They aren't supposed to get more than an ounce and it's more for taste and texture than it is nutritional value if I'm remembering what I read correctly. 
When we do start we'll be making our own food. 
I plan on breastfeeding at least a year if all goes well. It was big struggle of only pumping and supplementing for the first month and a half so now that I'm EBF I want to do it as long as possible 

soccsm13

We did baby led weaning (BLW) with my first and I highly recommend it. We will do the same this time.

The book recommends no food until they are 6 months, sitting up, acting interested in your food, and able to grab at things and bring to their mouth. My son was ready for those things at 4.5-5 months, but I waited until he turned 6 months. Their tummies aren't ready yet. Now at almost 3 my son has a great diet, better than many of the other kids he is around. 

Definitely read the book if you are interested. there is a page that talks about choking that i saved and showed anyone who was worried about it. It helped ease some of the fear that other people had. I also got the recipe book, which isn't necessary but was good to give some BLW friendly ideas.

ramfam2507

With DD I was so excited to give her baby food and it ended up being such a pain because it's so messy. With Nico, I'm leaning toward baby led weaning. I'm not going to fix something that's not broken! 

teachmegs817

I am putting a tsp. per ounce, of rice cereal in DS's bottles 2x a day.  This was something okay'ed by his Pedi. and a Pediatric GI Dr. for his reflux.  I plan on waiting until the 6 month mark for purees and will stick to rice cereal for now and introduce it more regularly at 4 months.  

misamima

We did BLW with DD at 6 months. Her first solid was avocado. We never did rice cereal. We did a bit of purées but only because my babysitter was very nervous with doing BLW with her. So DD did purees at the babysitter's and did BLW at home. 

We'll do the same with LO. Nothing earlier than 6 months. Not because of pedi recommendation but because ain't nobody got time for that! I'm in the mindset of "food before 1 is just for fun". 

redfallon

We fell into BLW with DD. She wouldn't eat baby food. Her first food was mushed up banana. She was probably 5-6 mos. We'll do the same with DS. 

Mizuiro007

DS started at 4 months. Because of sensitivities he already had we were very cautious adding new foods in. We started with infant cereals (we started at 4 months because he was developmentally ready and needed the extra calories), then vegetable purees at 5 months and fruit purees at six. I think it was around 6 months he started finger foods as well. We mostly plan to do it the same with DD although I don't currently see her starting as early as her brother did.

For breastfed babies there is a recommendation to introduce iron fortified infant cereal at 6 months. Formula fed babies typically get enough in the formula.