When to Introduce Solids

Updated on December 18, 2006
A.A. asks from Chicago, IL
5 answers

Hi Everyone,

I would just like to know everyone's opinion on when to introduce solids to baby's diet. My daughter is five months old now. She gets 4 feedings a day of 8oz formula at each time and oatmeal or rice cereal 3 times a day, about 5tbsp each time on a spoon. She loves the cereal. She has always been an alert and strong baby. She weighs almost 17 pounds, can hold her head up, almost sit alone, and sleeps through the night from 8pm until 7am without waking. I'm just worried I am not feeding her enough, and thought now may be a good time to introduce baby food since she has mastered the spoon. Any advice would be great. The thing I am mainly worried about is all I have read about children who may be prone to allergies not introducing solids too soon. My family including myself have terrible allergies, excema, and asthma.

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So What Happened?

Thanks to everyone for all their advice. We waited a couple more days and then decided to introduce sweet potatoes. She loves them and gets them at dinner after her bottle and cereal. She still sleeps through the night (Thank god) without any feedings and she seems to be a little more satisified. We are slowly going to work her up to more food. We will introduce another veggie or fruit every 4-5 days and that way hopefully I can detect any allergy. Thanks again!

More Answers

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A.S.

answers from Chicago on

I would say that this is too early, except that your daughter has such an appetite. I believe the 6 month rule, for most babies, is the minimum age for starting solids. Families with allergies, excema, asthma should wait even longer. We also have many allergies. I tried to wait, but my child needed solids at 5 months of age. (My older child waited much longer--he just wasn't interested.) When allergies are present in the family, try to limit or delay offering the most common offenders: wheat, corn, soy, eggs, dairy, sugar. You might wonder what else is there? I would offer her veggies first, then fruits, then meats, then grains. Most everyone offers grains first, but this often contributes to allergies and excema. This is advice from our pediatric allergist. It has worked well for us. A GREAT book on this subject is called, "Is This Your Child?" by Doris Rapp, MD. I highly recommend that you read this book.
Good luck!
Amy

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G.B.

answers from Chicago on

Hello! If you feel she is ready, this looks like a good time to introduce solids (maybe starting with "pleasure" feeds?). It would be best not to wait too much, as some kids may become orally defensive and not be willing to try different textures later on.
G.

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B.O.

answers from Chicago on

Hi Ann, when you say "sleeps all night you mean she does not wake up but i feed her while she is sleep" or do you mean "I do not feed her ll night"???
I have a 5.5 months old, big baby, I had to introduce him with solid food because he was hungry:) In his oatmeal cereal I put cheese(bulgarian cheese,white). I gave him tomato pure(if you don't give him the seeds it won't make him allegy)old fashion home made soups,bananas with cereal actually i put everything in the cereal and mix it he loves it. And of course gerber so far we did not have any problelm so far. when they are hungry they let you know. t least mine does.

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J.W.

answers from Chicago on

I would talk to your Doctor first.
It sounds like you are doing great and congratulations on having a perfect baby that sleeps through the night.

We started my son (2 1/2 now) on solids about this time, but not as his main source of food. It was for social reasons. He would sit and watch us eat...eyeing the fork from the food on the plate to the food in our mouth. Our doctor instructed us to introduce one food at a time. Start with orange vegetables (Sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash), then yellow (squash, corn), then green(Broc, green beans, etc). (All reds wait until they are 1 year along with dairy and cow's milk)

To start we bought organic sweet potatoes, peeled them, diced into 1/4 inch and then boiled the heck out of them until they were firm enough to hold the shape but if you just barley pressed or touched them they would smash.

We would set him up in his high chair with the new food and let him work it with his hands and try it out, while we sat next to him eating our meal. Give the new food 1 week before introducing something new...so if their is an allergic reaction you know the new item is it.

During this time all of his nutrition came from breast milk and formula until he was 8-9 months, and then we would suppliment the solids for an actual feeding.

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C.U.

answers from Chicago on

most doctors tell you to start feeding baby food at 6 months, you should ask yours what they recommend.

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