When did you start solids?

[Liviam]

I'm going to subscribe as DS is nearly 5 months old and I've forgotten what I did last time so I need some ideas.

[mbear]

DD#1 - 5 months - due to being underweight.
DD#2 - 6mths
DD#3 - 6mths
DS - LAst week, so 5 mths and 2 weeks. This week he has slept 4hr chunks...as oppose to 3 hr chunks since birth. I think he was ready. He tried to grab a sausage outta DH's hand the other night.....

I didn't want the extra work!!!

.totally agree, dont understand the big rush (unless advised professionally of course). Pureeing, splat mats, getting food up your arm and all over baby - total PITA. The longer we leave it the better for me...
Always started with rice cereal and pureed fruits. Pumpkin is always a winner in this home .

[LimeSlice]

DD didn't start til she was 7, almost 7.5 months. She just wasn't interested (and she didn't get her first teeth until 9 months anyway)
When she did start though she was in with both feet and there was no looking back! lol
She started with some purees I made etc and mixed in with her porridge - but we did BLS mostly, and she ate porridge every morning, no need to puree it or anything! lol straight out of dad's bowl!

I think the fav thing I liked about starting her so *late* was that she fed herself almost form day dot. She loved holding her own spoon and by the time she was 9-10 months, she would feed herself completely at all meals. Made life sooo much easier! lol

[MantaRay]

I started at 6 months both times. GL with your decision.

[Inertia]

Started with spoonfuls at 6mo, but I let them start trying out new flavours from 4mo being sure to avoid anything that is not recommended for young babies such as Honey or nuts. She had a great gum at some drops of mashed banana the other day. Because she is still forcing the food out with her tongue it is not about introducing solids, its about introducing flavours. It makes introducing solids later a little bit easier because you already have some clues on what they do and dont like the taste of. Just always soft foods incase they work out that whole swallowing thing.

[Megan]

We started at 6 months here, and started on vegies and fruit. By 6.5 months he started eating whatever we were having as we are doing BLS.

[*EJ*]

When DS1 was at this stage the guidelines were 'not before 6 months'. We started him smack on 6 months and he was great. Loved his food and was really ready for it.

With DS2 the guidelines are as current and my understanding is it's now anywhere between 4 - 6 months. I thought i saw all the signs that said my DS was ready, he was eyeing off our food ALL the time. But his first tastes of farax at 5.5 months came straight back out. He didn't enjoy anything i offered at all for quite some time. It took a good 2 months for him to take to solids and now at 8 months old i can finally say he's eating 3 good meals a day.

Give her a taste and if you'll be able to tell if she's ready for it or not.

[Miss E]

Just wanted to keep an eye on this one, I'm also weighing up when to start. I've introduced water recently so he can start experiencing the sensation of something other than bm in his mouth.

I guess I'm thinking in 2 or 3 weeks we might start (he'll be just over 5 months then), but then I'm not sure if we should wait longer or start now... it's so hard to know...