What age can i start giving my baby solids?
Question by -x-x-28-x-03-x-ten-x-x-: What age can i start giving my child solids?
on the boxes of baby food i.e. Child Rice, Porridge and puree’s it says four months onwards and the health visitor says 6 months what age is very best?
Ideal answer:
Answer by lillilou
Go with 6 months.
Think of it like if you ever ate so very much, like a giant steak, or one thing super fatty and felt so nauseus. Would you want your child to go thru that. Plus by the boxes saying four months – it provides them a lot more instances the kid eats it, hence they make much more cash.
What do you think? Answer beneath!
February 6th, 2011 at 8:25 pm
It depends on if you and your child are comfortable with it really. The baby should be able to hold his/her head up on his/her own and be at least a supported sitter (which means that he baby can sit up with the help of pillows or blankets propping him/her up).
Most docs and such say 6 months, though a lot of people start sooner.
February 6th, 2011 at 9:16 pm
6 months, unless baby *clearly* needs something a bit earlier. (Of course the box says 4 months — the manufacturers have a vested interest in getting to you start as soon as possible. And since a SMALL percentage of babies are ready for/need solids at 4-5 months, the companies put that on the box.)
February 6th, 2011 at 9:29 pm
Between 4-6 months.
If you have a history of food allergies, its best to wait. Some people also say it is better to wait if you are breastfeeding.
Other than an age, look for the following in your baby’s behavior:
* sits up with support
* interest in what others are eating
* developing a pincher grasp
February 6th, 2011 at 9:51 pm
It really is down to the baby, I weaned both my sons early because I have big babies. My health visitor was very supportive and encouraged me to add new things. The bodies that be say that babies need to be weaned at 6 months but I personally think it’s ok to start earlier so that by the time they are 6 mths they are getting the extra nutrients they need from solid food. I think if you leave it until 6 mths to start they miss out on valuable nutrients that they are no longer getting enough of from formula or breast milk alone as it does take quite a few weeks to build up their taste for food and ability to consume the quantities that they require.
Personal experience, it hasn’t harmed my children or the many children of past generations. All these allergies only seem to be more prolific now that we control the weaning process more even though they say it is to prevent allergies???? You can only trust your instincts and if your baby is demanding something a little bit more then some plain baby rice is fine. Start with a runny consistency, just a little thicker than milk and slowly make it a little thicker each day.
February 6th, 2011 at 10:22 pm
To be honest i ignored my heath visitor and tried the 4 month thing, but she got REALLY constipated i was scared. I just stopped and started again at 6 months. And at 6 months you could actually see my daughter enjoying her food and making sounds when eating like yeah i’m enjoying this. It just made me smile. I obviously can’t tell you what to do but i can only suggest you wait for 6 months. Just continue breastfeeding or whatever form of milk you are using
xx
February 6th, 2011 at 10:44 pm
Solids should be offered at 6 months, no sooner. A baby’s digestive systems isn’t ready for solids at 4 months. The only thing a baby younger than 6 months should be receiving is breast milk.
February 6th, 2011 at 11:24 pm
You can give baby cereal (Rice, oatmeal) at 4 months, but i won’t start the Gerber jarred (1st foods) until 6 months..also at 6 months, you can introduce a sippy cup…with juice.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:11 am
I started at four months and I made that choice for my son even though everyone said to wait until six months. He was ready for food. I started with P food- Pears, prunes, peaches, sweet potatoes, peas and then I moved on to green beans, carrotts, squash, and apples and bananas. I stayed on each food for a week to make sure he had no allergies and mixed it with a little rice cereal and water. He is healthy and growing at the rate he should be and I have no regrets on starting him early. My choice did not come from I want him to sleep more at night because that never happened. I did it because he was interested in food and grabbed at my food and I felt like he was ready and he has no allergies.
I get tired of reading studies saying if you feed kids earlier than six months that they will be obese, that is BS because I believe that with healthy foods and exercise then a child will not be obese and also genetics play a factor.
February 7th, 2011 at 12:36 am
depends on ur little one really. if they are still hungry after having their bottles i would give them a little bit of baby rice! the reason why some say 6mths is cause they feel at this time that the babys digestive system is more able to cope with these feeds!
February 7th, 2011 at 1:00 am
I was told by my health visitor that the recommended time to wean a baby was 6 months, but my health visitor also told me that every baby is different and mums will know when it is right for their own child. I started weaning my son at 4 months with the full support of my health visitor and he thrived on it. It did not do him any harm at all and he really enjoys his food. I think that as a parent you need to follow your gut instinct and wean your child when you feel they are ready. A mum knows their child better that anyone, plus 6 months is a guideline, not a rule!!