What age do you start on baby food jars?

Arlisse - posted on 01/27/2010

my little one started with rice cereal at 3 1/2 months. she was still fussy after breast feeding. she was a lot happier after eating the cereal too but i still try to breast feed first and then offer solids.

Sissy - posted on 01/27/2010

My dr said to start him at 4 months

Sonnika - posted on 01/25/2010

With me being in South Africa, they told me that if my baby has gained double his weight or is above 7.5kg, has good head support and doesnt thrust out his tongue, then he is ready, I started my boy on cereal at 3 months and he is almost 5 months now and now I have started him on fruit and veg,and he takes it sooo well. Everybody is gonna have something different to say, but if you feel your baby is ready,give him cereal. Mother is the only one that knows what her child wants and need, and no-one can tell you otherwise.

Stefanie - posted on 01/25/2010

I started putting rice cereal in the bottle after 3 months and starting the solid food at 4 months. He love the stage one Gerber green peas. I also been giving him the graduates puffs. He seems to enjoy them very much. Again it all depends on the baby.

Buffy - posted on 01/25/2010

Our son started cereal and all fruits and veggies on his 4th month. our Dr. said to start him on all except meat. So far he eats 3-4 times a day with cereal twice a day and a fruit and then a veggie later. He is eating 4 oz. formula every 3 hrs. Our son is a big baby and it was recommended to start him on food early.

Cassandra - posted on 01/24/2010

My daughter is almost 5 months and Im waiting till she is 6 months they say that they have found starting them to early they are more likely to develop allergies as well as some other things. And yes my mom started me on solids when I was like 3 months but times and info has changed since then so I would say I would listen to the Dr. but Im one to be on the cautious side. Ever child is differnt so ever mother has to make her own choice. Good luck I wish you the best and hope fully he will start sleeping better for you. Hope this helped

Jennifer - posted on 01/24/2010

Wow. It's 7 months for WIC in your state? It's 5 months where I live. That seems like a long time for WIC to wait and give your child solids. My pedi ok'd starting solids at 4 months. Every baby is different so I would go by your baby's cues.

Nicole - posted on 01/24/2010

we started our lil one on the stage 1 foods within the last few weeks...he loves 'em. He had had some rice cereal before that. Our ped had said that they don't recommend kids having more than 36 oz of formula per day, so if he made it that far then it was a good time to start solids. He didn't actually get that far, but we figured we'd give it a try. He's had green beans, sweet potatoes, carrots, bananas, apple sauce and peaches. We didn't follow any protocols or anything. We just went with what he was okay with (we don't have any food allergies that run in either family). Our LO also watches intently as we drink from cups, so today I gave him a few sips of my water.

Nakima - posted on 01/23/2010

I just gave my son some green beans last night and he loved it! 4 months, just like yours. As soon as he was able to keep his head up by himself and could push up on his arms while on his belly, I knew he was ready to try. If your little is doing that, you may want to try one of the Gerber 1st foods (I would suggest holding off on the sweet stuff, like applesauce, until he gets used to veggies) and offer a few spoonfuls followed by a bottle. My son reacted similarly to yours - he started crying because I wasn't moving fast enough! (LOL) Good luck!

Erin - posted on 01/23/2010

I started my baby on cereial at 2 months of age. he was hungry and he wanted it. I think your baby will let you know what he needs.

Kirsty - posted on 01/22/2010

there are so many different recommendation out there and they change from doctor to doctor country to country... i believe it is up to ur baby and when they are ready... marcus (4mths) was having a spoonful or two of baby cereal around 3.5mths and then he has just started on some natural foods... ie vegs/fruit i make etc... i give him one type for 3 days or so to c for a reaction... then move on and then mix what his had that week... potato n pumpkin... he can sit up nearly by himself..
my mum / motherinlaw both were against giving him solids til around 6 mths... it is up to u ur partner and ur baby..

Mystie - posted on 01/22/2010

I asked my plunket nurse if it were ok to start my baby girl at 4 months. She stressed that babies should not start eating solids until at least 6 months as they have not yet developed the enzymes in their digestive system to break down solids until 6 months. So I am not going to start until then, however I have been giving her a taste of some foods by putting a little bit on my finger to give to her. At least she can know that there is more than just my milk & she watches me eat so I feel bad as it seems to me she would like some... I must say she is a natural at eating, takes it very well but is only a small sample. Hope this helps

Kayla - posted on 01/22/2010

I started my son on cereal at 3 months, he wouldn't take it in a bottle so he got it with a spoon and he loves it! I just started him on baby food, a few days ago (he will be 4mos on the 29th) and so far he has had bananas and loves them. His dr said at 4mos you can start cereal, juices, and fruits.

