when to start baby food

Melissa - posted on 03/13/2011

I started my boys with rice cereal in their bottle.. and then they both started eating baby food at 5 months... my Dr. said when he starts opening his mouth if you put spoon next to is face thats usually a sign he is ready to start eating baby food...

Jessica - posted on 03/10/2011

I was told 6 months. But here's a website I found really really helpful for things like this: www.babycenter.com (or .ca, depending on where you are). good luck! :)

Ericka - posted on 03/10/2011

I was recommended by his old Doctor at 4 months.

Ricky - posted on 03/10/2011

4 months at the absolute earliest. Before then their little tummys cant handle anything other than formula or breast milk. If he is showing signs of wanting food (opening his mouth as he sees you eat, and some others that I currently cant remember) then start with some runny oatmeal or rice cereal. He will only take 1-2 tsp at first. As he gets used of the texture and is eating a bit more you can introduce pureed foods. And if the flavour of the purees are too strong you can mute it with some cereal (this was what I had to do in my case)
What I did and it seemed to have worked was give my son half of his bottle then try a few spoonfuls of cereal or food, and after he had enough of the food if he was still hungry I let him finish his bottle.

Bonnie - posted on 03/10/2011

It is recommended to wait until 6 months. I started both my boys on rice cereal at 5 months. They were ready. Usually start with one or two tablespoons and mix with breast milk or water until it is loose (at first, so it is easier to digest) like a soup consistency.

Karen - posted on 03/10/2011

i (on my dr's advice) started rice cereal at 4 months (1-2 tbsp once a day at first). by 4.5 months he was having it twice a day and just after he turned 5 months i began veggies once a day along with the cereal. after he had tried all the veggies and fruits i added in a second feed of that and he began to increase the amount of each feed. i made all my own food and by 7 months he was eating table foods. just remember - when beginning foods make sure formula/breast milk doesn't get decreased...that is still the main source of food. if you're finding your little one is cutting back on the amount of milk he's taking in then he's having too much of the food. i always gave my son his bottle first and then the food about half hour later so that it just topped him up.

Carolyn - posted on 03/10/2011

It is recommended to wait until approximately 6 months of age before introducing solids.

I would start with oatmeal, thinly mixed with breastmilk or formula, and gradually increasing to a thicker consistency.

I would then move on to vegetables, as opposed to fruits first. When given sweetness of fruits first, some babies will refuse vegetables after. Id start with vegetables, and once they are eating those well, then ad some fruit into the mix

Make sure to introduce only 1 new fruit or veggie at a time, every couple of days, so that you can watch for reactions and know exactly which food is causing it.

I like to make my own babyfood, its is so much tastier and healthier than the jarred stuff. Im sure when the time comes, your son will appreciate it too.

You can also scramble up some egg yolks with formula/ breastmilk, do yogurts and cheeses, most meats etc from 6 months on.

It will never hurt to wait to start solids, but it can hurt to start too early :)

Alicia - posted on 03/10/2011

we started when my daughter was 4 months old just for her to get a taste. we mixed rice cereal and her formula together, we only did it probably once a day. 5 months we started trying fruits once a day. 6 months we tried fruits and veggies 2 times a day. 7 months she was finally eating a jar of food 3 times a day and loving it, until she had a noodle off of mommys plate and never touched baby food again. haha. so we started feeding her "big" food 3 times a day, and bottles in between. that way when she hit 12 months we knew she could handle not having formula anymore! baby food isnt a huge thing just yet because formula is keeping him satisfied, when you notice he is eating more, more frequently try baby food, he may need it so hes not hungry anymore! good luck