when to start a baby on table food

Krystal - posted on 03/20/2011

he gets up once still but he eats for about ten mins and stops

Kathie - posted on 03/17/2011

Hi, at 5 months babies can still be solely breast fed. If you feel he needs something more make sure he is breast fed first, then offer other foods. I'm with the people who thought that processed foods like mac & cheese (assuming it's a packet one) are full of additives detrimental to babies. It's probably best to avoid dairy and additives including salt at this stage. I weaned all my kids on baby rice and sweet potatoes, other pureed veges and meat - you can just puree what you're cooking for the family before adding salt etc and if there's an,y left over freeze it in ice cube trays for a quick meal another day. If he doesn't want the food he just may not need it - is he sleeping through the night OK without waking up hungry?

Krystal - posted on 03/16/2011

thanks to all of you, i have tried everything with the cereal and oatmeal i do breastfeed and that didnt work with the mixing either he would spit it out and turn his head he has already ate baby carrots squash green beans sweet potatoes and peas, some he liked more then others but still wont eat alot of it im going try organic and see how he does

Teresa - posted on 03/16/2011

5 month old babies don't even NEED solids yet. Mac and cheese is way too salty for their little systems. If he doesn't like the cereal feed him fruits or veggies instead.

My girls were fine w/ baby cereal, but my son would NOT eat it. The only time I used it was to thicken up the baby foods that were too soupy. Of course, he didn't take his first bite of food til 6 months and after that would only eat food at rare random until around a year.

Theresa - posted on 03/16/2011

What makes you think he doesn't like them? Is he spitting them out? It takes babies awhile to get the hang of eatting solids from a spoon. They are used to just drinking everything. Try the orange veggie baby foods first. Most kids usually like them because they're a little sweeter that the green ones. And just keep trying. I would avoid table foods for now. They have a lot of added salt and sugar that babies don't need. Other than an occasional little taste here of there Ididn't start my babies on our food until they were old enough to pick up the pieces and put them in their mouths themselves, usually 9 months or later. What are you mixing the baby cereal with? Breast milk is great, formuls is OK, or juice. I did juice with all my kids they ate it better that way. Make sure it's sugar free 100% juice. Good luck.

JuLeah - posted on 03/16/2011

six months is what I was told to start them on soild foods ... introduce one at a time ... apples maybe, then a veggie .... processed foods like mac and cheese and things like potatos that have no nutrutional value should be avoided - you will set him up for allergies.
His tummy is very small, and fills up fast. So, put food in there that his body needs to grow. Healthy foods, not processed - He should not be eating chemcials, dyes, processed sugar, trans fats .... he ought to be on only organic foods, one at a time, simple foods. You want his body and brain to develop in a healthy way, so give it the building meterials needed .... this will impact the rest of his life .... kids that eat processed junk don't do as well in school, struggle with their weight, struggle with depression ... have so many health issues later in life.

Firebird - posted on 03/16/2011

A suggestion for the potatoes, before you add butter and milk to your mashed potatoes, scoop some out for baby and you can mash it with breastmilk or formula to make it a little creamy for him.

Firebird - posted on 03/16/2011

Well, do you want a baby who won't eat anything unless it's loaded with salt? The eating habits he develops now will shape his eating habits in the future. It's best to give him baby cereal, vegetables and fruit right now. Mac n cheese is so full of preservatives and salt and other crap that shouldn't be going into a baby's system. If he's getting mashed potatoes, they should be plain, with no salt or butter, or even milk at his age.