What age to start?

[Heatherm4]

What age have you started or plan to start your baby on solids? Everyone is different and every baby has different needs, so please share!

[seattlemom2plus]

Our 2nd son would look so elated and open his mouth when he was about 4 months.  I called him my baby bird.  He eventually would eat things like refried beans with avacados and he loved broccoli soup.... all things I would have never even thought of giving our first son.  (this was later on at about 8 months or more if I remember)

[Heatherm4]

I think you should go by what seattlemom said and just go with your instincts. I think your ped probably said that because that's what the WHO is saying so she almost has to say that and try and follow it.
I'm not trying to pressure you by any means because they do say 6 months is the best but in my opinion I would start her out. You can always just try a tablespoon here and there and see how she does. I started my DS quite early but we have taken it real slow! He's 6 months today and he does so well with his foods. But yes, he was doing the same things...watching soo intently and looking like he was chewing. He's doing it all over again and now is totally grabbing at everything we eat. I eat my meals along with him and I can tell he really wants just what I'm having!

[Clysta]

Kylie is almost 8 months old, and we've had her on table solids for about a month now. We had started her on rice and oatmeal at 4 months, but she hated it so we stopped. At around 6 months we started her again on purees, but she hated those as well. She wanted what we have, so we just skipped baby food completely and started her on table foods. She does really well on them, and can eat anything. We just put them in front of her and she can feed herself, or we use a spoon/fork and feed her a few things that aren't finger friendly.

[seattlemom2plus]

And use your motherly instinct, if you think they are showing signs of readiness, then go ahead and try it.  The best thing for me with our first son who was not interested in food at all, was when we gave him food even at about 8 months, it was coming out looking exactly as it went in... his body was not processing it.  With our 2nd son, his body was taking it in and digesting it and he showed signs of readiness at 4 months.  Hope this helps.

[jrobertson20]

With DD we were told at 4 months she could start eating.  She is now 5 months old and is doing very well.  We started her on rice cereal and she HATED it.  She loves everything else though.  She also has reflux and since starting her on solids she seems to be doing much better.  I know my sister was only told to start her kids on solids at 6 months but she started them on rice cereal at 5 months.  I think it just depends on the pediatrician and what research they are looking at.

[RBarron]

My DD has been showing interest since she was 4 months - watching us intently and making chewing motions - but, her pediatrician said to still wait until she's 6 months. Shes 5 months now and I really want to start her with some rice cereal. Not sure what to do.

[seattlemom2plus]

Every child is different our first son was extremely delayed on solids, he had no interest at all till about 8months to a year.  Our 2nd son took interest right away right around 4 months.  We are expecting another child this year so will be interesting to see what they do too.  Best thing is to listen to them and see when they are ready.

[Heatherm4]

My son was at his 4 month mark. I've been EBF and he was getting to the point where he was feeding almost every hour. He showed every sign of being ready. He had great head control, grabbed at food or would look like he was chewing while we ate our food. We tried him out on rice cereal first and he did amazing...he hardly spit any out!! I didn't start anything else until a week before he turned 5 months though.