Meghan - posted on 01/22/2010

There are many different recommendations out there on when to start giving your baby solids. My daughter is 16 weeks old and her pediatrician told us not to start any solids until she is 5 months old. She told us to start with a baby cereal for 1 month before introducing any other kind of food. Then when she is 6 months old start a veggie, and try it for a whole week before giving anything else to make sure that she isn't allergic to the veggie. From there the pediatrician said to slowly start fruits and then around 7 months start mixed types of baby food (ie. chicken and rice, beef and corn, pretty much the stuff that is mixed in one jar.) This way you can find out what your baby is allergic to and pin point it because before 7 months you are only giving single types of solid food. I hope this helps, but remember that you need to do what your baby is ready for and not what other people (moms and mother-in-laws) are telling you to do.

Elizabeth - posted on 01/22/2010

We just went for my baby's 4 month visit and she said we can start her on food now. he said to start with cereal, then fruits and veggies. No meat or juice yet. She also said to only try a new food every 3 days or so in case your little one has any food allergies, you can can tell what it is. I also see all the comments about putting cerel in the bottle, my doc also said NOT to do that. It doesn't teach them how to eat that food correctly. We did that same when my son was born a few years ago as well, and e has been a wonderful eater!

Melissa - posted on 01/22/2010

i wait until 6 months to introduce solids. i start with bananas or avacado first. (this is what LLL recommends).

Patti - posted on 01/21/2010

i started mine when he hit 4 months! he lovessssssssssssssss it!

Ashley - posted on 01/21/2010

i waited till my kids 4 months dr appt and she actualy told me that when the baby has good and total head control then it is ok to start... but i would still wait till 4 months old... for their digestive system to be on the right page for the thicker food! feed the baby cereal/rice first! to get used to the texture of food other than formula!

Chantelle - posted on 01/21/2010

4 months thats why i have started my little one on it now!

Lyss - posted on 01/21/2010

I just wanted to point out to Andrea Kennedy that fruit and vegetables are carbs :)

I also agree with Ashley Mercer,- talk your pediatrician, look for signs of readiness in your baby and go with your gut - introduce it slowly looking fr signs of an allergy - if the baby doesn't seem to like what you are feeding them stop and try a couple days later - maybe with something else. I started my son on rice cereal at 3.5 months.. watery at first.. he really enojys it and soon we will be trying oatmeal or barley cereal - I am waiting till at least 5 months before I start him on fruit or veg - but that is just my personal opinion.

Ashley - posted on 01/21/2010

my pediatrician gave us a booklet at my daughters first appointment. in it it says you can start at 4 months but to start with baby cereal ( like rice cereal) first. sometimes it's better to go with what the pediatrician says because they say starting baby's on solids too soon can have a greater risk of food allergies developing. it also says to try each new food for a week and watch for a rash ( means they're allergic) with little raised bumps. my daughter is 4 months and she's also still eating every 2-3 hours and she's eating 6-8 oz. at a time. so i think it's time to start her on solids. just go with your gut.

Marsha - posted on 01/21/2010

they say rice cereal is best as a first food because it is easier to digest,; it's a simple single grain with no additives, no citric acids, no extras, natural or otherwise, that can upset the baby's digestive tract. It's like when we were pregnant and nauseated, saltines or plain crackers or toast, right? Or even while someone has the stomach virus They're easy on the stomach. I'm not saying stick to the rice cereal for months at a time, but for a week or 2, Then shortly after i added the peas and bananas, I actually mixed some of the cereal in it, a baby spoon full at most, to give it a slightly thicker consistency, cause in my opinion, the stuff in the stage 1 jars looks like water with a lot of color to me. Just remember, trust your instincts for your baby, cause chances are they're never wrong. And as the old saying goes, 'when in doubt, check it out'..talk to your baby's doctor for more help.

Andrea - posted on 01/21/2010

Here in Canada the recommendation is to wait until about 6 months for solids of any kind. With the proviso that you can start earlier (I started my son on banana at 5 months).

You don't have to start on rice cereal. Some people say that our obsession with carbs has led us to believe rice cereal is the best place to start. Your baby gets all the iron and vitamins they need from b-milk or formula, so starting on fruits and veg can be a better option. You can use fresh fruit and veg, just puree or mash well.

I too have a big baby (nearly 4 months) who is on bmilk exclusively and eating every 2.5 to 3 hours, so I will probably start at around 5 months again.

