What age did you start your baby on solids??

Sarah - posted on 01/24/2010

My daughter started on bananas at 7wks. We just tried different things from there. She did great! It really just depends on what you're comfortable with.

I will say this - to those who are stuck on what the doctor's say...keep this in mind. Each doctor has their own recommendations. Some say wait until 4, 6 or 9 months. When I had my daughter they SUGGESTED 4 months. My friend just had a baby 5 months ago and they SUGGESTED 6 months to start. I've never heard of waiting until a year. My daughter, as I said, started at 7 weeks. She has never had a problem eating different foods and is willing to try anything! My friend that recently had a baby just started her son on baby foods and he won't eat them. Just a thought. Each baby is different too.

Amy - posted on 01/24/2010

All babies ARE different and no one can tell you the perfect time to start your child... As for Allergies it is now being proven that the longer you wait to start solids the higher the risk of food allergies. I started my 1st at 3 1/2 mths on advice from my clinic nurse, My twins started one at 4 and the other at 6 mths cause this is when they seemed ready and no 4 started at 5 1/2 weeks, she would scream when she saw me eating, she would chew the teat of her bottle and mouth at everything! She has never liked pureed food and went straight on to chunky food and has never once choked (she is now 5 mths). Good Luck

Griselda - posted on 01/17/2010

I started my daughter on solids at 6 months old. She's now 7 months old and she's still getting used to it. She can't quiet finish a jar yet but I'm fine with it since solids are not her main source of nutrition yet. As a matter of fact, I feed my girl when there's time but I don't have set schedule on how many times a day I give her solids... there's times I give her solids once a day and other times that I give her 3x a day. For now breastmilk is her main source of nutrition, although I'll try to make a schedule next month when she turns 8.

Heather - posted on 01/17/2010

I'd like to say first that every child is different. You have to take cues from them. If it seems like they are getting enough from their bottles then start with the rice and/or oatmeal. My daughter went to spoon feeding farely quickly cuz she wanted to eat like brother. She had consistent bowl movement after feeding he spoon food so I stuck with it. She was 6 months when she started to eat spoon fed food.

Sharon - posted on 01/17/2010

I started my son at 5 and a half months old because he was showing signs i.e waking up in the night (when he sleeps through normally), wanting more milk etc etc! i know they do not recommend it till baby is 6 months but every baby is different so when ever you feel is the right time!

Michelle - posted on 01/17/2010

my babies were all breast feed so by 2months they got hungryer so i gave them sunshine orange and they loved it slept more happier and never had any problem im not saying all babies will be the same but my three are happy and arent picky eaters my 15month old mostly eat savours and eats every bit

Kirsty - posted on 01/14/2010

i satrted all three of my kids on solid food wen they was 4 months old.

Sara - posted on 01/14/2010

i started giving my kids solids as soon they had upper and lower front teeth. i always cut the food in small quarters and supervised them as they ate. if they couldnt chew a type of solid food i waited until they got their molers then. but it all depends on how well they are on swallowing food also. i did the rice cereal when my kids were 2monthes to get them in the habit of chewing and swallowing. and to fill them up cuz i had a hard time breastfeeding every two hours. so pretty much i say to try that and play it by ear. you soon can figure out what they cant or can eat after a couple of days.

Ellen - posted on 01/14/2010

I started Ellie on yoghurts at 11 weeks cos she was wanting more after breast feeding. She was pretty good with them. Just a really small one though...nothing big :)

Niki - posted on 01/14/2010

oh why is this such an issue with so many moms? your ped will tell u to wait till 1 year for SOLIDS. there is a reason for this. choking, allergies, ect. PLEASE for the love of god, wait till your child is AT LEAST 1 before solids. cereals and such are different, but actually solid foods WAIT!!! I beg of you. My husband is a firefighter, he has had so many under one babies not only choking on CHUNKS of food, but hello allergies!!!!!!!!

