So when should a baby start solids, once and for all?

Question

I've read so many conflicting answers on this subject.

I've heard that:

You should wait for six months no matter what.
You should look for X, Y, Z signs, no matter what age.
Cereal counts as a solid.
Cereal does not count as a solid.
Cereal is a great practice food.
Cereal is pointless.

I'm so confused. With my daughter, I gave her some rice cereal at a little over 4 months, mostly from pressure from her pediatrician and also from family. She wasn't really into it so I only offered it once a week or so for the next month or two after that. She really didn't eat a ton of solids until 1.

My son is 3 months old, and I just KNOW at his 4 month check up that his ped. is going to tell me to start solids. I plan on waiting until 6 months at least. But is that right? Should I be looking for physical signs instead of watching the clock? How do I stick up for myself/my son when I meet with the bully doctor? There's no doctor to switch to, so please don't suggest that.

Also, if it matters, I breastfeed (and will "extend breastfeed"), so no worries about adding cereal to a bottle here.

Answer 1

I asked my mother recently when my siblings and I started solids.

"Oh, I think five or six months at least... I waited until YOU were clearly interested in it."

That sort of settled it nicely for me.

http://kellymom.com/ has a lot of good stuff on reasons for not rushing to solids. Perhaps you could print some out? Sorry about the bully doctor...

Dr Jack Newman rules for common-sense baby food advice:

"The best time to start solids is when the baby is showing interest in starting. Some babies will become very interested in the food in their parents’ plates as early as four months of age. By five or six months of age, most babies will be reaching and trying to grab food that parents have on their plates. When the baby is starting to reach for food, grabs it and tries to put it into his mouth, this seems a reasonable time to start letting him eat. There really is no reason to start on a specific date (four months, or six months). Go by the baby’s cues."

http://www.drjacknewman.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=88

His book has an excellent chapter on solids in it, pooh-poohing rice cereal and going in a certain order with foods and waiting inbetween introducing new foods, and, well, all the 'rules.' I remember saying 'I love this guy!' to my husband; 'You gotta come read it -- he's all, 'My guidelines are: no guidelines!''

I do completely believe that (1) cereal counts a solid, (2) cereal is pointless. Fortified wallpaper paste, and absoutely disgusting! (I sampled the sample packet...)

You should keep in mind that your doctor is working for you and not the other way around, and ask him to defend his advice, not let him put you on the defence. If it's something you need to do, he should be able to back it up. If all he can come up with is "Because it's time," then you know you don't need to listen.

If I remember correctly, the infant nutrition wing of the AAP says 'no solids until FOUR months,' but the breastfeeding wing says 'no solids until SIX months.' Or at least that's what's presented in that big fat book -- name escapes me, but, roughly a child-care manual for birth to age five from the American Assoc of Pediatrics. So, you can get an idea of which side he sides with...

That amused me a fair bit, that they couldn't agree.

It also reinforced a belief I have -- not one with a lot of evidence, but -- that delaying solids is not such a HUGE deal for formula-fed babies. Why? Well, you've already spent months putting foreign substances into their guts. Look at the ingredients on a tin of formula -- 'corn syrup solids,' etc -- and you have to wonder why rice cereal is a big deal after that. But an exclusively breastfed baby has such a nice 'virgin' digestive system...

This:

http://fampra.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/19/6/698

is an interesting paper, on "Attitudes and practices regarding the introduction of solid foods to infants," that notes that formula feeding happens to often go hand-in-hand with early introduction of solids.

Answer 2

Here's the exact things I learned in my Child Development class.

1. Solids should be started at 6 months. No earlier. This helps prevent food allergies.
2. New foods should be introduced weekly. Then, you are able to check for signs of an allergy or bad reaction (like diarrhea).
3. Low allergy foods should be started before high allergy foods. The most common high-allergy foods are cow's milk (which should be held off until 1 year of age), eggs, peanuts, tree nuts (hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds, chestnuts, macadamias, and pistachios), and seafood.
4. Rice cereal is usually the first thing to start and you should start that at 6 months.
5. I was taught in my class that veggies should be started before fruits. Babies will usually favor fruits because of their natural sweetness, so they will reject veggies if tried after fruits.

This is what I learned in my class. Take it or leave it. I don't see why mothers are in such a rush to start solids. What's the harm in waiting until 6 months. People say it helps them sleep, which is true, but if there are risks also... I'd rather be up with my baby at night than risk her health.

