When to Start "Solids"

It is OK but start gradually, Not a whole jar at once. You might want to start by just adding it to the cereal. Start with apple and add something new about every 2 weeks or so. Slow but steady. They don't need it nutitionally until 8 months.

Sounds like he's ready. I started my som at 5 months but looking back I think the only reason i didn't start him at 4 months was because I was nervous and a bit in denial that he was getting older. I wanted to keep him a bay baby longer which was not fair of me to do. If he's ready don't hold him back let him go at it and have fun. Good luck, this is the messy part :)lol
S.

according to the American Academy of Pediatricians, all babies should be exclusively fed on breastmilk, ideally, or formula for the first 6 months.

A., im a first time mom too. My son is now 6 yrs old. He was born 10lbs .5oz, 22.5 inches. BIG BOY!! I started cereal at 2 months because an 8 oz bottle of formula just wasnt enough sometimes. I started with applesauce at the end of 2 months and veggies during the 3rd month. Everyone has their own ideas about how you should feed your child, but you need to trust your own gut about what is right for your child. If you make a mistake, thats ok....your human.

Ask your pediatrician - seems like he is a little too young for the cereal right now. I have 4 children - my oldest who is now 16 did have to start the cereal younger because she weighed 30 lbs and needed more calories, but I waited 2 months after that to start the veggies - - - my other 3 children did not have even the cereal until they were 6 months - then 2 months for the veggies and another month for the fruit- after that they ate everything. I breastfed all of them until they were over a year - - - Funniest part - the oldest had the most colds, ear infections - she was sick a lot - - - now she is very healthy - but I do think if you are breastfeeding keep the food off until as late as possible

I am a first time mom as well, my son will be 5 in Oct. It's really up to you when you think it's right for them to start. I just have a few suggestions. Everyone's parenting skills are different what may have worked for myself & other moms may not work for everyone. I know how exciting this is to get them on starting new solids! What I could suggest is waiting on the applesauce, peaches, & the sweet stuff. For my son once I had given him the sweet stuff I had a hard time trying to get him to eat peas & all the stuff that is not sweet. They will have the rest of there lives to eat all the fruit they want, but when it comes to it it's all your choice. If I remember correctly I started my son on solids when he was about 6 month's old. Some people do it sooner & some later. I hope this helps you out a little. Good luck!

I have a 14 month old son. His doctor, and many books I read, recommended that we not introduce solids too soon, as this can lead to food allergies. They're digestive system at this age may not be ready to handle too many different foods. I would ask your son's pediatrician what his/her thoughts are on the subject. I chose to wait until my son was 6 months old and he's a GREAT eater now! He loves all kinds of foods and is very healthy with no known digestion issues or allergies. Hope that helps... good luck!

http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-when.html

at 4mos, it's too early even for cereal.

Hi A., I have three children and I am taking care of another 8 month old girl now. I have been giving her smushed up carrots and bananas since she was introduced to eating. The only problem that her dr. was concerned about was that the "solids" would substitute her formula completely. At that stage, they still need the nutrients from their formula to help them grow properly. I think that as long as it is a good balance and the select veggies are all natural, it's safe to give him some and then perhaps give him some formula right after. Make sure that anything you give is smushed up. If you feel that he can start eating little bits and pieces, just watch him carefully. I hope this helped! Take Care.

Hi A., My Dr. recommended me to start feeding my children baby food at 4 months...She also told when with my son he would be a little bit hungier so to go ahead and start him as early as 3 1/2 months. She also recommend to start with the veggies. So he won't get use to the sweetness of the fruit. Good Luck!

Well I started my now 4 1/2 month old on ceral when he was 3 1/2 months and started him on baby food when he was 4 months ,just a little spoon full for awhile then he gradually wanted more then that one little spoon. He loves it, he turns his head when he no longer wants any. The Doctor said to start with fruit then the yellow veggies then the green veggies...remember to stay with one kind for about a week to make sure they are not allergic to that certin fruit or veggie..Just my story..I know everyone does things different...Good luck...:)

hi A.,
im a first time mom of a 6 month old, but my doctor said that if she is doing good with cereal to go to veggies.. do one new veggie a week.. he also said to switch to oatmeal and the other mixed grain cereals too... just make sure when you change something you stick with it for about a week.

hope this helps..

