when do you think is best to start using solids such as baby rice?

Mila - posted on 10/23/2009

I started my son at 3 months....he weighed 15 pounds! breast milk wasnt satisfying him and he'd want to eat every hour and a half. I would add baby cereal to his bottle and did the 2 times a day then moved up to 3. Then couple days later tried with a spoon and he loves it.

Sarah - posted on 10/23/2009

i started solids and cereal early on . the formula was not satisfying him. although i was lucky he slept through the night from 2 weeks. the formula just wasnt satisfying . even though they suggest 4 months my doctor was pleased to see he was very healthy. i still gave him formula too he would just rather the solids . also is 8 months and shows no sign of allegies!!! i have been told by many do not feed on a schedule if that baby is hungry FEED him.

Pia - posted on 10/23/2009

I started my son on solids at 6 months, which is the recommendation. If you were thinking about doing it earlier I wouldn't go any earlier then 4 months and only after talking to a child health nurse or doctor. Some doctors aren't child experts though. I realise every baby is different, but I would never have risked it with my son after reading heaps of research about the side effects of starting your child on solids too early.

Sarah - posted on 10/22/2009

i started giving my son cereal when he was 3 weeks old. just started out little bit by little bit. and now he is 8 months and pretty much eats everything i do... although my son on the formula didnt care for the powder so i had to buy concentrated!

Bridgette - posted on 10/22/2009

Its up to the baby when and were mums should not start it too early as it might not be very good I am a first time mother and i have been told by a mid wife introduce solids from 6 months of age.

Young baby's cant digest solids properly under 6 months they can only have milk they can also choke and get allergies as well. I think people should wait not do solids too early in the baby's like u will find all information over the net so i suggest people should start introducing solids at 6 months it will be right for u and the baby. Dont suggest the baby will be right for it even when not ready and u really cant wait and want to start it as soon as possible do it when the baby is ready otherwise u might regret starting it to early and wish u had waited a while. Getting baby on solids is not a competition to see who starts solids early it takes time, effort and patience and a little courage from the baby, Baby dont need a lot to start of they have small bellys start with small meals babys dont need much and add a little at a time in a few day 2 at least to get them use to it. U should introduce other foods 4 or 5 days. Good luck hope u make the right choice.

Porscha - posted on 10/22/2009

Quoting layla:

i use sma she has 4oz every 2 hours through the day and night

Have you tried simply increasing the amount of formula your bub is having?  My eldest always needed more that the amounts the formula tin recommended at each feed, but if I stuck exactly to what the tin said he was feeding much more frequently, just like your bub is doing.

I would be increasing the amount of formula she has at each feed first then wait and see if that helps before starting solids.  Even if it only helps for a couple of mths, that's gotta be better for her little body.  I do agree that all bubs are different and need solids at different ages, but increasing the amount of formula would be my first choice at only 2mths old.  I've met people with 2 & 3mth old bubs who were drinking a full bottle every 4hrs, the bubs were happy with that and they all started solids between 5-6mths old.

Another thought...your bub might be feeding alot coz she is having a growth spurt, so her feeding might settle down again after a couple of weeks...just a thought :)

Angilea - posted on 10/22/2009

I would wait till after 6 months of age. Let him tell you when he's ready. This can happen anywhere from 6 months up to 11 months! Don't rush it. But I wouldn't start with baby rice cereal, the glucose content is high. I would start with veggies and move right on to fruits. Skip the cereals he doesn't need it as much as he can benefit from the veggies and fruit.

Candi - posted on 10/22/2009

Thanks so much for the help!

Mary - posted on 10/21/2009

My daughter was eating 6 ounce bottles every two hours at two months. It was driving me crazy the doctor told me to start giving her cereal in all of her bottles and it helped sooo much. Pretty soon she got to the point where she was eating 8 ounce cereal bottles every 4 to 5 hours. It's great!! But to be honest when she turned one month I started giving her a rice bottle at bedtime. My mother-in-law suggested it to get her to sleep through the night. Best advice I ever got!!

