Pressure to start solids?

[littlebear]

Hi ladies,

I'm just after a little guidance and perhaps a little advice! DS turns 6mths old in 2 weeks and I'm getting a LOT of pressure to start him on solids since he turned 4mths! Everyone's first question is have you started him on solids yet!? When are you going to, why haven't you etc etc.

I don't really understand why there is all that pressure to start him on solids. Isn't the recommended age 6 months? I know some babies start earlier because they get hungry but he hasn't been like that at all yet.

Have I done the wrong thing by taking him to 6mths before I start?

I'm also a bit confused on how to start. I want to give him some baby cereal to start with, but do I give him a teaspoon after a bottle or before? Does it have to be the first bottle of the day or can I make it the second? How do I go about eventually cutting out a bottle and making it a meal instead?

Any advice and tips you could give me would be great, as you can see I'm a little lost!

[Lily Dust]

Hi littlebear

You are doing everything perfectly but it is a little bit confusing and bewildering yet exciting to begin with. You are absolutely NOT doing anything wrong at all , good on you sticking to your guns and yep the WHO (I believe) recommend 6 months is the minimum age for solids. Some babies are started earlier for medical reasons such as reflux or colic (so I have heard) but IMHO normal healthy babies who are extra hungry before this are generally hungry for extra milk as their little bones are growing so quickly. I think there is so much pressure because some people are told by well meaning people who have done it 'this way' for years iykwim.

I dont have a lot of advice on baby cereal as we practice Baby Led Solids here, but I do know that when first starting out you need to offer solids AFTER the milk. This is because milk is the most important 'food' at this stage. A great motto we always remind ourselves of, is that 'Food is fun until they're 1'. Maybe someone else can help out about the cereal stuff

You really are going about it all great, remember you know your little one best x

[Arimeh]

I can't help you out with the cereal stuff, cos I do BLS with my lot, but I can tell you that you are definitely not doing anything wrong by waiting until he is 6 months old. The recommended age is still 6 months, and that hasn't changed, even though Heinz has baby food out there for 4-6 month olds

[onthefly]

Definitely fine to wait till 6 months!
Milk first from this age - they will get more nutrition from milk at this age than from solids, and I wouldn't expect your baby to drop milk feeds for some time yet. It varies of course, but generally speaking babies get most of their nutrition from milk till 12 months. If you follow your baby's lead, you'll find they will decide when they want to replace milk with solids and make that switch to real food.
Are you interested in reading about baby-led solids at all? It's a good way to folllow your baby's lead and let them set the pace in terms of what, when and how much they eat. Basically, you make food available and they eat it, if they want to. It's a lot easier than cooking separate meals and pureeing

[Kazmar]

Wait till 6 months Its more to do with their little insides being able to cope better

Are you breastfeeding (I know you said bottle, but is that EBM or formula)? If so a baby can go a very long time just n tha DD#1 had no interest in solids at 6 months and didn't really care much till about 10 months. I know a lady who's little ones dont start till 12 months (properly anyway)

[Party-of-five]

dont worry about what others say....you will know when hes ready dont feel you have to start before you or your DS is ready.
My DD started with rice cereal with a little puree apple I offer it about 30 minutes after a bottle.