BF baby seems ready for food. Only 4 1/2 months.

Hoffmania

LO seems really interested in eating lately. He grabs for our silverware. Today he dove for a cookie I was eating. The pedi suggested waiting till 6 months since he's BF unless he seems to need the extra food. I don't think he needs it, but he seems to want it. I'm just curious what you would do. Hold off or roll with his interest?

jessandandy09

My baby seems really really interested too (4.5 here too).  She has been grabbing for our food. DD is bf and ff ~ I have low supply.  Doctor said rice cereal would be ok to introduce but we should hold off on other foods for now because its hard on their digestive systems.  But I dunno I think she really wants our fruits and veggies!

Tambcat

I would just wait. Babies grab at everything!

AshleyDG83

Tambcat:

I would just wait. Babies grab at everything!

This. Lexi grabs at everything and puts it straight in her mouth. She tried to eat paper yesterday. I would wait a little longer, but it's really up to you.

ChelseyB5186

Tambcat:

I would just wait. Babies grab at everything!

This!  DS grabs for food the same way he grabs for my cell phone or a piece of trash.  

lindy27

I have heard at this age they are interested in pretty much anything we do, my LO tries to grab my cellphone and anything I drink in front of her.  It doesn't necessarly mean they want to eat it, probably just chew on it.

However, if you really want to start, lots of babies start cereal or veggies at 4 months.  My pedi recommended waiting closer to 6 months, so I think we will start around 5-5.5 months.

Luv2eatcherries

I'd wait.  I want to hold off changing stinky poopy diapers for as long as I can.

ninjabridemom

I dunno, that's when we started veggies and things.

 

I think going w their lead is good.  The boys were really ready and I'm glad I trusted my gut with this one. 

Ximena M

Tambcat:

I would just wait. Babies grab at everything!

My LO would eat my finger if it wasn't attached to my hand.  The danger is in causing food allergies and you really want to avoid those!

mumegs

I agree they grab for everything and try to put it in their mouths right now.

On the other hand, DH and I were arguing about this and he really wanted to try cereal, our pedi said it was fine after 4 months. Finally I gave in and she does really well with it, she goes for the spoon and sort of chomps on it and swallows fine. She hasn't really had any stomach issues either so I guess she was ready.

dixee.deluxe

Before 6m, I don't think I'd do anything but rice cereal, as the gut may still be immature.  Your pedi actually sounds pretty knowledgable! 

A lot of people skip rice cereal, but I also think those are the same people who wait until 6m.

Adeline has had a lot of gut problems up to this point, so we're not excited about starting non formula food.

R+Jamz

ninjabridemom:

I dunno, that's when we started veggies and things.

 

I think going w their lead is good.  The boys were really ready and I'm glad I trusted my gut with this one. 

 

We also started around then. He was consistently eating 36oz of formula a day and still not seeming totally satisfied. The doc said go for it, she thought he was ready too, but we should skip cereals because they can be constipating and he's had issues with that in the past. Though he refuses to eat anything but sweet potatoes (though I successfully snuck some apples into the potatoes) 

dixee.deluxe

Adeline is also not breast fed, so we do know how "non-natural" foods behave in her gut.  She still spits up a lot if she gets more than 5oz.  So, despite her other readiness cues, I think her gut still isn't ready.

Hoffmania

LOL! I didn't think of that. He does grab at everything now that I think of it. We'll probably try to hold off a bit longer. Thanks for the input!

Hoffmania

Luv2eatcherries:

I'd wait.  I want to hold off changing stinky poopy diapers for as long as I can.

 Sorry.  This was my LOL.

huahualove

Hoffmania:

Luv2eatcherries:

I'd wait.  I want to hold off changing stinky poopy diapers for as long as I can.

 Sorry.  This was my LOL.

That was my reasoning for waiting too. However, at 5 months dh really wanted to start feeding him so I started with oatmeal mixed with breastmilk around bedtime. He actually really likes it and is sleeping better. I'm not sure if it is the 4 month wakeful ending or the oatmeal, but I'll take it!

Mamasaurus

Is it an interest in food, or an interest in anything that looks like it could go in his mouth? Babysaurus wants to put EVERYTHING in her mouth, including food, but I am not giving her any just yet. She'd put dirt in her mouth if I let her, so I don't know that she necessarily wants my food so much as she thinks, "Oh, you're putting that in your mouth? I want something in my mouth!"

Hoffmania

Mamasaurus:

Is it an interest in food, or an interest in anything that looks like it could go in his mouth? Babysaurus wants to put EVERYTHING in her mouth, including food, but I am not giving her any just yet. She'd put dirt in her mouth if I let her, so I don't know that she necessarily wants my food so much as she thinks, "Oh, you're putting that in your mouth? I want something in my mouth!"

I'm not sure if its more than just an interest to gnaw on something.  He definitely tries to put a lot of stuff in there- paper, toys, my finger, etc. I just get a different feeling when there's food involved.  He's recently started freaking out (in a good way) when I bring out the bottle or boob.  He gets so pumped.  His reaction to my food is kind of similar. 

But it could be like you're saying...he justs want imitate me. 

ninjabridemom

I looked into the food allergy thing and there are equal numbers of studies showing WAITING (an absurd amount of time, like 8-10 months) to start solids has the same effect.  And the studies I saw about early stuff was people who were feeding solids at like, 2 or 3 months, which is just insane.

 

So I said "screw it, they're obviously just looking for an answer to this allergy thing, 4-6 is still recommended to start, we're just doing it."  Again, following their lead.  Had there been food allergies in the family I absolutely would have waited, though.

 

They only recently have started liking cereal.  Avocado was their first real food. 

 

Honestly I think the poop reason to wait is a lazy one, sorry!!!