New recommended age for starting solids

**Rivlas** · October 18th, 2010, 08:37 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 08:47 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 08:57 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 09:00 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 09:08 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 09:15 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 09:17 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 09:19 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 07:30 PM

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

**~mamaspice~** · October 18th, 2010, 09:21 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 09:43 AM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 06:59 PM

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** · October 18th, 2010, 07:26 PM

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!

**Junglemum** · October 18th, 2010, 07:36 PM

another ooops

**Junglemum** · October 18th, 2010, 07:37 PM

oops......

**Junglemum** · October 18th, 2010, 07:38 PM

I thought the RCH Melbourne changed their recommendation to something like

"Solids ok from 4 months, but around 6 months" or something along those lines? I think it is a change from 'definitely not before 6 months'. right?

Here's a paper from RCH that says 4-6 months but it is more focus on prevention of allergy with a fmaily history.

http://www.rch.org.au/emplibrary/kid...of_allergy.pdf

We've done 6 months for both girls. Not sure what we'll do next time. Probably the same, if the baby is ready.

When they are able to sit unassisted and don't have a gag reflex is a pretty good indicator for me.

**helle** · October 22nd, 2010, 01:21 PM

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** · October 22nd, 2010, 02:12 PM

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.

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