Talk to me about your plan for solids.

everam01 · August 2011

DH assumed we would just follow the stereotypical rice cereal at 4 month route, but I don't think it is necessary after reading a variety of other options and would like to delay until 6 months. My babies don't have a "virgin gut" since they were supplemented with formula for their first month until I could get my supply up enough to feed them both.

If you're a second-time mom, what kind of solid schedule worked for you? For everyone else, what has your research led you to decide to try? Do you have any resources I should check out?

FWIW, my pediatrician is still of the standard rice cereal if we want to do it mindset.

Lisa Frank · August 2011

With my DS, I waited until the day he turned 6 months old. Everything/one, besides my pedi, kept saying WAIT. So, I did. But that theory sucks, because I don't think that a kid is magically ready at 6 months. It could be shorter, and it could even be longer.

So this time, I'll wait and gauge my DD and not use a magical date as our time frame. My pedi is fine starting around 4 months and we may start dabbling then. It just depends on her.

amarriedbttrfli · August 2011

With my DD, we started at 4 months. I decided to do it then since I was still home on maternity leave. It gave me more time to get her used to eating solids before starting daycare at 6 months. We plan to do the same with with DS. I have not read the reasons to wait, but we saw no ill-effects with my DD.

elisbu · August 2011

More and more studies have shown that the earlier you introduce solids the higher risk for childhhod obesity. We have been adding rice to her bottle at night because of reflux, but probably wont do solids till around 6 months. Also I'll skip rice at that point and right to foods.

iris427 · August 2011

We started around 6 months, maybe a little later. I skipped cereal altogether because it's constipating and doesn't have much nutrition. We started her on fruits and veggies that are not very allergenic, like apples, bananas and avocados, and just went from there. Mesh feeders were very useful in the early stages of introducing food.

TBH I think people way overthink the whole solid food thing.

calm_angel_2003 · August 2011

my pdi told me i should start adding rice/cereal to his bottle this week but i bf and dont want to be a slave to the pump again. All my co-workers told me i needed to start but he seems completely satisfied with breast milk. i dont know maybe ill wait alittle bit

AnneShirleyBlythe · August 2011

We are skipping cereals and purees, and doing babyled weaning. Jack was a nightmare for the first 6 months (ok, the first 18 months) of feeding, and I don't want to deal again. This way she will eat what she wants when she is ready, no arbitrary "ok 6 months old, here is your rice cereal".

summerbride11 · August 2011

I'm waiting until 6 mos. because of the childhood obesity link as well as early diabetes correlations. My LO is gaining weight fine, so I feel no need to rush solids. If he were underweight or didn't seem like he was satisfied at the end of a meal, I would reconsider other options. At 6 mos., I will start out with boiled, mashed baby carrots, then apples and probably squash or peas.

scaneiki · August 2011

We tried DS on rice cereal at 4 months, but he wasn't ready. At 5 months, we started rice cereal then oatmeal at 6 months.

kathrnn · August 2011

I'm waiting until November (so my daughter will be almost 6 months) before I start to consider adding solids. I figure around that time will be Thanksgiving and we could include her in parts of the meal.

carissa_danielle · August 2011

So I guess I'll be the flame-worthy one here....

I started DD #1 on rice cereal mixed with pureed fruit at 3 months of age. It was messy at first, but she liked it. Fast forward 3 years, no issues with her eating, she's healthy and will eat just about anything, and is no where near being obese.

That being said, we will be starting DD#2 on the same thing soon. Just a tiny bit to change things up a bit. All we do when we get home from work is sit there with a bottle in her mouth, so she's obviously hungry. Hopefully a tiny bit of rice cereal will help her out a bit.

kacelle · August 2011

iris427:
We started around 6 months, maybe a little later. I skipped cereal altogether because it's constipating and doesn't have much nutrition. We started her on fruits and veggies that are not very allergenic, like apples, bananas and avocados, and just went from there. Mesh feeders were very useful in the early stages of introducing food.
TBH I think people way overthink the whole solid food thing.

This is what we plan to do, only I'm not sure if we'll be using mesh feeders. We'll probably wait until 6 or 7 months to begin, and then slowly offer table foods after BFing.

Callidryas · August 2011

I plan on waiting until she shows signs of wanting to eat. Mimicking us eating at the table, following the fork from the plate to our mouths. Then I will start with easy foods like apple sauce, mashed banana, avocado, peas, and carrots. Each one x 3days before going to the next. Check out this website for tips, tricks and recipes.

nycdueinmay · August 2011

I admittedly haven't fully researched but have a general idea. I'd like to skip cereals and purees and do BLW... wait for her cues that she is interested in our foods and then present her with banana, avocado, soft produce and other squishier foods. Selfishly I hope she is ready right at 6 months because I would love for her to nibble some Thanksgiving dinner with us.

BabyBebe1 · August 2011

AnneShirleyBlythe:
We are skipping cereals and purees, and doing babyled weaning. Jack was a nightmare for the first 6 months (ok, the first 18 months) of feeding, and I don't want to deal again. This way she will eat what she wants when she is ready, no arbitrary "ok 6 months old, here is your rice cereal".

Likely this. I spent WAY too much time worrying about DS 1 and food. He honestly just didn't like, or wasn't ready for, food until he was 1. And now he's a fabulous eater. He was never underweight and was getting all he needed from milk. I don't think he actually ever ate a single puree and I must've tried every day for 6 months. I'm not going to worry about it this time and plan to wait until he's trying to eat things he sees us eat.

MarJo03 · August 2011

AnneShirleyBlythe:
We are skipping cereals and purees, and doing babyled weaning. Jack was a nightmare for the first 6 months (ok, the first 18 months) of feeding, and I don't want to deal again. This way she will eat what she wants when she is ready, no arbitrary "ok 6 months old, here is your rice cereal".

This is pretty much what we're doing. Baby Led Weaning. We may do some super chunky purees, but it'll really be more like avocado's bits that have been slightly mushed around. We're skipping cereals all together. And we'll start her when she shows signs that she's ready, but no sooner than 6 months.

aimeecasey · August 2011

Our pedi wants us to breastfeed for as long as I possibly can. My and DH's "plan" at this point is to EBF until she is at least 6 months old then introduce some veggies here and there. Once she hits a year, I don't think I'll nurse her anymore, but will at least pump every day until I dry up.

munsterdani · August 2011

aimeecasey:
Our pedi wants us to breastfeed for as long as I possibly can. My and DH's "plan" at this point is to EBF until she is at least 6 months old then introduce some veggies here and there. Once she hits a year, I don't think I'll nurse her anymore, but will at least pump every day until I dry up.

This. I think it will be a lot of trial and error to find out what works best for our LO. We will lkely start with a rice cereal/veggie or fruit combo and see what he likes best.

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