When should babies be introduced to solid food?

Question

When should babies be introduced to solid food?

Answer 1

I have been told that they have to be between 4 to 6mths old and double their birth weight. Other signs are not being content after 5 to 6 bottles per day and being attentive to what someone eats in their presence.

Answer 2

When they meet all signs of readiness:

Able to sit up on their own

Pincer grip (able to pick things up with their thumb and pointer finger).

Loss of tongue-thrust (automatic reflex to push food out of mouth).

The 4-6 mos is a guideline, but there will be some babies who aren't ready until even later.  There's no need to rush.  

It's also best to let your baby self-feed (sometimes called "baby-led weaning).  For some reason people are under the impression that babies need pureed cereal as a first food, which is completely incorrect.  Cereal was given because when formula was introduced, they didn't have a good way to get iron into the formula, and babies were becoming anemic.  However, it was quite easy to get iron into cereal, so, it was generally recommended to shovel cereal in as soon as you could.  No longer necessary - formula now has iron in it (and breastmilk has always had iron in it).

The primary source of nutrition for the first year should be breastmilk, or, failing that, formula.  Food is for experimentation in the first year, not nutrition.  The easiest and healthiest thing to do is to offer your baby some soft foods such as avocado, well cooked veggies, etc.  There's no need to puree, and, in fact, pureeing leads to MORE choking.  A baby is actually very good at self-regulation, and won't eat more or less than s/he needs if offered foods. So, honestly, just get some avocado or pears or cook up some carrots or peas or whatever, and just put it in front of Baby.  If s/he is ready to eat, s/he will ;-)

Answer 3

These days they only recommend babys having solids at 6 months. It may be the case that you can do it a little earlier if she is showing signs. Signs that she is ready are:

* Holding her head up and controlling head movements.

* Sitting well when supported.

* Making chewing motions.

* Doubling her birth weight.

* Being unsatisfied after a full milk feed

* Demanding increasing and more frequent milk feeds

* Attempting to put things in her mouth

* After a period of sleeping through the night waking in the night with hunger

* Displaying curiosity about what you are eating.

I hope this helps.

Answer 4

Anytime between 4 - 6 months.  Most doctors will agree that the latter is probably better.  

Answer 5

No earlier than 4 months but most recommend now waiting until 6 months.  

Answer 6

Depends, are you breastfeeding or formula feeding? The general rule of thumb is 4 months when using formula, but wait till at least 6 months when breastfeeding. This is because formula's nutritional compound does not change day to day to provide baby with all that he needs as he is growing int he right calculation according to his bodies' needs that day, so to introduce foods at 4 months allow more nutrients into his system. But with breastfed babes, their diet is constantly changing according to mom's diet and so is their nutritional intake! So it is advised to wait up to 6 months, but many studies suggest waiting longer, even up to a year. But most babies are usually snatching food from you sooner, so it would depend on your baby. Also, some moms choose to wait until baby would not need their food in a soup like condition which again is based on baby! But wait at least 4 months for formula fed and 6 months for breastfed and it'll be fine!

Answer 7

The WHO, AAP, ADA all say you should wait at least six months. Delaying solids give baby's digestive system time to mature and decreases the risk of food allergies. Because the gut is still open before six months, when different food particles pass into the blood stream, the immune system starts to flare up resulting in allergies. This is a good thing for breastmilk, because it allows the baby to get anitbodies from the mother.

I have many food allergies so I held off on solids with my daughter until 9 months and at a year we are still cautious and only feed her organic, low allergenic foods. It is worth it so she may not have the headaches I have about food!

Answer 8

My son was two weeks old and got a teaspoon of rice in every bottle.  He was starving without it.  They have to be able to swallow food and not choke.  The rice is only slightly traceable to the mouth, but in the stomach, it gives a good consistency to help the child with being satisfied.  When my son was teething, he got a little vanilla ice cream on his pacifier a couple of times in the evening.   He seemed to love it.  Yes, it is cow's milk, but only a little bit and is a wonderful treat.

Answer 9

4-6 months of age. I started mine on blended foods when she was 4 months.

Answer 10

Alot of my friends started at 5 months. But I wouldn't start sooner unless you think your baby is ready.

Answer 11

It is better to start feeding them food after 6 months.

Many people say 4 months but it is really a little early.  Many babies develop food allergies when they are fed as early as 4 months.   Others do not but the likelihood of your baby having digestive problems is greater when you feed before 6 months.

Breast milk or formula is the only food they really need for the first year.

Answer 12

5 months

Answer 13

At 4 months ot when the baby is able to sit up

Answer 14

Well, lets see here... This is kind of a difficult question given no detail...

My daughter is 7 1/2 months and I've given her butter biscuits, graduate puffs, and squished up veggies and fruits, she has no teeth yet but she does fine with them. Just be certain to watch him/her carefully the first few times so they get the jist of things.

But mainly whenever you notice when you're feeding them baby food and it looks like they're chewing...

My doctor said around 6 months is fine.

Don't panic if something happens though. Accidents happen.

You're just helping them learn.

They have to learn sometime....

Answer 15

For solid food i would say about a 6 months but not so hard of foods.  Wait till their teeth get stronger then you can start feeding them more of a variety of food. Also do not give your baby regular milk till they are about a year to 18 months depending on what their doctors recommend

Answer 16

I started my babies on rice cereal in their bottles @ 2 weeks. Just a teaspoon or two @ their evening feeding should hold them a while. It helps them sleep ALOT longer through the night. Not too much though...it increases ear infections.  

Answer 17

Depends on the baby, anywhere between 4-6 months.  My daughter was 4.5 months when her Dr. gave us the go ahead because she was eating over 40oz of formula a day and was not happy with just that.  I also skipped the rice and went to fruit and veggies because it was to harsh on my daughter.

Answer 18

4-6 months but the doctors will recommend that if you baby spits up a lot you can add a teaspoon of rice cereal for every ounce to the formula and it will help with this problem.