At what age do babies start to eat baby food?

Answer 1

DO NOT put cereal in a baby's bottle! It might make them skip feedings at night that they need! Yes they might sleep longer, but is that worth them not getting enough nutrients??? (another person recommended that) You should try to wait as long as possible before beginning solids, at least 4 months....babies stomachs need time to be able to digest solids. breast milk is the gentlest on their stomachs, and of course formula if you cant breastfeed.... I know its hard to wait, but it is best....

Answer 2

You'll hear many different opinions regarding feeding. Traditionally it was starting cereal at 4 months, now most doctors recommend starting at 6 months. There are a lot of sources that recommend holding off on feeding until the child is 1 year old! I was going to start feeding at 6 months, but ended up starting at 4 months. My son was ready... opening his mouth at the sight of the spoon, etc. He is now almost 10 months and is eating our food (has been for a month now). I let them decide. You can start introducing rice cereal at 4 months, but your baby might just push it out with the tongue (therefore is not ready)... keep trying periodically, but never force. If your baby doesn't show interest, then try in a few weeks.

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
At what age do babies start to eat baby food?

Answer 4

4 months - cereal
6 months - fruits and veggies
9 months - meat
is what my sons pediatrician told me. But after 6 months he had 8 teeth and I could pretty much give him anything soft that I knew he could handle. He's 11 months now and doesn't even eat baby food anymore. He just eats whatever I make for dinner.

Answer 5

the World Health Organisation, La Leche League and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend babys are exclusively milk fed (breastfed if possible) until they are 6mo. Then they can start solids. The reason for this is to reduce the risks of allergies forming, by giving the gut and immune system time to mature.

Once they reach 6mo, before you start feeding solids, they should be able to hold their head up by themself (rsik of choking if not), have lost the tongue thrust reflex (pushing out their tongue when anything is put in their mouth), and should have an interest in food. If they don't have these three things, you shouldn't start solids.

Many babies show interest in food before 6mo. In this case, you can give them a spoon to play with, a sipper cup with a little bit of water in the bottom, a teething ring, etc to encourage them to explore and develop new skills, without introducing solids to an immature digestive system.

"Listen to your baby! Babies with a tendency to allergies may refuse solids until later in their first year. As long as they are growing well and are happy and healthy, there is no need for concern." La Leche League

But remember - milk should remain the main source of nutrients until the baby's first birthday (La Leche League).

There are also other ways of starting solids than mushy foods: see Baby led introduction to solids in link section (This is based on research, not anecdotal evidence). This is how my family have started solids with our baby

Answer 6

They say once a baby can support their head by himself you can feed them with a spoon. Previously feeding used to start @ 4 months, but now a days they say it is better to start @ 6 months to minimize the risk of developing food allergies.
Here is how i started with mine:
@ 6 months rice cereal
2 weeks later boiled apples
2 weeks later boiled potatoes, courgette, and carrots mashed with a fork
@ 7 months added skinned boiled chicken to the veggies
3 weeks later yogurt
3 weeks later poached egg yolk with a slice of toast without the crust
2 weeks later added meat to the veggies instead of chicken
a week later a whole poached egg instead of the yolks only

now @ 10 months he's eating from whatever is cooked @ home just mashed by the fork.

Here's a link that might help

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/3/T030500.asp

Good luck

Answer 7

Start by giving them baby rice. You can also put 2 oz. in their bottle at bedtime feeding and they will sleep longer through the night. You can start this at about 4 months, when they can hold their head up. At about 6 months you can try a vegetable and a fruit but start with the vegetable so that they will eat it and not just want the fruit. You can also mix some baby rice with the veggies and fruit to make it a little more filling. Dont start with cereal. start with rice it is easier on your babys stomach.

Answer 8

I had a granddaughter who was 10 pounds at birth. No her mom wasn't diabetic, she was just a big baby. At 3 weeks she was taking 10 ounces of formula every 2 hours and gaining weight by the minute. The Pediatrician put her on rice cereal at 3 1/2 weeks. It was the only way the parents could get any rest. But other baby food they had to wait until she was 4 months old.

Answer 9

That's an interesting question

Answer 10

Both my boys started around 6 months with Rice Cereal (easy to digest) and Applesauce. When they were used to that I introduced different cereals and different fruits every few weeks or so. Good Luck