I tried at 6 months with DD to introduce solids (rice cereal only) but she wanted nothing to do with it, so I waited a couple more weeks. I think she was interested @ 7 months.

There are medical reasons to wait to introduce solids. I don't think it is a political/emotional issue - so I am very surprised that some of you have opted to try solids (and when i think starting, I think rice cereal - NOT vegetables, ect) so early.

I know we all do what we feel is best, but make sure feeling is followed up with some good research - not just what supports your theory, but all points of view so that you can make a well informed decision.

OK - stepping off my soap box...

__________________
Me, Tiffany - 27
DH Francis - 30
DD Talia - 2/25/05
DD Eva - 10/26/06

i followed AAP/WHO regulations, which state basically no ifs ands or buts, no solids till atleast 6 months old. I didn't feed solids till my little man was 8 months old. He was born 5 weeks early so I definatly wasn't going to feed him till atleast 7 months to do the whole age adjustment thing. Around 8 months he was doing all the things he needed to be doing according to www.kellymom.com, and showed us interest in our plates and the food on them, so I went ahead and started out on sweet potatoes. I didn't do the cereal thing because there isn't anything in cereal that benefits babies. I also made the 8 month decision because I breastfed and there are more calories in breastmilk than food.

My oldest was 5 months when I started him on cereal (I was pressured to start by family b/c he was such a high needs baby and I was young and he was my 1st that I was ready to try anything to make him happy... and, well it didn't make him happy )

I started my twins between 6 and 7 1/2 months. Devon was ready before 6 months but I held off until the day he was 6 months old mostly b/c he was a month premature. I offered rice cereal to Jonah then but he refused it... I tried every 2 weeks.. He "kinda" took it at 6 1/2 month so I held off for 2 more weeks and the same thing happened at 7 months and then I finally was able to get him swallowing cereal properly/happily w/ no work by 7 1/2 months.

And I really do think starting solids before 4 months is purely an emotional act by the parents. PPL have a hard time dealing w/ a fussy/crying baby and the 1st instinct is the baby is hungry so to some adults they think that cereal is somehow food where breast milk or formula isn't. I think feeding the cereal makes the adult feel better not the newborn. And... there are some ppl out there who do think that cramming cereal into a newborns mouth makes their infant somehow developmentally superior Or they think that their baby is somehow soooo much bigger than the "average" child so they need "real" food.. Seriously, I've heard soo many moms brag about how little suzy or Johnny was so big that they just had to have steak and potatoes... And I just brag back that Devon & Jonah (who were huge as infants) didn't need solds for 6 and 7 1/2 months

__________________

I think teething is a good clue that baby is ready. My babies all started teething around 4 months and that's when we introduced cereal without problems...

I voted 8-9 months. I think that is when most babies are developmentally ready to eat. I think that a baby should be able to developmentally feed themselves before they are ready for food. When they are able to feed themselves they can regulate exactly how much they eat, avoiding overeating. I also think that rice cereal is pretty much nutritionally void. It is just carbs with iron. There have been studies that supplementing breastfed babies with iron can actually let them absorb less iron. I started my son within the last month on bland organic table food in pieces he could feed himself. Now he eats two to three meals a day. Things like avocado, beans, broccoli, etc. I think it is important to follow babies lead (the essence of AP), if a baby want to eat and can get it to their mouths earlier, then maybe they are ready before 8 months, but I think that is probably about the average time.

__________________

Karen

Just curious but doesn't the AAP in their book have conflicting recommendations about solids? I know in the chapter on BF nutrition they say 6 months, but in the earlier chapter they state a recommendation for solids between 4-6 months for FF babies.

This subject that has been hugely researched in recent years and the current recommendation from the World Health Organisation (since 2001) is- no solid foods are introduced to baby for the first 6 months. Other health organisations have updated their recommendations for the introduction of baby's first food to meet with the guidelines issued by WHO.

UNICEF
http://www.unicef.org/nutrition/inde...stfeeding.html

AAP (Revised February 1, 2005 to reflect current standards of the medical community)
http://aappolicy.aappublications.org...ics;100/6/1035

Canadian Pediatric Society
http://www.cps.ca/English/statements...edingMar05.htm

__________________

I have recently been reading that some babies are more sensitive to taking wheat than others - in the UK it is accepted that you dont introduce wheat or gluten till the babies are at least 6 months of age ... but research is showing that 10 or 11 months is probably like the 'real' age babies should have it.

As for solids in general for Ellis and Summer I just left it till they really showed signs of being ready, and they showed natural curiosity around 10 11 months.

I agree 1 week is far too early, barmy in fact and anything before 4 months needs to be carefully considered. Of course this is a contentious issiu with everyone believing that they are doing the right thing.

__________________

one of mine started at 9 months, one at around 6 months. i would never give anything but mama's milk before 6 months for my kids.

__________________

Here are the recommendations of the WHO, the AAP, the CPS, the RCPCH and LLL... all world authorities on infant/child health with medical studies supporting their unanimous position which is no solids before 6 months.

World Health Organization recommendations: 6 months

WHO | Up to what age can a baby stay well nourished by just being breastfed?

American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations (scroll down to #10): 6 months

Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk -- Section on Breastfeeding 115 (2): 496 -- AAP Policy

Canadian Pediatrics Association: 6 months

Exclusive breastfeeding should continue to six months

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (UK's association for pediatricians): 6 months
Read the press release for May 16th, 2007 that says "RCPCH Supports Breastfeeding Manifesto"

2007 Press Releases - RCPCH

La Leche League recommendations: 6 months

LLLI | FAQ: When Should My Baby Start Solids?

There are health concerns associated with starting before 6 months, which is one of the reasons for so many pediatric organizations urging parents to not start solids before 6 months, such as the following:

respiratory concerns:
LLLI | CBI Journal Abstract of the Month

also, according to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, introducing solids before 6 months can increase the incidence of allergies:
Food Kids - ACAAI

These are several of the world's leading authorities on infant health, all who say that solids should not start until after 6 months. I'm thinking that it isn't particularly an area of opinion, it's more just a fact proven by the medical communities around the world. It's not particularly connected to attachment parenting, it's more related to infant health.

Thank you.

__________________








Host of:
The No Cry Sleep Solution
Attachment Parenting