Anyone wait til after 6 months to start solids?

jasonsgirly · February 2009

So, we're rapidly approaching the 6 month mark and I'm thinking about solids a lot! All the books say 4-6 months, but why is that the definitive time. I do think I'll start at 6 months b/c I feel like DD is getting hungrier nowadays. But I wondered if there were any advantages to waiting.

I've heard a couple thoughts about preventing food allergies and also allowing time for their systems to mature. Plus I'm kinda scared of the change in poo...yeah, I know that's weird!

I'd love to hear some of the opinions of naturally minded mama's! TIA!

MrsGo4Hockeychick · February 2009

there is a danger in waiting too long as well, from what I've read. We started at about 6m 1w, because we waited until after her 6 month pedi appt to start. We started with avocado.

papagena · February 2009

We just started solids last weekend - and I had kind of asked this question before that - there were definitely some mamas who waited until after 6 months. I read in the Dr. Sears book that at 7 months (roughly) a certain part of baby's digestive tract is more fully lined in some way that prevents more allergies. It starts maturing around 4 mo and completes around 7. (sorry I don't have better info - it was the 7 month part that really stuck out in my mind).

Not a big fan of the poo change, myself. I do miss the BF poo days. It's already gotten better, though.

I will say, I didn't wait any longer to start because DS was so engrossed in what we were eating. I didn't want that excitement to go away if we waited to long (I don't know that it would have, although I have been told that there is a window when it is easiest to introduce solids, and I figured his obvious interest was a sign that the window was wide open).

HTH a bit.

bluewalrus · February 2009

We waited until about 6.5 months to try and avoid the food allergy issue. Ironically, we started with banana to which DS now appears to be allergic. Along with avocado, which was also an early food that we tried. I'm pregnant with #2 now and I'm not sure how this will effect my plans for solids with him/her.

nkintzel · February 2009

We pretty much waited. I mean, DS had a couple of tastes of this or that before 6 months, but nothing really substantial.

He also just really wasn't that interested.

We EBF, so I wasn't too stressed about doing it and didn't really want to add another layer of complication.

I also did not want a poop change! Its not weird! Thta is a huge consideration! hahaha!

I am glad we waited. He is now really interested in food and feeds himself finger foods all by himself. We did baby-led weaning and I'm so glad we did. We didn't do any cereals or purees, and I really believe that is part of the reason he is such a good eater now. He was introduced to REAL food that was tasty, not bland mush. He ENJOYS his food.

I ALWAYS get comments from people telling me how well he eats and how clean and tidy he is.

mbs427 · February 2009

Our pedi said that after 6 months, babies need solids for the nutrients...he said we could start anytime from 4-6 months, but we're waiting until DS is 6 months before we start solids.

Right now he's gaining weight appropriately and isn't starving or showing any signs that he wants more (than breastmilk). I've also heard about the allergy thing too.

almipo · February 2009

We started solids right at 6 months. DS was super interested in what we were eating and drinking at that point so it just felt like the right time.

I was also scared of the change in poo! I won't lie, it was pretty bad but it got a lot easier after a couple of days when the poo started to firm up (sorry, gross).

Marie Tourville · February 2009

We tried offering them at 6 months and she wouldn't eat them. She is just now really into food...and it's still a battle. I wish she would eat more because she has very low iron levels.

luvlieK · February 2009

We waited until 7.5 months. ?He is just now starting to eat more than a few bites. ?I do not think there is any harm in waiting. ?Especially if he is bf. ?Our pedi supported our decision to wait. ?It was even the pedi I don't like and never agrees with me on anything.

Summerly2 · February 2009

We started at almost 6.5 months. We skipped cereal and started with avocado and then switched between veggies and fruits. She did well from the start and is pretty much exclusively on table food now. She's a huge eater and still nurses 5-6 times a day as well.

MrsKittieFantastico · February 2009

There have been more recent studies that suggest that waiting too long to start solids can actually increase the instances of allergies. Also avoiding typically allergic foods (peanuts, for one) may increase allergies. I read this in the newspaper this week, actually, but I unfortunately don't remember their cites... ::boo:: It had to do with their immune system, I think.

MKF?

everafter_33 · February 2009

We waited till DD was almost 8 months to start for a couple of different reasons. ?For us, DD was sleeping through the night still, she was growing like crazy and her development was on track, and she didn't seem amazingly interested in food. ?It was kind of nice having the extra time with just nursing, and DD did really well when we did start them. ?For us, it was really just personal reasons to start later, but we've been really happy we did.

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