Starting Solids---When is baby ready?

Megan - posted on 11/11/2010

My baby girl will be 10 months on the 20th and she doesn't eat any baby food but the mixed fruit baby cereal mixed with fruits...she eats all finger foods and pretty much anything. I cut it into small enough peices for her. She hasn't taken baby food since she was about 7 months old...she wants ours!

Cassandra - posted on 11/11/2010

He can have the 2nd stage of foods. WIC gave me those when my son was 8 months. And they started my son at 6 months on stage 1's. And now my son has 8 teeth and he eats whatever I do.

Melissa - posted on 11/01/2010

my little guy is 9 1/2 months old and eats everything. how we started him on solids was we put his home cooked meal in a food processor so that it still had chunks in it just not big ones. where cookies and mum mums were intorduced we just broke them into 1/4 and let him feed himself.they dissolve pretty easy so i would go with mum mums faleys are really hard and my guy did not like them at all.we have started to give him cheese, fish, yougart. if you are not sure just talk to your doctor. that and trust you onw instincts.

Angela - posted on 10/31/2010

My son is 9 and a half months and he just eats whatever we eat (but up or mashed, of course) with the exception of pizza and stuff like that. But if we're having potatoes or pasta, we make him up his own plate and he digs in. He also LOVES toast and loves feeding himself. Just use your instincts. If you think your baby's ready, try him on some different types of foods and see what he likes and what he doesn't like.

Anna - posted on 10/30/2010

We started purees at about seven months and added Cheerios and some table food pretty soon after. At 9.5 months, Grace has six teeth--the look on her face when she accidentally bites a dry Cheerio (rather than letting it dissolve in her mouth) is priceless!

Our feeding specialist said once baby can pick things up with two fingers rather than "raking" them up with an open hand, you're more likely to be successful with finger foods.

Hope this helps!

Amy - posted on 10/29/2010

i kinda threw the baby rule book out the window & have been taking cues right from Derek... i try and give him all sorts of things and sometimes if its something he isn't ready to eat he will just spit it out or cough on it a little... then i don't retry that for a bit- just constant supervision for new or iffy things to ensure no choking- i started with puffs by gerber, then we did the yogurt melts, then cheese puffs by gerber and then the wagon wheels... he is 9 1/2 mo now and besides nuts/peanut butter and grapes i would be willing to let him try just about everything. he has 8 teeth and he had trix cereal this morning and it seems kinda harder for him to chew than cherrios so i will give him a few more weeks on that.. GOOD LUCK-i know a huge concern is "what if he chokes on something?"...make sure you know what to do if he does!! so you don't panick cuz it might not even be food he chokes on :(.....

Sarah - posted on 10/29/2010

This is an Australian resource (as i am from Australia) but has good info about starting solids. http://www.health.act.gov.au/c/health?a=... You need to gradually change the consistency of the food you give your baby and as others have mentioned finger foods is a good way to get them used to different foods. The real no-no's are hard foods like uncooked apple, celery or carrot (until they're 4 years old these need to be pre-cooked as are a real choking hazard), nuts, hard candy, marshmallows etc. Other than that let your baby experiment, they may gag but that's normal and is a reflex to stop choking. It is important for your babys speech development that they start chewing on things (they will chew or gum food even without teeth). Good luck!

Megan - posted on 10/28/2010

It's okay to be nervous about giving your baby solid foods. I have a son who will be 10 months old this coming month and he eats just about everything I eat for meals. He still gets some baby foods from time to time. But what ever I make I cut up in small pieces no bigger than pea size. He has no problem eating it. You can also try your little one on the gerber puffs. My son loves them and eats them on his own. The nice part about them is when saliva is ibtoduced to them they start to get mushy so it's easier for them to chew. Also good for a little one who is just learning to self feed. I really hope this helps.

Kelsey - posted on 10/27/2010

I was nervous about giving my daughter food other than the jarred stuff, but I got over and she's had bananas, bread, cheese, watermelon, cheerios, mums, gerber graduates, cooked pasta(plain), cooked veggies and fruits like apples and carrots. Those are just a few, but she has done great, no choking or anything and has really started to learn how to use her teeth and gums to mash food.

Nicole - posted on 10/27/2010

i've recently started giving my 9 1/2 month old table food. im definitely not opposed to starting younger, but that is what her pediatrician told me. and i dont give her many meats either...she will eat anything tho if it is small enough and soft enough for her to handle.