~J.

All kids are different but my daughter was eating most fruits and veggies by that age and by six months she was a hummus addict. A lot of people avoid giving their kids "real food" and I don't know why. She also loved soup, I would put it in a blender for a few seconds and put crackers in it, she LOVED it. She is two now and still a good eater.

Hi, A..

As you can see, everyone has their own way and time of feeding their babies. I have asked the pediatrician and WIC, which specializes in babies, and they say not to feed your baby anything except breastmilk or formula until they are 6 months old. They have studied it and found that the babies digestive system is not strong enough yet. I am going by their advice. I'm sure all of our moms did it differently in the past and we survived. Who really knows what is best for our babies. The experts do tend to go back and forth with information.

Drs. say between 4 and 6 months. Since your son has been eating cereal fine for weeks now I say its ok to try some veggies and see how it goes. Just remember to try one flavor at a time and stick with the one for a few days before introducing a new one. That way if the baby has an allergy you'll know which food it is. I also reccomend trying green veggies first because they are not as sweet as the yellow or orange veggies. I read that some babies that start with the sweet veggies or fruits first then will not eat the green ones because they prefer the sweet. You may also want to just make a quick call to your ped. to ask his/her opinion about starting veggies now. Good Luck.

My children all started early by 3 months they had been introduced to just about everything...let your baby tell YOU...try it he will eat it up or toss it back to you! GOOD LUCK! ...Remember the books and Dr. advice are a general guid not in stone and all babies are different...just between us, my children were given cereal with a feeder bottle by about 3 weeks...it didnt cause a single problem!!! They slept through the night by 5 weeks, no one knows better than you what he can or cant handle...God Bless

You probably shouldn't an infant's stomache is very sensitive and they need a few months more to build up imunities. Things need to be introduced slowly so you can look for allergic reactions and make sure they can digest what you are giving him. Stick with the cereal. You may want to try rice cereal and even oatmeal although the oatmeal may be for older infant's. The earliest I would start on baby food would be 5 months. But you could mix a couple teaspoons in with the cereal and see how your baby likes it.

Hi A., My daughter is 4 months old too and during her 4 month old checkup her Dr. told me to start her on rice cereal for 10 days to get her used to eating and swallowing with a spoon and then to start her on veggies first (fruit is so sweet that they will love it and not want to try the veggies). He said to try 1 veggie for 5 days and then introduce another one for five days to see if there are food allergies. So go for it now!

Hope this helps!
B.

Hi A.. My son was eating solids by 6 months. He had a couple of teeth though. Does your baby have any teeth? If he does, go ahead and introduce him to some strained green beans or something. Maybe some stewed carrots. There are some Gerber products for older children that are still baby food, but they have some small chunks in them. I believe they are called Gerber Graduates, like 3's. Good luck with this. Write if you want to discuss this more indepth. Best Wishes, T.

I would say do it now. I started doing one veggie around 11am and then the cereal at night. We added a fruit when my son turned 6 months.

American Academy of Pediatrics doesn't recomend feeding solids until after 6 months.

I found it ok as soon as my son was 6 months old. but start with very little and watch for alergic reactions.

well, i started both my kids on cerel around 3-4 months and after a few weeks i did start with fruit first, Only becasue i breast fed and the doctors said they'd take to sweet stuff better, and gave them that food with cereal and with out for about 1 week to 2 weeks then i'd introduce another food until i'd tried them all once they have tried them and you know they are not allergic you can interchange the foods during the day, such as apples with cereal for breakfst and sweet potatoes for lunch and peas for dinner. Around 6 months you can start stage 2 foods some jars tell you (like del monte) and stage three is around 8 months. With my kids around stage three i'd introduce scrammbled eggs , But that's me. Remeber as a mom you kind of know your child better than us and go with your gut.

Definately. If he is still hungry after the cereal this is a sign too. Start simple even with fruit too. Gerber has the perfect 1st foods. Bananas, sweet potatoes, peas etc...... You can even mix it in with the cereal in the beginning to introduce. But deintately yes.

I would say give him a few bites...or add it to his cereal, see how it goes that night to see if he gets a tummy upset or anything, then wait 4-7 days before introducing a new veggie, that way you will know if he has an allergic reaction, which food gave it to him.