When Should I Start Solid Foods?

hey I am a first time mom of a beautiful 14 month old. I was having the same issues when she was about that age. I started her solid foods @ 5 months. It wasn't every meal at first just breakfast or lunch. And I would give her the cereal with a little fruit. And when she was ready to start more solids then she would let me know because the cereal would not be enough for her. I hope I have helped you. Feel free to ask me any more questions.

Hi A.,

I started my son on solids at six months. My sons doctor told me to wait until then because we could upset his digestive system. With your daughter still seeming hungry after feedings ( she could be going through a growth spurt and her frequent nursing is just uping your milk supply to help her through it ) you may want to think about maybe adding one tablespoon of rice cerial to 4 tablespoons of expressed breast milk. Make sure you feed it to her with a spoon, not in her bottle!!! Rice cerial is the most gentle to little stomachs and may give her that little something extra she has been wanting. Best of Luck with your little one!! A. R.

Hi! First just let me say that giving her solids won't necessarily mean she will have longer periods between feedings. So if you only want her on solids so she will eat less it may not help. I gave my son solids starting around 5 months but he pushed it right back out of his mouth because he wasn't over the "tongue thrust" reflex yet. So I just waited and tried every couple of weeks until it seemed like some of the food was actually staying in and both of us were happy with that. But I was still nursing just as often for awhile yet because he wasn't getting enough solid food to hold him over.
So my best advice is try solids during the least hungry and fussy time of the day (definately not before nap or bedtime) and don't stress if it doesn't take right away.
K. mom of 28 month son and 4 month daughter

My pediatrician gave me a sheet about when to start solids. She said that it would be fine to start rice cereal at 4 months. My son is completely breastfed at this time. He is now almost 3 months. I would recommend calling your pediatrician and asking about it. I plan to start him on cereal at 4 months but some babies are different. HTH

S.

Welll A. everyone's answer will be different so you should talk to your pediatrician to see what they reccommend. According to many articles I've read and as well as my doctor telling me that your baby can go at least 6 months on average just on breast milk alone. I do agree with the mom's that said start with breast milk mixed with the cereal. It's also reccommended that when you start the other foods that you do each one for a few days to a week so if it turns out baby is alergic to something it's easier to trace. Best of luck.

Hi A. -
I work for Gerber and our guidelines state that once your baby has doubled in birth weight, weighs at least 13 lbs, has gained control of head and neck and is still hungry after 24-32 oz of breastmilk or formula (8-12 feedings a day approximately) then she may be ready for solids. We recommend beginning with cereal (rice is recommended first) starting with 1 tbsp of dry cereal mixed with 4-5 tbsp of breastmilk or formula so the consistency is very thin and soupy. We strongly urge feeding from a spoon, not a bottle for health reasons. Over the course of the week, you can gradually begin using less liquid so the consistency is thicker. You can work your baby up to 2 tbsp of cereal 2 times a day eventually.
Hope this helps! I'm here for any questions you have :)
T. - newmomma327

A.
If your 5 month old is hungry before her next feeding and is showing interest in your food I would definetely say it wouldn't hurt to get her started on some solid food. I would start out first with rice or barley cereal and progress forward. I believe I started feeding my son solids when he was around 3 months. The Books all state when they have doubled their weight or is at least 14 pounds to start solids. When in doubt just give your doctor a call. Good luck! The bright side is her stomach will be fuller which means less feedings, so if she isn't sleeping through the night yet she'll be well on her way.

Hi A.,
If she is interested in your food by mimicing you or trying to grab your food and watching you eat that is a sign that she maybe ready. I was nursing my daughter every 2-3 hrs also and she always seemed to want more than what I could produce when she was 4 months and my peds told me that she was ready and wow was she ever. If you have questions ask your ped or you can go to gerber.com and they have some really good guidelines for you plus if you sign up you can get some really great coupons. Good Luck!

Talk to your pediatrician. But as long as everything is normal with your baby, she should be able to handle single grain cereals. I always mix mine with formula or breast milk.

You should ask your doctor first. once you have the ok to feed solids get the book Feeding Your Baby, Practical Handbook by Sara Lewis. It is a great book to help feed your baby. There's lots of recipes and food ideas. My kids all started solids at 3 to 4 monthes. If food allergies run in you family be cautious of those foods. Good Luck and enjoy watching her try her first foods.

I have talked to 2 different doctors about starting my son on solid food. They both told me 4 months. They said to start with plain rice cereal and to mix in formula or brest milk with it. If she acts like she doesn't want it, then don't press the issue. Go back to straight brestmilk or formula, and try again in a week or two. The paper I got from the doctor office also says that within 2-3 months of starting solid food, your baby's daily diet should consist of Breast milk/formula, cereal, vegetables, meats, and fruits (veggies,meat,and fruit in baby food form of course). well I hope this helps. If you have any questions, you can e-mail me ____@____.com

The American Academy of Pediatrics is currently holding to the finding that six months is the best time to start solids. There is some wiggle room with this, though. As long as your baby is able to sit upright, you should be able to give it a try. But no younger than four months(which your daughter is already past anyway.).

You should really talk to her pediatrian. She should be old enough (most at 4 mos) to start rice cereal. I started my son on veggies at 6 mos and moved 1 week 1 veggie at a time through all the veggies and then 1 week 1 fruit at a time through all the fruits. Most babies can't digest before 6 mos other than the rice cereal. As they get older 6-8mos you can introduce oatmeal and other cereals as well. You will probably want to start with cereal in the am before you nurse (a small amount) and cereal before you nurse in the pm.

But make sure you consult the pediatrian first.

Hi A.,
I started both my boys on baby oatmeal at four months. Any of the cearals are good. What out for the rice cearal though because it can cause constipation. I then started fruits and vegetables after they became used to the cearal. I personally don't think it matters what you start first. My three year old didn't like any of the vegetables in baby food form but now eats every and all vegetables. So don't worry if she likes some better. Talk to your ped. first but I would definatly start some cearal. She'll be happy.
Chris