When to Introduce Solids - Baby Not Sitting up Yet

I started giving my daughter rice cereal when she was 4 days old with a spoon. I would give her a couple of small bites so that she would sleep through the night. I started her on regular baby food when she was 3 months old. She couldn't sit up on her own, but she could sit up in her bouncy seat, carrier or her high chair. She is much healthier for it and actually prefers vegetables to candy. So try one putting her into one of those and see if feeding her isn't easier. I used the spoons that were covered in what looked like a vinyl to protect her gums.
G.

You didn't mention WHY you wanted her to be eating solids. "Back in the day" we were told to add solids when an 8 oz. night bottle wouldn't hold them until dawn. If you are happy with the number of hours she's sleeping at night (it will be different for each baby)and she's doing well enough with her bottles during the day, don't worry about it. When I started feeding mine, I put them in a bouncy seat so that I'd have both hands free. Their instinct is to put their hands to their mouths when you put something new in it and of course from there they go straight for their hair! It's helpful to have a free hand to keep their hands cleaner. : ) Please DO follow the age-based dietary rules about wheat, citrus, dairy products and adding new foods one at a time that your pediatrician gave you. Life is complex enough later on without adding food allergies to the mix.
At your next doctor visit, ask them when they want HER on solids, not when a book says it's time. And with most things in life, if in doubt, don't. Oh, and I'm with you on eating solids with a spoon, not drinking them. I only put water, formula or breast milk in bottles, and juices when they were very small. As soon as they could drink from a tippy cup without choking, water,juice and later, milk,went only in the cup. I think it made it easier to wean them at 1 year since by then they were accustomed to drinking most things from their cup. The bottles only took a couple days to stop.
Hang in there. You'll do fine! Good luck with your bundle of joy!

Hi S.,
I found the easiest place to feed my babies at first was in the bouncy seat or a reclining highchair. Those first feedings will be more liquid than solid. You are right in thinking you will need both hands! Don't forget to have someone videotape or take some pictures. If she thrusts the food out of her mouth with her tongue repeatedly, she probably isn't quite ready. I highly recommend the book Super Baby Food by Ruth Yaron. It is so full of information about feeding your baby and nutrition in general. Enjoy this time, it goes so quickly.
D.

the connection with sitting up is that sitting tends to coincide with baby's ability to swallow correctly. So, yes I would wait at least until she's sitting to start any solids.

Personally, I will be waiting until at least 7 or 8 months to start solids with my baby. However, my baby is on breastmilk exclusively, so we're in a slightly different feeding situation.

You can sit your baby in a Bumbo and feed her. Our son wasn't able to sit up well on his own when we started solids at 4 months, so we put him in the Bumbo and fed away. We never put cereal in his bottle. I never liked that idea either. Just make sure you have the camera ready for the first bowl of cereal. It is too cute.

Many doctors recommend introducing solids around 4 months for formula-fed infants and 6 months for breastfed infants. However, you need to keep in mind that it is general advice and not tailored to your baby. We started introducing cereal to my oldest son around 5 months and he was the pickiest eater for a few years and with my younger two solids weren't introduced until after they turned 7 months when it was obvious the interest was there and they are both eaters. My middle child was never picky and took right to food. You can't always go by the text books. However, you don't want to start introducing solid foods before 4 months because their digestive systems are not mature enough to properly handle solids. I would say that if your little one isn't sitting up on her own yet, keep a couple of bibs handy, hold her on your lap, sit at the table and try it one bite at a time. Messes are inevitable with kids and if she ends up wearing more than she swallows, don't sweat it! Thank God that kids are washable! Good luck to ya!