Should I start solids now or wait until 6 months?

plusoneblog · July 2013

My baby is 5 1/2 months now. I was told by our pediatrician to wait until 6 months to give her any food, but the last week or so she has seemed very interested in food. She can sit up on her own and easily grab objects, and put them in her mouth. When I am eating she is always trying to grab my food. I just don't know if it would still be better to wait, or give her some now.

youenjoymyself · July 2013

There's no magic number. I don't see how a couple of weeks is going to make a difference either way. If your baby's hungry, feed her. You're the Mom, and you know your baby best.

smfdjo · July 2013

jennylyna:
There's no magic number. I don't see how a couple of weeks is going to make a difference either way. If your baby's hungry, feed her. You're the Mom, and you know your baby best.

This

momofmanyinthemitten · July 2013

smfdjo:
jennylyna:
There's no magic number. I don't see how a couple of weeks is going to make a difference either way. If your baby's hungry, feed her. You're the Mom, and you know your baby best.

This

Exactly. We started at 4 mos with both of our kids because they were trying to eat our food at that point. They both took to it fast and loved eating. DD is a great eater-eats anything and a lot, unlike many toddlers. I think it's because we introduced lots of flavors and textures early on.

JenniD2 · July 2013

jennylyna:
There's no magic number. I don't see how a couple of weeks is going to make a difference either way. If your baby's hungry, feed her. You're the Mom, and you know your baby best.

This. Our pedi just gave us the DL on solids, and he said we could start giving purees between 5-6 months when he can sit up without assistance. Before that, we are ok to start him on grains.

kellyrn9956 · July 2013

Sounds like she's ready. I'd start. But then, I'm starting rice cereal with my 4 month old, so...

chizzle91 · July 2013

Our ped told us as long as she's able to sit up, is showing an interest in our food, and she isn't trying to push it back out with her tongue, go for it. (We're only about 4 1/2 months.) She's getting better at sitting up but can't quite do it on her own yet, but the doctor said that's okay, it's mainly the head and neck muscles that are the concern, which she's pretty much perfect on.

The only downside she said to starting solids this early is if they're breastfed, there's a chance it'll decrease your supply, so go slow and don't do it every feeding. Fair enough. We gave her bananas the other day, she didn't know what to think lol

BigPoppa22 · July 2013

DS is FF and has feeding issues, the gastroenterologist wants to start solids the minute (after 4 months) that he can hold his head up and sit assisted. Hopefully he will take to solids better than to formula.

chizzle91 · July 2013

Ours said being supported like in a high chair is enough. That's what I was confused about too

Angela814 · July 2013

PeanutR1:
chizzle91:
Our ped told us as long as she's able to sit up, is showing an interest in our food, and she isn't trying to push it back out with her tongue, go for it. (We're only about 4 1/2 months.) She's getting better at sitting up but can't quite do it on her own yet, but the doctor said that's okay, it's mainly the head and neck muscles that are the concern, which she's pretty much perfect on.

The only downside she said to starting solids this early is if they're breastfed, there's a chance it'll decrease your supply, so go slow and don't do it every feeding. Fair enough. We gave her bananas the other day, she didn't know what to think lol

see that's what is confusing about "sit up on their own". Do they mean completely on their own on the floor? Orin a high chair with a back on it? Bigdifference.

I always assumed sitting completely unassisted. DD1 did at 6 months, and DD2 did at 5 months. We started both on solids somewhere around the 6 month mark. We did BLW with DD2, so it was important that she be able to sit, grasp the food, and bring it to her mouth all on her own.

penguingrrl · July 2013

I personally take the recommendation to be sitting up unassisted, so not supported by the high chair and able to sit on the floor on their own. DS ate oatmeal tonight for the first time (we offered it a few times but he wasn't terribly interested so we held off for two weeks). He's been sitting on the floor unassisted for a few weeks, is well over double his birth weight (and was a big birth weight), has been trying desperately to get our food when we're eating for a month now, has been nursing more frequently and even though he eats to satisfied each time is hungry again much more quickly.

I waited longer with the girls (DD1 ate at 6 months, DD2 was 8 months) based on their individual readiness. I hadn't intended on starting DS this young, but he seems genuinely ready and I don't see a reason to hold off when he's meeting all the criteria.

I haven't decided whether we'll do purees or more solid chunks and it's likely we'll do a combination of the two. I'm not married to the idea of either as one daughter liked purees and one wouldn't touch them and only ate chunks of food, so we'll follow his cues and see what he's interested in.

plusoneblog · July 2013

Thanks everyone, I think we are going to start tomorrow. I also can't decide if I want to try baby led weaning or purees. I think I'll try baby led weaning first and if it isn't working we will switch to purees.

emd886 · July 2013

Babies at this age are interested in, and try to grab everything. My 5 month old reaches for daddys beer bottle but that doesnt mean he's ready for it lol :-)
I would listen to the pediatrician and wait but its up to you, you're the mommy!

dande2129 · July 2013

https://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/

We will be delaying solids until at least 6 months, and possibly even longer. He is interested in our food because he imitates what we do; we are putting food in our mouth, therefore he will reach for the food. He puts just about everything to his mouth.

The first year is just practice. Their main source of nutrition should still come from formula and/or breastmilk.

IMO, the health benefits of delaying solids prevails overall. I don't have an urge to rush infancy along.

Do what you feel is best for your baby, whatever that may be.

plusoneblog · July 2013

Thanks for all your input, she will be 6 months in just 9 days now, so I figured she was pretty much there. We decided to try baby led weaning for now, and offered her a piece of avocado today. She picked it up, put it in her mouth, and even sort of chewed it with her gums. Then she made a "yuck" face like she didn't like the flavor and spit it back out

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