Starting baby food?

steph2809 · May 2012

When do you plan on starting baby food? Please no flaming, but I am thinking of starting Alexis this week. She will be 3 months on wed, she has been having rice in the bottle for about 3 weeks now. The doctor said to start giving her rice by the spoon a week before 4 months then to start other foods the following week. But she really seems interested in food and is a supported sitter so I don't see why she can't have supported sitter food. She also still has a gas problem this is the fifth formal she has been on and it seems to be doing the best she used to get gas drops every 2-4 hours all day. Now we are down to just at night but the gas gets so bad she just cries for 2-3 hours. My mom has told me all babies are different and I have to do what I think is best for my baby. I really do believe that starting supported sitter foods now is best for her or at least to give it a try. But I am so afraid of what if she has an allergy to one of the foods and I know it doesn't matter if I start now or later she will still have the allergy. What do you all think?

Rowenarg · May 2012

As of right now I plan on putting it off for as long as possible which would be around 6 months. I guess I would change my mind if she really showed interest but it seems easier for me to only have to worry about breastfeeding rather than adding something else this soon. I feel overwhelmed. I've never had a problem with food allergies for either of my two oldest kids so I don't have any advice there. When you start solids its pretty much just practice at first, they don't really eat a lot in the begining.

HalloweenWife · May 2012

I swear if we would give DS food he would eat it. He is constantly staring at us when we eat our food and smacking his lips together and he is 10 weeks old. I think we are going to skip cereal and go straight to veggies. He is getting cereal in his bottles too for reflux and has bad gas too. I won't start him on it until I talk to the pedi at his 4 month appointment but you are her mom and know her best. If you want to give it a try and see how she does, then I say go for it. I know my little dude isn't going to be satisfied on formula forever. He's already eating 6oz every 4 hours during the day and has been STTN for 3 weeks.

vanillacourage · May 2012

I would consult with your pedi first, even if it's just calling the nurse line. Starting too early can have lasting impacts on your baby. Yes, "every child is different" but their digestive tracts will usually develop at the same pace.

https://life.familyeducation.com/baby/foods/44284.html

lulling · May 2012

I want to say right up front that I am not flaming...but my doctor told me to go about it very differently. I like my doctor and I trust him. He had stated that rice cereal has no nutrients and that it is used as a filler and can lead to childhood obesity. (I don't really put too much stock into that as children of my generation were given rice cereal and did not have that problem because we actually played outside and such.) He stated to start food at 6 months. I will be going in for another appointment in two weeks and we will discuss it. I think I may just skip the cereal and go straight to veggies. I just want to make sure that he can swallow it without choking. It was indicated to me that it was a good idea to do rice cereal though to get the baby used to swallowing more to prepare for the food.

mrs.gee · May 2012

Loolaide:
Trying to introduce food into an immature digestive tract can give your baby more problems. Honestly, it sounds like you may be jumping the gun because you want a fix for LO's gas. Could you try a soy or gentle formula instead?
If she is ready for it, no problem, I'm just worried that you might create problems while trying to solve one.

This. The gas is a sign her digestive tract is immature, which will not be aided by food. I'd really talk to your pediatrician. The thinking on this has evolved a lot since we were babies. GL.

kel716 · May 2012

At the end of the day, you're the parent and you get to make the decision. For us, I will hold off until at least 5 months if not 6 months. I'll her decide for me.

This article on my favorite baby food site gives some really good information:

https://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/readyforsolids.htm

Jen524 · May 2012

Probably somewhere between 4 & 6 months. When she seems ready. With DD1, we started cereal at 4 months and other food around 5 months. Doctor said she was ready around 4 months. She showed interest and was sitting up with support.

LaCally4 · May 2012

My Pedi says 4 months at the earliest, but I probably won't start with DD until closer to 6 months. I started at 4 with DS because he was still eating every 2 hours around the clock but it didn't really make a difference.

Sparks in training! · May 2012

If I get my way, we wont start until DS is about 6 months old or older. But DH is dying to give him stuff already. Just yesterday on our road trip home, DH gave LO a taste of his blizzard ice cream!! I was ready to kill him!!

kcanuck · May 2012

I won't be starting food until closer to 6 months, but for the gas...Micah had some yeast issues and we tried the Biogaia probiotic drops, which helped his gas as well! May be worth a try!

BitsKD13 · May 2012

We won't start till closer to six months... or that's the plan anyway. L can't process the protein from dairy products in my BM as it is so starting solids too soon would be a rather stupid thing for me to do.

kiarstin · May 2012

I would NEVER start food this early, except for reflux I wouldn't be giving cereal in bottle. There is a reason it not advised. We will start at 6 months, to avoid allergy, digestive issues, obesity and choking hazard.

danandbethg · May 2012

My pedi said that is baby seems ready, that 4 months is ok. Just use the same food 3-4 days in a row, and only that 1 food. That way, if LO has a problem with a food, you will know what the offending food was. And to start with a teaspoon at a time...and to use the food like dessert. Milk or Formula first!

sunnyday016 · May 2012

6 months to allow his digestive track time to mature. Like someone already mentioned, while every baby is different, their digestive tracks usually mature on a similar timeline and 6 months is the time when kellymom advises.

tryincloth · May 2012

This is not meant to be snarky. It's just my opinion. I have never understood the rush to start babies on food. They have the rest of their lives to eat solids. Can't they just be babies for 6 months? My 2yr old was diagnosed with disphagia which means she aspirates on thin liquids. I was stilla ble to bf her and was advised to use a thickener with formula. This also helped with reflux. This may be something to look into.

ElleC22 · May 2012

I've already started my little man on rice cereal in his bottle, He's almost 3 months old. I spoke to his DR and told her that he is eating us out of house and home 8oz at a time.

She told me that it would be perfectly fine for me to introduce some rice cereal into his diet, his tongue thrust has diminished quite a bit and I think he'll probably be on the puree stuff before too long.

I honestly would do what ever you feel is necessary for you and your child.

LillyGrrl · May 2012

We do BLW but even if we were doing purees and whatnot I would never, ever give a baby any kind of food until he was at least 6 months old. The digestive tract is not mature enough to handle food, in fact even at 6 months it's a little early. Most babies cannot really process food until 8 months old. It's pretty much a proven fact that introducing foods too early can really hurt a baby's ability to digest food.

You should do some additional research before you consider introducing foods before 6 months but moreso if you are planning before 4 months.

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