I thought 6 months was ok to start feeding a baby solids??

Question

My dr. told me to wait until 6 months to feed my baby solids. But some people have told me that is too early. Is this true?? I thought the American Association of Pediatrics said that 6 months was ok? I just posted a question regarding solids and another person said that 6 months was too early to start feeding solids.

Answer 1

Usually babies start trying solid foods around 6 months. The best thing is to try only one new food at a time. This way if the baby is allergic to something, you'll know exactly what's causing the problem.

With my daughter, her first taste of solid food at 6 months was my peach, which she gummed quite happily. More often than not, though, people start out with baby cereals and soft baby foods and progress to harder foods as the baby gets teeth.

Note - at this age, the baby still needs milk, formula, etc as its primary food.

Answer 2

Its okay to start giving your baby solids at 4 months of age. I started giving my daughter at that age and shes perfectly healthy.

Answer 3

The best baby book I ever had said when babies reach 12-14 pounds, their bodies will NEED more substantial foods. How the researchers can say without question that a child isn't ready until six months is beyond me. If a baby is two weeks early, do you have to wait an extra two weeks? If a baby is two weeks late, can you start early? That makes no sense... Go with weight and the way your child is acting. Once he's 12-14 pounds and is acting like he's needing more substantial nutrition, give it a go. Don't forget to make food an adventure for him, right from the start. Follow the food-allergy guidelines for introducing him to new foods, but once you've gone through that, just start giving him tastes of everything... he'll grow up eating all those things many kids won't touch!

Answer 4

The reason for waiting is for their digestive system to completely mature after birth.

My children are 30 and 36 (probably older than you) they were started on small amount of rice cereal and then pureed fruits by about 3 months.

They say waiting makes them healthier. Our daughter was only sick once at two with an ear infection.

Our son who was adopted from a seemingly healthy Mother and pregnancy, had ear infections continuously and was sickly for years.

But they both started the cereal and fruits from 3 months and were both on formula.Go Figure.

As a parent all you can do is use your very best judgment.

Trust me before they are grown, you will find that the child raising rules will change and something you did will have been all wrong, and you should have done it differently.

Try not to worry just do the very best you can. Love them, keep them safe and try to keep the happy and well.

Answer 5

My son didn't start alot of solids until more like 8 and even then it was just mashed and sweet potatoes, mashed bananas and things like that. It does sound a bit early but depends on the baby. They should start baby food at 4 months, so the baby would only be on the baby food 2 months.

Answer 6

By the time the baby starts to sit up on his/her own it's critical that he/she starts to eat accordingly, or later problems will develop. 4 months is kinds early because he can't digest all that properly, and latest research shows that those children might be more prone to degenerative diseases like diabetes and obesity. But by 6 months your baby is ready for minerals and proteins and other nutrients that are so critical not only in his/her physical developmental, but mentally too. Some of the nutrients in the solids are actually feeding the brain, like broccoli, blueberries and eggs. It's very important to start feeding the baby solids by this age. I don't know where the other person got their answer but I think you will regret it later if you don't introduce solids as soon as baby turns 6 months old. People who were depleted of minerals found in the green foods, are dealing with all circulatory problems in their adult lives. Bananas are a good thing to start with also. There's loads of good nutrients in it. Include something green. Rice cereal is critical because it's a very good source of iron and energy. By this time your baby not only sits up but knows how to pull food in his/her mouth from the front to the back of the mouth in order to swallow it. Developmentally they are already programmed to start solids at this age. There's lots of cues that a baby gives to indicate whether they are ready for this change or not. Babycenter.com has very good articles and information on all stages of the baby's development. think you might find good tips in there. Check it out!

Answer 7

There is no defined month to start feeding a baby solids...it all depends on the baby's development. After your baby has reached a certain size, some reach it before others, it's time to start weening them towards light solids.

Answer 8

Babies are all different. The only way you will know if your baby is ready is to try and see. If the baby seems to know what to do and doesn't immediately push the food out with her tongue then go for it. I tried with my first at 5 months and he was fine but my second wasn't ready until 7 or 8 months. And no they won't starve if not given baby food. They can happily nurse for up to a year with no food probably longer.

Answer 9

Because of food allergies, pediatricians recommend beginning as early as five months. 6 months is fine. Maybe I'm just like my mother, but we started at three and half and have a beautiful healthy baby girl. It depends on personal preference.

Answer 10

6 months is NOT to early, Now, by solids, I am saying baby food, rice cereal.. not larger bits. I bet your baby doesn't sleep through the night because of hunger.