Will my son let me know when he's ready for solids?

Question

I have heard so many conflicting things when it comes to starting solids. My son is almost 5 mo old and I did start introducing foods to him when he was 4mo and he did good but I was never consistant with it because I couldn't make up my mind whether or not if he was ready and he was doing just fine with his formula alone. So I finally just stopped because I felt like he didn't rely on it and thought it was logical to wait a little longer. My son eats 7-8 oz of formula every 4 hours with a little cereal in some feedings and he sleeps through the night so no night feedings.

I'm just wondering if he will let me know when the formula isn't cutting it for him. Or is this something I just have to keep trying until he gets used to it? I'm a first time mom as you can probably tell.....Thanks for any advise.

by the way, our pediatcian said it's ok to start solids between 4-6 mo.....

Answer 1

You can continue using formula until he's 2 (there is Stage 2 formulas...and studies have shown that babies who formula fed longer than the average 1 year tested smarter as 4 year olds and 6 year olds).

Give him solids when he has teeth to chew. Start with something like saltine cracker or some of the baby snacks. Move your way up to veggies like Peas, Steamed Carrots or even mashed potatoes (mushy but still heavy "real food").

He won't really "tell" you when he's ready as he doesn't know what to tell you (he can't talk and at this point doesn't know there is even such a thing as solid foods), just work your way up based on the baby jars. He should be at the Stage 1, eventually the Stage 2, Stage 3. The jars say the average age groups that eat those foods.

Answer 2

I think your baby will let you know when you're ready. My baby would watch with interest when I would eat and start reaching out for my food. I started my baby on solids when he was 4 1/2 months old (he's a big baby so his appetite grew quickly). I started with cereal once a day, then gradually added stage 1 baby food. He did spit it out at first, but he got the hang of it pretty quick...now when I feed him, he opens his mouth like a little bird!!! Use your best judgement, every baby is different, but pay attention to the way he acts when you're eating.

Answer 3

Yes, actually. You'll see an increase in his hunger, and maybe he'll start waking up hungry earlier and earlier, and want to feed sooner between day feedings. He'll finish the bottles and act like he could keep going. That's when formula will no longer be enough for him.

As long as he seems satisfied, don't worry about it. He might want solids in another month, when many babies have a growth and development spurt.

Answer 4

i started giving my son a little baby rice mixed with some formula at lunch time when he was about 4 and a half months old in england the recommended age for giving babies solid food was changed from 4 months to 6 months but i think most children will let you know when they are ready. when you do start giving him solids start him with savory food like pureed vegetables rather than sweet ones like fruit that way you shouldnt have any problems with him refusing to eat vegetables and things when hes a bit older.

Answer 5

Babies doesn't really need to eat at four months...the introduction of it does have some good points. It helps your baby wean out of the bottle slowly. It shows your baby that solids is another way to eat than the bottle. Most babies doesn't even swallow the rice cereal, it is just an introduction that a spoon with mush is going to go in their mouth. Eventually that mush will get more texture. The next pro I can think of is it help his stomach matures with the solids.

What I do is mix the cereal with his milk and feed him between the time my son would eat. At first, he was really amused by the texture in his mouth. He spat most of it out than swallow. I kept feeding him at the same time everyday (just once a day is enough...and one tablespoon is all he needs at this age). He is now getting the hang of the concept of spoon in his mouth. He opens his mouth to let the spoon in. Before it's more like me shoving a spoon in. I really don't suggest putting rice cereal in his bottle, you want to teach him how to eat like the rest of us. If you have the chance to start early, the easier feeding time will be.

The only time it would consider not the right timing for him to eat solids is when he physically can't eat it. Like he'll have pooping problems and stomach problems.

Answer 6

You still do the formula, but start adding solids, like cereal, and what is really good-sweet potatoes. Mashed up with butter on them. When he gets pretty good with enough teeth, - my son was 9 and a half months old when I would cook chicken, cut it in real small bites for him, and cut up green beans for him. In fact, one time, at about that age, I had chicken and green beans cut up on his plate, and chicken and green beans on my plate. They were close enough together, he reached over to my plate, grabbed a handful of green beans, put them in his mouth and ate them just fine. Enjoy-they grow up too quickly!

Answer 7

My oldest was about 6 months old, my husband has holding him while eating an ice cream cone and he dove on it. My second and third were about 4 months old because they were nursing a lot. I would start him consistently in a few weeks.

Answer 8

Yes he will. and you might want to try and see if he likes apple sauce because it's something that has a sweet flavor to it and it might be a little more easy on him.