New recommended age for starting solids

[~mamaspice~]

Thanks Epacris. Very interresting

[Rivlas]

There was something on the TV a week or so ago about this.

Over the last 30 years, I have heard alot of recommendations of when you start a child on solids. My DD's are 2 years apart and it was different even then.

Some children will take food at 4 months whereas others will have nothing to do with it until much later. You know your child so will know when they are interested in starting.

I think the key word here is recommendation.

[Olive]

IMO i believe people wrongly think their babies are ready for food because the watch them eat with interest, they grab at food and cutlery, they stop sleeping as well etc etc.. all of which are very normal developmental leaps, kids watch what we do becasue its how they learn, babies watch us go to the loo, does it mean they're ready to toilet train..??

[Kazmar]

IMO i believe people wrongly think their babies are ready for food because the watch them eat with interest, they grab at food and cutlery, they stop sleeping as well etc etc.. all of which are very normal developmental leaps, kids watch what we do becasue its how they learn, babies watch us go to the loo, does it mean their ready to toilet train..??

Very well said

[delphmoon]

I think there isn't enough info given to new mothers in the first place. At my mothers group there was a mum who started her bubs on solids as soon as they got home from hossie....scary......

[megs]

Wow straight home from hossie is a bit scary. But it is intersting what people do, my girlfriend (who is a nurse) vitamised up her baby at around 4 months sausages and veg. Must say I thought he was a bit young for meat and 3 veg.

All my boys have started solids at around 5 months, several different factors but I was comfortable with my decision to start them then. That being said it was a very slow process, rice cereal, small amounts of pumpkin, pear, apple etc. I didn't really start intoducing the wide variety until they were past 6 months.

I found this way worked for me and my children. As someone else posted every child is different.

[UntoldAngel]

I've been told 4 and 6months by two different health nurses within the same clinic!
Bub will start when he is ready. I've let him gum cooked carrot and a plain biscuit but he wasn't interested in eating, just chomping because it was something in his mouth iykwim...
Booby milk for this one until he wants something more

[Kazmar]

I think people need to realise also, that starting your child on solids isn't to 'fill' them etc. It's simply a learning process for the child. Learning what food is and that one day this is how they will survive, once weaned.

[CinderToriella]

I think people need to realise also, that starting your child on solids isn't to 'fill' them etc. It's simply a learning process for the child. Learning what food is and that one day this is how they will survive, once weaned.

Good point and well said DM

[BellyBelly]

He recommends 3 months? Or some other peak body? I'm sticking to WHO also.

[~mamaspice~]

IMO i believe people wrongly think their babies are ready for food because the watch them eat with interest, they grab at food and cutlery, they stop sleeping as well etc etc.. all of which are very normal developmental leaps, kids watch what we do becasue its how they learn, babies watch us go to the loo, does it mean they're ready to toilet train..??

Some people would actually say YES! Sorry Olive, but I couldn't resist (and no offence to those who believe in EC or early TT)

[onthefly]

I've been hearing about proposed changes in teh guidelines since before DS was born... and still they remain at 6 months. There was apparently a conference for child health nurses some years back hosted by baby food producers pushing 4 months, I think. And of course different professionals have their own opinions. I know of people who've been told by peadiatricians that 3 months is a good age to start. The allergy people are now saying 4-6 months, but the official guidelines have yet to be changed, so far as I know.
All babies are different, but I can't imagine there are many 3 month olds with sufficiently developed digestive systems to really manage solids. Personally I think if you're having to slip things into bottles or puree stuff to oblivian before sticking it in your baby's mouth then they're probably not really ready for it.

Anyway, the bottom line is watching your baby and following their lead. Much easier to get it right that way.

[YoYo]

Im so glad to of found this because I was wondering if the 'recommendation' had changed. I'd noticed more and more people are feeding earlier than 6 months, which is what I did with DS. I'm living in the Asian bubble so have no CHN to consult with about this....but I'm sticking with what I know...and thats 6 months.

[Kazmar]

Im worried parents get a little excited and want their bubs to hit a new 'milestone', solids, turning car seat around early etc etc......

These are babies and need to take the time they need and hit the milestones at their natural rate!

[helle]

It was 6 months when I was a baby, so it's been around for at least 22 years!
I personally don't think there really is an exact "age" to start... DS has only gotten into his solids the last month, others love it at 4 months or less...

IMO i believe people wrongly think their babies are ready for food because the watch them eat with interest, they grab at food and cutlery, they stop sleeping as well etc etc.. all of which are very normal developmental leaps, kids watch what we do becasue its how they learn, babies watch us go to the loo, does it mean they're ready to toilet train..??

totally agree. and i'm not affraid to say that I tried ds on some solids just before he hit six months just because of all those reasons ^^;

[appletree]

I too was told by our GP that the new recommendation is from 4 months. I was really confused by this, so questioned her further as it was 6m when DD was a baby. I will have to follow up further next week when we see her again where she got this information from.

We started DS at 4m following her advice, but quickly stopped as he really wasn't ready for solids. I have been playing around with them about this last week or so, but i don't feel he is ready yet now either. So confusing. With DD it was easy, DS seems to be a whole new ball game.

[MantaRay]

Appletree, there was a study done which showed that starting solids between 4 and 6 months MAY reduce the risk of allergies. However this result has been questioned by many medical professionals due to some inconsistencies. Also, there is much evidence that solids before 6 months can cause other problems due to the GI system not being ready - allergies are only one consideration. Unfortunately the baby food manufacturers have jumped on the study and are now funding seminars and training sessions for child health nurses and advising them that solids should be started at 4 months.

Currently there is a lot of disagreement amongst medical professionals about when solids should be started. The WHO has analysed all the studies that have been done and on the basis of everything known, have decided to stick with the 6 month recommendation. This is the current guideline despite the information some medical professionals are giving out. The only thing that is universally agreed on is that solids should not be given before 4 months.

When you start solids is a decision only you can make, based on the WHO guidelines, other information and your own instincts and observations of your child. With all the conflicting information it can be a very hard decision. Personally I chose to wait until 6 months for both my boys and I'm glad I did. They are both healthy, allergy free and great eaters.

[Snowy Love]

Its not just the WHO recommending 6mths, its also the National Medical & Health Research Centre (Aust govt). The cynic in me noticed that The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy are sponsored by formula companies so wonder (even though they say they're independant) if there was any influence in the wording of their recommendations.