Is my baby ready to start solids?

Question

I have a 4 month old who is a larger baby. He weighed 9 lbs a t birth and weighs over 16 pounds. He sits up well with support. Do you think he's ready to start solids like rice cereal?

Answer 1

I have a 4 month old who is only 12lbs and she isn't ready yet. You can try to see if they have the coordination to eat cereal, by being able to use their tongue to push the food to the back of their throat.

However, don't get discouraged. Some babies don't start solids until well over 7 or 8 months. We are going to wait personally, there is not need to start yet.

Answer 2

Yes, he has the signs of being ready. Start out slow with the directions on the box for feeding rice cereal. Beware, though, rice cereal is binding and he will most likely become constipated. After he gets used to the consistency of cereal, move on to oatmeal and then barley.

At your son's 4 month doctor's appointment, this will be a topic of discussion, so you might want to wait and see what the doc recommends before beginning. Have fun!

Answer 3

I started my son on rice cereal at 4 months. He could sit up with support as well and he was able to swallow the food correctly. Maybe you could try it once and see if she does well. Just make the rice cereal a more watery at first.

Answer 4

Yes.. i think so.. I have recently started my son on rice ceral, he was 4 months and 1 day. He's also a big boy, 19lbs 26 inches.. =]

But weight of the baby doesnt matter. You can try and see how he responds. If after a few tries he's still pushing everything back out, the tongue reflex isn't gone, wait a few weeks. But if he's eating it well after a few tries, he was ready.. Like alot of things with parenting - this one's trial and error.. My son loved it and i added fruit to it shortly there after.

since he's almost doubled his birth weights, sits well supported and seem to ask for more food (?) he's ready

Answer 5

Try giving him a little rice cereal- if he pushes it out w/ his tongue then he's not ready, but if he 'gums'/chews it and swallows then he's ready. Just take it slow and try not to give him 1st foods for at least a few more weeks, even if he can eat the rice cereal. Good luck!

Answer 6

Each child is different. But Many Babys are ready to start solids by 4 months. Its kinda trial and error. Try starting him with biter biscuits and rice cereal and see how he does. Then start him on Veggies then fruits.

Answer 7

If he's finishing good sized bottles and feeding every couple of hours or so, waking in the night for a bottle, gnawing on his knuckles, then yes. Advice is currently six months, but it varies depending on baby!n Try him with a tiny bit of baby rice after a small feed and see how he goes.

Answer 8

He should be sitting *without* support.

And rice cereal really isn't a great first food... bananas or avocado (fresh!) are great starters... also mashed sweet potato or carrot... Wait a few months, at least. The longer you wait, the better...

Answer 9

I read a bunch of stuff and talked to a few doctors and they all said it is better to wait until closer to six months. I guess there is also a study that showed that the longer you wait until six months the less chance they are at risk for obesity. Just talk to your doctor they will know best for your baby since every baby is different.

Answer 10

I wouldn't use rice cereal -- it's refined so of questionable nutritional value, and it's constipating. Just feed him regular food (mushed up of course, no chunks.) He'll be ready when he shows interest.