Hope - posted on 10/21/2009

i started my daughter on cereals when she was 4mths and that i think is a good time because there stomachs might have a harder time digesting if you do it any earlier. my dr. also said that 4 mths was the right time

Lily - posted on 10/21/2009

I started my daughter at 3 1/2 months, just made it extra runny at first. every child is different and develops at their own pace.

Kris - posted on 10/21/2009

Quoting carla:

I started both of my kids on cereal at 6 weeks, they were fine. Niether of my kids liked rice cereal so I gave them oatmeal. You can go by the book but every baby is different, if your baby is acting like he'she is not getting enough with the milk the I would try to give cereal. I mixed it with baby food once they started taking it, you could try a cereal bottle if they dont take from the spoon, I did this with my daughter but it does make it harder to transition to a spoon. It's all up to you, dont worry about what other people think if you do start this early it is totally up to you, your baby may not even like it this early but it doesnt hurt to try.

the studies now are saying that it is a choking hazard to put cereal in their bottles. we do delayed solids and don't even attempt them until 6 months. dd (now almost 4) really didn't want much to do with solids anyways till after a year old. as for breastmilk, it isn't the quantity that changes. a mother's milk changes as her child matures so that they are getting exactly what they need from the milk. the quantity they need doesn't really change much.

Christina - posted on 10/20/2009

doctors say never add anything to the formula because it changes it including rice cereal

Joanne - posted on 10/20/2009

My baby is seeing a sleep doctor and he recommends starting solids between 8-12 weeks. Either with rice cereal or mash potato with the consistency of thickened cream mixed with pureed fruit just starting off with a teaspoon a day. My little girl clearly wasn't ready so I told the doctor and he said it was fine to wait and that usually boys take to solids quicker than girls. She is now 16 weeks old and I have been giving her solids for the past 2 weeks and she hasn't looked back!! I usually mix pureed fruit with baby rice or just pureed veg. I do this twice a day about an hour after her bottle.

My sleep doctor has a website if you wanna check it out
silentnights.org

Carla - posted on 10/20/2009

I started both of my kids on cereal at 6 weeks, they were fine. Niether of my kids liked rice cereal so I gave them oatmeal. You can go by the book but every baby is different, if your baby is acting like he'she is not getting enough with the milk the I would try to give cereal. I mixed it with baby food once they started taking it, you could try a cereal bottle if they dont take from the spoon, I did this with my daughter but it does make it harder to transition to a spoon. It's all up to you, dont worry about what other people think if you do start this early it is totally up to you, your baby may not even like it this early but it doesnt hurt to try.

Kyrsten - posted on 10/20/2009

Hey Candi! The current reccomendation for starting solids is between 4 & 6mos, but I believe they are supposed to switch from formula to whole milk around a year, and at that point their main nutrition should transition to actual food (age-appropriate, of course ;). I'm not a pediatrician, though, and I think the recommendation can sometimes vary from kid to kid, so check with your ped to be sure. I know I've posted links to this site on other threads, but wholesomebabyfood.com really is my main source for figuring what stage to introduce which food, etc. So far, I haven't found anything that contradicts our pediatrician's recommendations. You can look up feeding info by age or by food, and there are lots of little topics that they cover. I think it was initially set up to help moms who make their own baby food, but the info is totally helpful for anybody with a baby. :)

Michelle - posted on 10/20/2009

I did it about 6 months

Candi - posted on 10/20/2009

Ok, I feel quite silly asking because this is my second baby and I should remember...but I don't; so, when do I start making baby food her main source of nutrients instead of the formula being her main source?

Michelle - posted on 10/20/2009

I gave my daughter rice cereal at 2-3 months old and she did great bc she wasn't getting satisfied with the formula alone

Christina - posted on 10/20/2009

i have been told hold off as long as you can the closer to 6 months the better hope this helps

Kyrsten - posted on 10/19/2009

I posted this in another thread, but here is a great link regarding starting solids:

http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/early-s...



