starting solids - new evidence?

[Sammiejane]

Not going to make much comment on the original question as i believe the the PP have said everything that i would add to these comments... other than, look into BLS - if you think that your baby is ready to eat, hand them the food themselves, they will only be able to consume what they are ready to eat - which at 6 mths is not much at all

On the contrary I'm considering (not yet deciding) introducing solids because I want to be able to sleep. I'm so tired I've been sick and cannot function very well lately.

With my first baby I didn't start introducing solids until she was 6 months old, and it was fine then because I had abundant milk. It seems now my milk supply has been compromised by lacking of rest during the day for looking after my 4 year-old, though she goes to preschool 3 times a week I still feel very tired.

Lady Noor - did you find that your fist baby slept better after solids? I didnt... and i dont know loads of people that did notice a great increase in sleep or any at all!
I would be exceptionally hesitant to start solids early based on this reason alone.

[onthefly]

I'm with SJ - made no difference whatsoever. I actually don't think I know anybody IRL who's had an improvement in sleep after starting solids... I guess it must happen for some or else this theory wouldn't be doing the rounds.
Lady Noor - being tired won't affect your milk supply. Is there any other reason you feel your supply is insufficient? No doubt it's very tring with 2 to take care of

[Miss E]

It's so hard as mums to know what is the right thing to do. I personally overloaded myself with research and still found it hard to decide so just went with the WHO and ABA recommendations.

Manta, I had thought that you should delay the introduction of nut based foods till after 12 months. By the sounds of things I must be on the wrong track (probably all that research I did months ago has left me confused). DH has been dying to give DS some peanut butter, I guess I should let him....

Lady Noor I tend to agree with what the other posters have said about introducing solids at 4.5 months, I definately didn't see any improvement in DS's sleep when I introduced them at 6 months, if anything his sleep actually deteriorated. Like your LO my DS was a fabulous sleeper until he reached the 4 month mark. Before that he would sleep through pretty much every night. I tend to think that at around 4 months they develop a much greater sense of awareness and the sleep issues are related to that. Are his weight gains good and is he having plenty of wet nappies? If he is I would take that to be a very good indication that he is getting enough iykwim?

[LadyNoor]

Thank you Gals for all the kind words.. At this stage it's hard to think clearly after almost 3 weeks waking up every 1.5-2 hours every night to feed him. I'm still hoping this phase will pass, it's very exhausting. I salute you ladies who have 3 kids and more!

Marcellus,
Now that's one statistic I've never come across before. So basically only 1% of the population start off with "an ideal start"..

Now Miss E, after you pointing it out DS does have good amount of wet nappies so you ladies are most probably right, he still is getting enough milk..

I don't really remember with DD, you're probably right SJ she didn't suddenly sleep after solids..

DD was breastfed until she was 15 months old, and I'm planning to continue breastfeed DS until around 12 months, that's the only thing I know for sure..

Thank you for all the inputs, I keep open-minded in deciding what to do with DS.

[Sammiejane]

Hi again,
LadyNoor - you doing a good job, waking every 1.5-2 hours will be exhausting for you, remember to get a est when ever you can and when your DD is at day care/kinda, make sure that you take time out for you to rest in the day - house work can wait!

Miss E - MJ had peanut butter at about 6 or 7 months, we went down the BLS track and started with veggies, fruit and toast with hommus and then moved to peanut butter (only cos this is what daddy was eating).
The only thing that i delayed was honey and that was because of the botulism risk - dont know if that is current anymore, but that was the only thing i withheld.
But you have to be comfortable in everything that you do, if you are concerned, wait until you are happy as your bubba will pick up on the way that you feel HTH

[LadyNoor]

It took me a couple of days to remember what website the ECHC's nurse quoted, it was from The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy - Home.

More research is needed to determine the optimal time to start complementary solid foods. Based on the currently available evidence, many experts across Europe, Australia and North America recommend introducing complementary solid foods from around 4-6 months. Solid foods should not be introduced before 4 months.
The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy - ASCIA INFANT FEEDING ADVICE

When asked when baby's digestive system is ready for solids, she only said every baby is different. Well that's probably why the experts will continue researching ...

[Sammiejane]

Exactly right, every child is different. But how do you honestly know if the digestive system is ready? I would rather wait a little longer and make sure that its is fully developed.

The other signs need to also be in place as well thou - decreased gag reflex, lost tongue thrust, good head and neck control etc

[onthefly]

On the question of when babies are ready. I reckon that if your baby can sit up, grab some food, put in their mouth and eat it, then they're probably ready.