When did you start your baby on baby and table food?

Anne Therese - posted on 09/25/2009

i started feeding my son when he was 6 month old.

Victoria - posted on 09/23/2009

My daughter is almost 6 months old and after about 1.5 months of trying to get her to eat rice cereal I was about to give up - she made the yuck face every time..but I was determined to get her to eat a little every day because around 6 months is when they start needing iron, and my family history is that we are borderline anemic...so anyway, I was eating a banana one day, and I noticed she was really eyeing it. I pulled a small bit off the banana and mashed it between my fingers and stuck it in her mouth, and her eyes lit up as if she was saying, "OH WOW! This is really tasty!" So from then on, I mixed mashed banana into her rice cereal, and she eats it with a lot of enthusiasm. I guess my idea is that babies are people, and as such they have a palate, and I shouldn't ever try to give them food that I'm not willing to eat myself. I guess that's why I feel most comfortable cooking and then blending up my own baby food. Some of the commercial stuff is so yucky that I really don't blame some babies for not liking it! As for the rice cereal, it tastes like cardboard. There's such a variety of experiences with different moms and kiddos, I say gather all the info you can and then, armed with the knowledge, trust your instincts, they will not let you down!

Miranda - posted on 09/23/2009

My daughter had cereal mixed with breast milk twice a day starting at four months, only due to the fact that she was teething and wasn't so into the breast for about six weeks. Around 6 months, I introduced fruits and veggies mixed with the cereal, also twice a day. She still breast fed inbetween cereal feedings for a total of about 10 times per day. Once she was nine months, her breast feedings were reduced to about 6 times a day(she did this on her own) and I felt that wasn't enough so I introduced meats (only chicken&turkey). She'd have cereal&/or fruit for breakfast, veggie& half a jar of meat for lunch, and the remaining meat, half a veggie, and half a fruit for dinner. I didn't do juice until she was about 10 months, and she'd only have about 4 ounces diluted per day with lunch. That's because she didn't like breastfeeding for whatever reason with lunch, whether before or after her table food.



Due to a comment posted by a certain someone on this thread, I'll go ahead and state: This is simply my opinion & what I personally did, because you asked. I'm not saying what you choose to do will be wrong or right, but best of luck either way. This method worked for me&my daughter is now a happy, healthy, running 16-month-old.

Kristi - posted on 09/23/2009

I would hold off on the juice as well. No reason for it. Breast milk will satisfy all of her needs at this point. My 10 month old has never had juice, and he is a happy, healthy baby. Here is some good info (and great to reference when you get pressure from others).

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids...

Amber - posted on 09/23/2009

I have been breastfeeding for 5 1/2 months and I love it, i only lasted 2 months with my daughter due to not being educated enough about breastfeeding. But this time around I plan on going on until he wants to stop.

Minnie - posted on 09/23/2009

What benefit do you think juice has over your own milk?

You know what juice will do? Fill your daughter's tiny stomach so that she isn't hungry for your life-giving milk.

Doctors aren't trained in infant nutrition. They receive all of about 4 hours worth of infant nutrition education, which is mostly funded by formula and baby-food companies. Obviously there's an agenda there. Doctors are specialists in diagnosing and treating illnesses. Not infant nutrition or baby care.

Faith - posted on 09/23/2009

What about juice? My "bottle feeding" friends have all tried to get me to give her diluted apple juice. I tried it once and she only drank a little (bc it was time for her to nurse). Also I'm confused why those same friends have docs that have them giving there babies cereal as early as 2 mos.!

Charlotte - posted on 09/22/2009

Both of my boys started on table foods when they could pick them up, chew, and swallow. They let us know they were ready by grabbing food off our plates and eating it before we could stop them! lol Neither liked to be spoon-fed anything so I saw no point in fighting with them. My oldest could (and I am not lying here, just stating a fact) use a spoon to feed himself things like soup and yogurt by 10 months (and yes, I know that's crazy-early but he was very independant and determined).

Andrea - posted on 09/22/2009

i didn't start trying until 6 months. she hated baby food, so we just went straight to table food. she's only just recently been interested. she's almost 9 months old.

Minnie - posted on 09/22/2009

I didn't hand over food until my daughter could pick up food, put it in her mouth, chew it and swallow it. This was about 9 1/2 months.

Spoonfed purees typically involve baby being given solids before his gut is ready.

Lucy - posted on 09/22/2009

Amelia has just turned 6months and she has chunks of food such as chicken, brocolli, melon, toast etc. I knew she was ready as she would grab food off my plate and put it in her mouth. If you wait until your baby is ready there is no need to puree or mush food up. Google baby led weaning. P.S my profile pic is Amelia's first go at solid food!

Kelly - posted on 09/22/2009

I started mine at 5 months. The doc said to watch for signs of intrest like eyeing my food and trying to grab it. She had trouble moving her bowels for the first week or so and I had to give her suppositories but all is good now :)

Stacey - posted on 09/22/2009

i was talking 2 my health visitor about this n she advised waiting till 6 months due to the digetive system n not to give rusks and baby rice in milk???

Kristi - posted on 09/22/2009

I would not start a baby on solids until they can pick up the food and feed themselves. My son just started doing that at 9 months. Additionally, babies have what is called an open gut that doesn't mature until sometime between 4-6 months (feeding solids prior to it closing can lead to allergies). It is best to exclusively breast feed for the first six months at least.

Kristi - posted on 09/22/2009

I would not start a baby on solids until they can pick up the food and feed themselves. My son just started doing that at 9 months. Additionally, babies have what is called an open gut that doesn't mature until sometime between 4-6 months (feeding solids prior to it closing can lead to allergies). It is best to exclusively breast feed for the first six months at least.