Jessie - posted on 10/27/2010

Every baby is different and will want actually food at different times. My daughter started baby food when she was three months old. Now that she is nine months she is eating the Gerber Graduates. Yes there are times where I will give her table food. She loves grilled cheese sandwiches. Cut in small piece. She also really loves the Chicken and Dumpling soup from Campbells. Only you can and will know when the time is right for you to start your child on actual food. Good Luck.

Leaher - posted on 10/24/2010

Try this book, Healthy Home-made Food for Babies and Toddlers by Sara Lewis. I had the exact problem because im 17 and my mum sayseverythings different now compared to when i was little and so i bought this, its really good explains what foods they can have, at what age, has loads of fabulous recipies from 6 months to family meals and most recipies for baby foods can be made in bulk and frozen! hope this helps :)

Emily - posted on 10/23/2010

My daughter is 9 months and is loving the finger food too. She often has sandwiches, pasta, biscuits (she sucks on them and they go soggy), banana, watermelon, most meat. I often give her some yoghurt or custard after she has had her fun with the food, just to make sure she does get something in her tummy. Majority of her food ends up all over her highchair and the floor. She often has what we are having, Katie only has 2 teeth.

Ashley - posted on 10/23/2010

the graduates have little puffs that dissolve in baby mouths. But my son's doctor has been saying it's ok for baby since his 6 month appointment. Cheerios are good, teething biscuits are as well. My son, now 9 months old, eats foods chopped. I just take whatever we are eating for dinner and stick them in the chopper. So, last night he had chopped chicken, chopped cooked broccoli, and some rice. Pasta is good as well. The only thing you should be cautious of is things that are easy to choke on, hot dogs and things of that nature. At this age, he should be eating solids rather well, and feeding himself (sort of). I agree with Donna Parkes, if you hear them coughing they are not choking. When a person, or child in this case, chokes there is no sound at all. And like Donna Parkes child, my son has no teeth yet either. I give him eggs and oatmeal, with a little banana or other fruit for breakfast and he's fine. It's rough when you're a young first time mom. You don't know when to give them things, I had my mom telling me when it was okay to feed my daughter things. I'm also a 21 year old mother, but of 2. I have a 3 year old, and a 9 month old. You'll do fine. Good luck!

Melissa - posted on 10/22/2010

My daughter is 9 1/2 months. She has been eating popcorn twists, puffed wheat since she was 7 months. She loves eating Heinz fruit puffs, banana, apples, peas, carrots (ccoked and cut into small pieces), shrdded cheese, cooked egg yolk. I also give cooked pasta. Peighton only has two teeth.

Jessica - posted on 10/20/2010

my baby just turned 9 months old, and i give him all the baby snacks that are out there, i even have a little food processor and he eats what we eat for dinner and i have let him try all sorts of things, and he does just fine with all of it. and he only has 2 teeth.

Morgan - posted on 10/19/2010

My daughter turned 9 months on the 14 I give her all finger foods now and she dose great she eats Small bits of Chicken, beef, pork,turkey, scrambled egg, toast, pancake, banana, mango, peas, cooked carrot, potatoe, cauliflower, the tops of asparagus, cheese ( I grate her cheese), I just cut everything into small little bits that I know she wont choke on, Just make sure of corse you NEVER leave baby alone while eating table food :) Good luck!!

Donna - posted on 10/19/2010

OK The advice in the UK is to never give purees or mush at all unles your child is under 6 months.
Most posts I have seen (and the experience of friends) points to folks being scarred of choking. At this age, what many think of as choking is actually a good and healthy gag reflex which is natures back up plan to make sure unchewed stuff doesn't get by.
If you give finger foods (I think that is easiest to start with) then be prepared to be anxious, ant very hysterical over your lo's progress!
MOST of the food I give Euan is filed under his seat, down the side, in his hair, under the couch etc, and my biggest worry was to feed him too little. He is bang on average and thoroughly happy at mealtimes.
I recommned things like chunks of jacket potato, banana, omlette, sandwich or similar that they can hold throw and perhaps eat a little of.
Euan ate pesto pasta twists tonight with some eggy bread and a few pieces of peach. He got on fine and is just 9 months yesterday with NO teeth at all. I gave purees 5-6 months, and then phased in finget food only over a 2 week period after that.
Oh and at the weekend he ate a roast chicken dinner and all the trimmings!

The key is to relax, give them something to hold and just watch - remembering that until he is 1, most of his nutrition comes from milk anyway.