About 2/3 of the way down the page: "The "Open Gut" and Introducing Solid Foods Early - It is said that infants have an "open gut" or a "virgin gut". This state of the gut (intestines) extends from birth to between 4 and 6 months of age. "After birth the gut mucosa is challenged by a myriad of antigens, from viruses to commensal microbiota and dietary antigens. Although controlled in the mature gut, these antigens may induce inflammation in the developing gastrointestinal tract." (Pediatrics, Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics)

Studies have shown that an immature gut may allow whole proteins, microbes, pathogens and possibly bits of foods to pass into the bloodstream. It is quite possible that this is a causative factor in developing food allergies and "colic"."



And just below that: "Self-Regulation of Food Intake and Introducing Solid Foods Early - Many pediatric authorities suggest that the early introduction of solid foods may lead to obesity later in life due to the lack of self-regulation. Your baby needs to be able to learn for him or herself when he or she is full. In the past, this type of information, based on scientific research, was unavailable to parents."



Please keep in mind that the reason the recommendations have changed is because we have a lot more information about the way an infant's digestive system functions. We have a lot more information (a LOT more) than our parents and grandparents did, and the effects of too-early solid feeding are much better documented than it was in the past. You can find more info on that website, but 6 months or later is best for starting solids, and 4mos is the absolute earliest.

*Fluffy Bunnies - posted on 10/19/2009

Talk to your child's doctor, new guidelines are out and they suggest 6 months. 2 months is pretty early.

Clacy - posted on 10/19/2009

Four months, That is when my daughter started to eat solids. Also, on the back of the box/jar it says if your baby is a supported sitter or can lift their head when they are on their stomach, then they maybe ready for solids.

Hanna - posted on 10/19/2009

oh, it depends on the child. my son always had a huge appetite, so i stopped having enough milk (again!) at 4.5 months (even though i was producing 35-40 oz a day) so rather than supplementing with formula (he used to get congested & constipated from it), i figured i'd just start him on solids (rice cereal).

the consensus seems to be 4.5 months the earliest unless the baby has acid reflux, in which case the doctor will tell you to start adding it to your baby's diet to keep the food down. some people say that if the baby is breastfed, you can wait until 6 months. personally, i think that if your baby is average size and you are producing enough milk to keep him happy, then you can wait until 6 months, if you aren't, then past 4.5 months, solids are better supplement than formula because your baby needs iron & cereal is a better source of iron than formula.

i was one of those paranoid moms who was scared to start solids with my baby, but once i did, it turned out awesome! he seems to love food, all kinds of varieties & he's now a bit shy of 8 months and eats pretty much everything except for fish, nuts, raw honey, citrus & yogurt (we haven't tried that yet because he's been teething & congested 2 weeks, so i figured i'd wait since cow milk products does seem to cause congestion in some kids). i am planning to breastfeed until he's a year old, but at this point, breast milk is about 40% of his daily meals (he gets his 18-20oz daily), the rest is solids in teh form of fruits, veggies, pasta, meat, eggs, grains.

one more thing i'd like to add -- these days doctors seem to go to extremes to promote breastfeeding. i grew up breastfed & so did everyone around me and women who didn't get milk found a neighbor or a friend to breastfeed their child rather than give formula. but with that said, the rule of thumb used to be that once the baby starts growing teeth, he's definitely ready for solids and by 10-11 months, breastmilk became a supplement rather than primary source of food that way by 12 months when you chose to ween your baby, there's no major detrimental effects, temper tantrums, digestive problems, etc because the child was eating solids, pretty much the same thing as the parents (minus the spices). and if for whatever reason, you lost your milk before 11-12 months, then u supplemented with goat's milk until 12-14 months when your baby was ready to drink cow's milk.

now it's like oh no, keep breastfeeding exclusively until 6 months, technically you can do it until 12 months -- i don't know.... if your baby is average size, i guess you can or if you produce a gallon of milk a day. if your baby is close to 25lbs at 6 months and is tall enough that you need to buy him a transitional car seat because he's too big for the infant one, i really don't see breast milk alone being enough to support the growth spurs.

