Balmaingal - first of all - yes the official stance is 6 months to allow the toungue reflex to go and the gut to be mature enough to handle food and that baby is choosing to eat by themselves. That being said, I also hold the opinion that like every other skill that babies learn it will happen at a different rate to the next. So going by that, I think if she is able to pick up a piece of food and suck on it in her own time, then stick with that. You say that you have been 'helping', which I would try not to do to make sure that this happens all at her developmental rate. So if she is gagging on the softer stuff because you are helping her pick it up and put it in her mouth then it sounds like she isn't ready for that. But if she can pick the harder stuff up and suck on it all by herself, I think let her go for it. To her they are just tasty toys. Gradually introduce the softer foods later. The thought also crossed my mind that perhaps her teeth are beginning to shift and she is looking for things to cool her gums which is why she spat the seeds of the cucumber back out. To her it isn't yet natural to swallow, but the sucking is soothing. And if that is the case then just stick with those foods that are cooling and soothing for her.
My DS started at 5.5 months - he could have possibly started earlier but I held him off for about 2 weeks. We started with the steamed carrots and straight away he had no issue picking them up, sucking and swallowing them. I also held off giving him anything but steamed vegies until he turned 6 months, and then I gave him bits of just about everything we had including meat.
Balmaingal - first of all - yes the official stance is 6 months to allow the toungue reflex to go and the gut to be mature enough to handle food and that baby is choosing to eat by themselves. That being said, I also hold the opinion that like every other skill that babies learn it will happen at a different rate to the next. So going by that, I think if she is able to pick up a piece of food and suck on it in her own time, then stick with that. You say that you have been 'helping', which I would try not to do to make sure that this happens all at her developmental rate. So if she is gagging on the softer stuff because you are helping her pick it up and put it in her mouth then it sounds like she isn't ready for that. But if she can pick the harder stuff up and suck on it all by herself, I think let her go for it. To her they are just tasty toys. Gradually introduce the softer foods later. The thought also crossed my mind that perhaps her teeth are beginning to shift and she is looking for things to cool her gums which is why she spat the seeds of the cucumber back out. To her it isn't yet natural to swallow, but the sucking is soothing. And if that is the case then just stick with those foods that are cooling and soothing for her.
Bookmarks