As for sticking up for yourself, I'd say something like this: "I've read a lot of things online that say solids should be started at 6 months. I think I would prefer to wait until my son is 6 months old to start solids." If he starts pushing you into it, simply say "I've heard enough of this. He is my child, and I will do what I feel is best. Thank you." And walk out.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Interesting... my pedi told me to strictly wait until 6 months to start on rice cereal. He said that by 6 months, the reflux is fully developed for my baby... which you need to be careful of because they can choke. I hear some Moms giving their newborns rice cereal in a bottle... pedi also advised me that is a complete No No.
You heard right, cereal doesn't offer anything other than extra fullness and fats, which is great for helping with sleep issues. Your baby will get all the nutrients from formula or breastmilk... and then at 6 months you can start your baby on pureed veggies and fruits. Of course, every pedi advice is different. This is only what mine has told me. Good luck.

Answer 4

I'm not sure about your doctor but they do suggest starting solids(baby foods and cereal) between 4-6 months. They want them on a solid at 6 months if at all possible. You shouldn't push you're child to do something they're not ready to do. My son i had to start a thin babyfood early because his milk wasn't doing the trick for him. My daughter didn't start solids until around 6 months or so. When i told the doctor she refused any kids of baby foods(at 4 months), she looked at me and said so, she's only 4 months, give her time. I don't worry about it until 6 months. If she's not eating it by then then we will talk about it. Until then just keep trying if you want, but no rush until 6 months. So if your doctor tells you that you should start him on them at 4 months, next time you go just tell him you tried and tried he wouldn't take them. Then around 6 months just say oh how amazing he just starting wanting it all of a sudden, problem solved. Sometimes us mom have to tell little white lies to get by. If you don't want to lie at all, just tell the doctor flat out, look they say between 4 and 6 months, i feel he gets enough from my breast milk until he's 6 months. At this point i will introduce him to solids. You're the mom, stand up for what you think is best for you child.

Answer 5

Here's my opinion:

- Look for signs of readiness, at around 6 months (probably no earlier than 5 months, but it could be much later for some babies).
- Cereal does count as a solid
- Cereal isn't necessary, but probably not harmful if you want to use it and the baby likes it.

My daughter started reaching for things on my plate at 5.5 months. I started her on mashed banana, mashed avocado, and mashed baked sweet potatoes. I skipped baby cereal and baby food altogether. She explored solids, and ate a little here and there, but didn't really eat significant amounts of food until she was about 2. I did allow her to nurse for as long as she wanted to.

As for your doctor, his job is to look after your child's health, your job is to make the parenting decisions. I've found that it is best NOT to ask doctors for parenting advice. If they offer it anyway, just say 'thanks', or 'I'll consider it', and then go home and do what you feel is right. You don't need the doctor's permission, nor do you need to explain yourself.

Answer 6

Typically babies don't need solids until they are at least 6 months old. I breastfed my daughter and at 6 and 1/2 months old I introduced solids (rice cereal) Anything other than breast milk,formula or water(don't need until 6 months again if breastfeeding) are considered solids. Don't listen to family or pediatrician. You know when your baby is ready for solids more than any one else. Just tell the bully doctor that you are his mum and don't feel comfortable doing it just get. He doesn't need it. Just be Strong and confident. Good luck

Answer 7

You should start rice cereal at 4 months old by introducing it through bottle mixed with formula, then at 6 months start feeding it mixed in a bowl with formula by spoon. From 6 months on you can start introducing baby food in jars, also some infant formulas are already made with rice in them and infants are put on those sometimes as early as 3 weeks old due to acid reflux, such as Enfamil A.R. (added rice) I have 3 children and know from experience. Hope this helped.

Answer 8

For now I could broaden the quantity of cereal, after per week then upload a brand new first meals. Maybe slightly further to cereal after which on its own. Make certain they tolerate the brand new meals earlier than giving a first-rate deal of it. He sounds so very in a position to be consuming solids. As for me I could combine part cereal with part fruit or veggie till I bought via all of the first meals. The cereal has iron in it whilst the meals different matters. Once I bought via that I began including desk meals and ultimately left youngster meals by myself for simply desk meals. But the youngster meals allowed me to seem out for hypersensitive reaction. And the youngster cereal bought changed with cherrios.

Answer 9

i waited with all 4 of my children until they were 1. first of all this gets rid of most of the worry of allergies (feeding too early can sometimes cause food allergies and we have a huge number of food allergies in our family)

my kids all did fine and are developing fine and all slept through the night at 2 weeks old. they had no trouble learning to chew etc.

i had one doctor try to tell me i should start my second child on solids at 6 months, then i explained why i did not and he looked at her chart and saw she was gaining properly and said that if he felt she was losing he would insist but since she was gaining fine he wasn't worried.

if your child is growing and developing fine, don't let anyone bully you into starting solids yet.

Answer 10

Take on all the advise your being offered, but do what works for you and bub nothing else. Baby centre has a lot of helpful advise