Lyss - posted on 01/21/2010

I wouldn't start him on jar food (ie. fruits and veggies) yet, you would be skipping the first step of introducing solids - which is introducing rice cereal. There is research now that says starting on cereal between 4-6 months is acceptable as they think that not introducing it until 6 months could be the reason there are so many children with food allergies. I would start on that and wait until 6 months to introduce fruits and veggies.

Marsha - posted on 01/21/2010

I suggest you wait until about 5 months old using rice cereal first mixed with his formula first. If he doesn't quite like the taste add a little applesauce to it. He's your baby and no one should pressure you to start major milestones such as solids and such. And as for your hubby, he should have sat down with you and discussed this first. Especially when chances are you're going to be the one running him to the doctor if he ends up with a food allergy. In general between 5 and 6 months for solids is the right time, but in the end, it's your choice and what your comfortable with. Have a sit down with hubby first as well cause it sounds like you weren't too happy with im giving baby food yet. Just don't put baby foods in the bottle, it doesn't prepare them for eating SOLIDS and they can get overweight.

Candice - posted on 01/21/2010

My pediatrition told me that i couldn't start Layla on rice cereal until the fifth month. With my son clayton i was putting it in his baby bottle at 3 months and he was perfectly fine! But this doctor also told me it was ok to let her bottle sit for FOUR hours, after she started to eat it. And I said "doesn't it aquire bacteria after they start eating it, and also go sour?" And her explanation was "well sour milk is ok to drink, and you eat sour cream don't you?" What a nut, there is no way i'm feeding my baby bacteria laden sour soy formula. Thank god she's not my regular pediatrition(sp).

Lynne - posted on 01/20/2010

i've just started my daughter on food this week, she's 17 weeks. i was not allowed to start her on solids until she was 17 weeks as if you start before the 17th week there vital organs are not ready for it. you should speak to your health visitor.

Danyel - posted on 01/20/2010

My son (4mo) just started eating the stage one green beans by Gerber. The doctor made this recommendation but the WIC program does not support this until he is 5 months. He loved the green beans surprisingly. My son was a preemie with reflux issues so he has been eating rice cereal for a while now via bottle and spoon.

Desirea - posted on 01/20/2010

I started my son on cereal at 3months then started on babyfood at 4. He really loves it and is doing great!!!! His pediatrician said that it was fine to start at 4 months.I think that it is all in preference and how well ur baby is progessing. Hope this helps

Samantha - posted on 01/20/2010

My daughter 19 weeks had been eating rice cereal in breast milk then formula starting at 1 month I believe. She was having trouble keeping it down, we just recently stopped that because she was doing better. We started feeding her oatmeal cereal on the 1st, now she gets it with stage one apple sauce. With the cereal your baby will still be getting the nutrients he/she needs because you are mixing the formula or breastmilk in with it. We tried the peas a couple days ago but she didn't like it at all, so we are waiting a couple more days and trying another!

Jessi - posted on 01/20/2010

My plan is that i'm going to start him on rice cereal and teach him to eat with that. After he gets eating down, I'm going to start baby food, first veggies then fruits. If baby gets a tummy ache, go back a step and wait a week or two. I think the whole thing is that if their tummies are ready for it or not.

Cheron - posted on 01/20/2010

i started my son on baby food at 4 months... gerber has the different stage of food like supported sitter, sitter crawler ect... right now my son is on the supported siter stage but if ur truly not sure ask his doctor

Whitney - posted on 01/20/2010

Most doctors don't want you to start till 4 months, but I think it really depends on the baby. My son started eating cereal at 2 1/2 months and baby food about 3 months. I did it because the bottles were not filling him up at all. Now he rests better and he still eats a bottle every 3 to 4 hours. Hope this helps.

Tricia - posted on 01/20/2010

My mother in law said we should start feeding Luke solids now, but my doctor says to try and wait til he is 6 months with a breastmilk/formula only diet. Luke eats a lot as well but breastmilk/formula seems to be enough for him. He will watch my hubby and I eat and start smacking his lips and imitate us eating, but I'm waiting til at least six months. As hard as it is (and take it from me with super pushy mom and grandma-in-law) if you have questions, talk to a doctor or a nurse, not family-a lot has changed since we have been babies.

Jennifer - posted on 01/20/2010

Recommendations are mixed. Some research indicates that starting solids should occur between 4 and 7 months of age. But (and this is a big one) baby must be showing signs of readiness: sitting up on his/her own unsupported, loss of tongue thrust reflex, etc. Nutritionally, formula is better for baby than solids. Primary food source through the first year should be breastmilk or formula, not solids.



I will say that with my older two, we didn't start solids until they were almost a year, and we skipped the pureed stuff completely. We are planning on doing the same with our littlest who is almost 4 months.