Mikayla - posted on 10/19/2009

new guidelines say 6months untill soilds for babies now, but my doc has just said for me to give my baby baby rice at 4months, coz he is really sicky, and hes already showing the signs of wanting food, i think as long as its not b4 4months u really need to go on your child, you know them best, dont be put off my health visitors saying wait untill 6months. let ur baby guide you

Layla - posted on 10/19/2009

i use sma she has 4oz every 2 hours through the day and night

Brandy - posted on 10/19/2009

I think 2 months is way too early! I know they did it alot earlier with us, but they didn't know better back then. Studies show that their digestive systems just aren't ready yet at that age. And actually, where I'm from, more people wait until closer to 6 months because that is what the doctors and nurses suggest and when people try before that, their babies are usually still ending up with stomach upset and indigestion. I breastfed my daughter exclusively until she was 5 and a half months and she wasn't going hungry.

Pj - posted on 10/19/2009

Thanks for the advice :) are you using the rice cereal? I've tried her on the rice
cereal and she seemed to like it but then I've noticed she spits up for a couple of days afterwards so I get a little weird giving it to her. How did your little one do when you first introduced it?

Cathi - posted on 10/19/2009

My dr told me six months, which is reccomended now. But, at three months my guy was ready! I was making two bottles, an 8oz and a 3oz, every 3 hours!!! He was ready! I went to my dr first and told her I was doing it. She tried to get me to wait until at least 4 months, but I basically told her no way, I'm doing it now. He needed it. He was not being sustained by bottles and stopped sleeping through the night. So she agreed. It really does depend on your baby. I think that if your baby is not sustained by formula/breastmilk anymore then it's time for solids. Just remeber that no one knows your baby like you do, mum. I know we hear this 1million times a day, but every baby IS different, including when to start solids. Some babies need to start sooner. It will not hurt. When we were babies they started us on solids at 2months, put us on our belly to sleep, let us run around in walkers, etc., and we are all still here. Just because they are 'professionals' doesn't mean they know everything that is best for your child. They are guidelines. Your baby is the expert! Good Luck mama!

Pj - posted on 10/19/2009

When you mentioned that your son wasn't satisfied with his formula how much was he eating a day? My daughter will be 4 months next week and she is taking 140ccs of milk every 1 1/2 to 2 hours a day it's insane she's always hungry! Haha I mentioned this to her pediatrician nurse and she said it's fine well maybe for her but it's hard to go out and do errands with a hungry baby. Haha how muh was your little guy eating a day?

Porscha - posted on 10/19/2009

I would wait til bub is AT LEAST 4mths old. All of those signs you mentioned can be explained away as things that are normal for 2mths old and may not necessarily be signs that bub is ready for solids.



I started my first on solids at 4mths, but waited until 6mths with my 2nd &3rd bubs. The reason I started earlier with my eldest was simply coz he was hungry. He was not satisified with a full bottle of formula so I started giving him baby rice (on a spoon, NEVER in the bottle). My other two have never been really hungry bubs, my youngest is 11mths and only recently started to finish a full bottle.



By 6mths old bubs can sit alot better, so it is less messy when you feed them, there is also way less chance of bub having a reaction to the foods.

I didn't bother with baby rice for my youngest two, their first food was pureed apples, then pears a few days later.







It is up to you when you start solids, but maybe you could have a chat to your dr or child health nurse first, they have up to date advice and will be able to help you decide what is best for your bubba.

Layla - posted on 10/19/2009

my baby is almost 2 months old and showing all of these signs my mum has said that she gave me and my brothers food from 2 months but what do you all think or have any of you started food young?