Carla - posted on 01/14/2010

I started my daughter on solids about 7-8 mo. She simply wouldn't swallow anything until then but that's ok! They don't actually NEED anything solid food can offer as far as nutrition until about a year. About rice cereal, many people (as you can see in your responses) notice that rice cereal causes their babies constipation or other noticeable digestive problems. The reason for this is rice is a complex carbohydrate and needs to be properly digested in order to be used by the body. Because babies initially swallow their food w/o chewing, they are skipping the first step of digestion necessary to break down compex carbs, which is a combo of chewing and the enzyme ptyalin that is found in saliva. The food doesn't stay in the mouth long enough to be broken down, so it moves on to the stomach where it can't fully undergo proper digestion. Instead of giving Sophie rice cereal, I gave her fresh fruit that I mashed/pureed for a month or two (twice a day) and then started introducing soft, cooked veggies once a day. I am now looking at protein options as she has just turned 1 year old. I got most of my info from an author/nutritionalist called Mary-Ann Shearer. She has a book called Healthy Kids and she is the #1 author on nutrition in the southern hemisphere. I know this post probably sounds crazy or radical because almost everyone gives their babies rice cereal but please consider researching other options. What's easier than taking a mango or banana pureeing it and feeding it to your little one? :D

Laura - posted on 01/14/2010

Generally,it's usually between 4-6 months,but remember all babies are different.If your child is still fussy or acting hungry after milk, give it a try.My daughter started eating baby food at 4 months but the only one I could get her to eat at first was bannanas.If your child has constipation issues I would skip the bannana.Let me know if I helped at all.

Nikki - posted on 01/14/2010

I started my daughter on solids, like REAL food, rice, meats, veggies at about 8 months old, everything we ate for dinner or lunch (healthy ofcourse) we grinded in the grinder for her and gave it to her. We did start on the whole rice cereal thing at an earlier age but she wasnt much into it. She is 1 and a half now and eats anything you put in front of her including salads, and all types of veggies, her favorite is aspargus. Hope that helps.

Briana - posted on 01/14/2010

My first started at 4 months with rice cereal. I waited until 6 months to start my second child on solids. I personally would wait until 6 months to start. I found that it was a much easier process. My son was very eager at 6 months to eat the solids where as my daughter(at 4 months) was more of a struggle. And actually I think that your child's pediatrician would probably tell you to wait until 6 months. Maybe I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure thats what my sons pediatrician told us.

Gwen - posted on 01/14/2010

I started my son on rice cereal at 4 months, but it was on doctor's orders to help him gain weight. I started the stage1 baby food when he was 5 and a half months old.

Tanya - posted on 01/14/2010

i tried my daughter on a custard by licking it off a spoon at 3 months but she didnt take to it so i waited for all solids till she was 6 months old but my son on the other hand wanted bottle after bottle like by the hour so stuff that i started him on farex at 4 months old, loved it so i upgraded to whipped veggies at 5 and a half months and he was eating toast by 8 months!

Carrie - posted on 01/14/2010

My son started on the single grain cereals 1 week before he turned 4 months. He liked the oatmeal the best. After a couple weeks, I started mixing fruits into the cereal for flavor and started feeding him the baby food without the cereal at 5 months.

Christine - posted on 01/14/2010

I started at 4 months and had to take it slow cause it caused my LO to have constipation. She is exclusively breastfeed and her digestive system just was not ready. But by 6 months she was doing great.

Casandra - posted on 01/14/2010

he was three months when i started trying, but i stopped because his stomach wasnt ready for the rice cereal, but im going to start up again soon with home made purees. he seems to like my food more than gerber and beechnut lol. just recently he hi-jacked my avocado and it just disappeared in his mouth lol

Ariel - posted on 01/14/2010

for my 1st 4months with rice cereal, 2nd 6 months with rice cereal. And my 3rd not to sure not ready yet. But he is 12weeks and already trying to crawl ,he rolls over to his tummy and uses his legs buh his arms are not strong enough. =) So maybe he just might be eating solids b4 i know it.

Also it really depends on ur baby and how comfortable u are on giving it. some babies digestive system might not be ready, but i feel there should be no harm in giving him/her? a spoon or two. they say bottle 1st then solids.