When did you start solids?

[MummyTummy]

We started BLS right from the start at 5.5 months. I was waiting for 6 months, but after two weeks of him stealing food from our plates, or forks, spoons etc I figured I would just see what he thought. We never looked back. It was obviously the right time for him. But although he was watching us with interest earlier than that it wasn't until he started stealing stuff off our plate and shoving it in his gob that I really thought he might be ready. And then I held off for another 2 weeks. By that stage he was almost beside himself trying to get to the food. So I think if you are thinking and wondering if she is ready then I think she isn't. You will know..... and it will literally happen overnight too!

[Fleur]

5 months today, and she is breaking her neck trying to get at our food
She might be ready a bit earlier?....

Oh, and she's sitting too now

[ladybird11]

Yep - recommendation is from 6mths Jasp, but in saying (also excitied to start food here lol) I bought Farex today - and the packet said (this particular type of Farex) was recommended from 4 - 6mths....

We give DS a spoonful from time to time, he doesn't seem too interested - but he's putting it somewhere lol!!

Oh - sitting - what a show off!!! :-) (just read that!!).

[ss_storm]

as you know Jasp, we started probably about a week and a half ago...she isn't too keen on plain rice cereal but eats more of it when something else is mixed into it. I think BLS will definitely be the go though, she'll quite happily munch/play with some finger food so I think she is definitely ready to start solids, as much as i wanted to wait until 6 months.

[Livinthedream]

We started at about 5 (and TBH many of my IRL friends did too) Just rice cereal amd some apples and pears. My boy went great guns, he eats heaps of stuff now. I personally think a bit of rice cereal is prolly fine. Good luck.
Oh and BTW I heard thet you are now not meant to delay past 6 months. So who knows

[MummyTummy]

Sure, why not. She's sitting by herself which is a great start! So perhaps some steamed carrots or broccoli or potato finger food and just let her play. If she doesn't eat then just delay it another week or so. If you are going the BLS route I wouldn't even bother with the Farex. Just stick with plain steamed vegies. I got more adventurous with the BLS once DS reached 6 months, up until that point I stuck with the plain vegies.

[Fleur]

Well, she has had a cruskit (after going bananas trying to get to DS2's chips lol) & loved it. Her whole body language changed ITMS, she was so intent & focused on it & she pretty much devoured it.
She has also had some steamed pumpkin & broccoli pieces & really enjoyed it (especially the broccoli) & seemed to manage no worries. But then I went 'oh s***, sh'es not 6 mths yet - maybe I should wait' so I gave her some puree the next night ... I don't think it made much difference to her, TBH. The pieces ended up being less mess than the puree
The funny thing is back when the guidelines were for 4 mths, I started all the kids then & by 5 / 5 & half months, they were all having some kind of finger foods, I found a photo the other day of DS2 with toast & he was barely 4 mths. So I don't know why I would worry now, when she is clearly ready, I think just because it's been so long since I've done this....

Thanks everyone for your replies I was a bit worried about starting her earlier, but I do feel better now!

So I think if you are thinking and wondering if she is ready then I think she isn't. You will know..... and it will literally happen overnight too!

I wondered, when I first read that... but it is SO true!

[MantaRay]

I'm glad it's going well Jasp. Many of us find that the BLS works better than purees!

I also want to clarify about food labels. The recommendation for starting solids is 6 months - this is the WHO recommendation and the Australian recommendation. Some food manufacturers exploit a loop hole in the law and label their foods as being suitable from 4 months (and occassionally even 3 months). This does not mean that this food is any more suitable at that age than foods labelled for 6 months - it just means they want to sell more products and make more money. It's a good thing to know because the whole solids thing is complicated enough without mis-information!