https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 21 Aug 2026 10:04:53 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-736697 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:50:27 +0000 pinkcupcake 736697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would just keep offering. We started solids around 5 months but lo never ate more than a couple bites until maybe she turned 8-9 months? I always BF her first. I think at this point you're just trying to get them used to solids, textures, swallowing, etc. I wouldn't worry about how much they're eating! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-736577 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 10:21:17 +0000 winniebee 736577@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Not necessary for nutrition (as others have said, food before 1 is just for fun). But by 6 months, it is developmentally appropriate. So, I would suggest keep offering, but don't push it! She also might like holding on to her food and gnawing on it (BLW). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-736464 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:55:29 +0000 runsyellowlites 736464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just because it was mentioned, here's some great info regarding breastfeeding toddlers &amp; nutrition... the first delaying solids resources I posted gave info from studies that showed no issue with oral mechanics or motor delays when solids were pushed back &amp; this one shows the nutritional needs of the toddler age nurser. I have talked to lots of moms that have almost ebf babies even at past 12 months &amp; they've grown up to be fine eaters &amp; not developmentally behind. I really think in most causes it's just what's commercially accepted &amp; pushed.</p> <p><a href="http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/toddler-foods/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/toddler-foods/</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-736397 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:42:47 +0000 Bao 736397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nope, there is no rush! Whenever she is ready :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-736382 Tue, 23 Apr 2013 09:39:31 +0000 NovBaby1112 736382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>awesome tips and info, thank you again everyone! feeling much better about it all now and not feeling as rushed :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-735508 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 19:51:30 +0000 sarac 735508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't really believe in 'food before one, just for fun', but at 6 months, the answer is a resounding NOPE. I think that before 12 months you should make a real effort to introduce foods when your baby is ready. If that means that at 10 months they eat a few bites here and there, congrats, that's awesome. TONS of 6 month olds don't want anything to do with solids, and that's totally fine. Just keep offering, and one month she'll get the trick. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-735049 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 16:10:40 +0000 sandy 735049@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started at 6 months and she only ate a tiny amount once a day. She was EBF until we started at 6 months...it took several weeks for her to eat even a tablespoon of food...it's just practice so they start getting used to it. By 8 months she was eating 2x a day but again not a ton of food...still mostly nursing. Probably around 10 months she was eating a lot more food at each meal. Again, it's just practice so that they slowly start eating more solid foods and consuming less milk. I think the worry is there are toddlers who won't eat anything but milk and when they get older (over a year) they start needing nutrition from foods other than milk. By 11 months my LO nurses 2x a day and was eating 3 meals a day with 2 snacks (a banana for one snack and yogurt for her other snack). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734832 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:59:46 +0000 cascademom 734832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried cereals at 4 months old and LO wasn't having it. At 6 months, we started with purees, etc. He likes the purees for the most part. At 8 months, he's into his purees a lot. He's self weaning from breastfeeding right now because he can't seem to be full with what I was previously feeding him a la breastmilk, so we're doing formula and purees with more frequency at 8 months. I'm at a point where I just can't produce enough for him with breastmilk and solids are fun. Next week, I think we're getting a high chair and adding solids to his nighttime routine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734741 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:28:49 +0000 sera_87 734741@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Signs that indicate baby is developmentally ready for solids include:<br /> Baby can sit up well without support.<br /> Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.<br /> Baby is ready and willing to chew.<br /> Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.<br /> Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.</p> <p>I waited until ALL of these milestones were reached - and that translated to starting solids at 6.5 months. You'll know when your LO is ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734734 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:24:57 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 734734@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The saying goes "Under one, food just for fun!" </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734733 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:24:57 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 734733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is not necessary for nutrition, but it is a developmental window. If you start too late it can lead to lead to oral motor delays or food aversion. The window varies from baby to baby, usually 6-8 months. but this is when they are primed to start "getting it." </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734699 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 14:12:18 +0000 googly-eyes 734699@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think it matters...</p> <p>We started at 6 months but the first week or so she didn't swallow most of it. After that she learned to open her mouth and eat from the spoon and from then on she really started to like eating!</p> <p>So although it doesn't necessarily come easily the first time you try with a spoon (they're used to breast/bottle!) there's no pressure at first..you can keep trying little by little. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734626 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:52:03 +0000 CupQuakeWalk 734626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ped says BM is superior to any food so, no if you're nursing then you don't have to. I still would (very slowly/minimally) just because they need to get used to it and practice. I FF so I went in more quickly. I probably wouldn't have jumped in so aggressively if I was BFing because of its amazing qualities. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734531 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:31:09 +0000 NovBaby1112 734531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: ahh ok that makes sense....i dont mind the frequent nursing during the day, esp now that she's sleeping so well at night! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734507 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:24:47 +0000 runsyellowlites 734507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NovBaby1112: I would go by the same things we use in the nb stage, steady growth &amp; output AND if you are okay with the frequent nursing.... I know I was fine nursing 12+ times a day, but some days it was a tad draining. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734493 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:20:37 +0000 NovBaby1112 734493@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: awesome, thanks for those links! how do i know if i am keeping up with her intake needs? she nurses pretty frequently (about 9x a day)...if she starts nursing more than that or seems unsatisfied after nursing will that be an indicator to look out for? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734481 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:16:36 +0000 mrsjyw 734481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thanks for this post! :) we are about to start in the next few wks and this makes me feel a lot better about starting slowly! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734479 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:16:18 +0000 LuLu Mom 734479@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My understands (as previous posters have said) that it is just for fun, and to help them learn the mechanics of feeding with the spoon &amp; their fingers, ect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734477 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:15:51 +0000 NovBaby1112 734477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>phew! okay, thanks everyone :) i will keep offering every once and awhile, see how she responds, and just get her used to it and not worry about amounts consumed or anything like that. i just wanted to make sure that she wasn't going to be deprived of anything come 6 months, but it sounds like anything under a year is just for fun...thank you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734475 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:15:19 +0000 heffalump 734475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My doctor said it's just for one until they turn one. It took my LO a couple of weeks to learn how to swallow the food when we started. It's something new for them, I think they just need practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734463 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:13:24 +0000 runsyellowlites 734463@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@NovBaby1112: Absolutely NOT! As long as you are efficiently keeping up with baby's intake needs &amp; they're still continuing to grow sufficiently there is no reason you can't delay.</p> <p>Here are some great resources concerning solids &amp; the breastfed baby:</p> <p>Common growth patterns (so you know what's normal in the 6-12 month stage)<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/weight-gain/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/bf/normal/weight-gain/</a></p> <p>Why Delay Solids<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/</a></p> <p>Other solid foods info:<br /> <a href="http://kellymom.com/category/nutrition/starting-solids/" rel="nofollow">http://kellymom.com/category/nutrition/starting-solids/</a></p> <p>We actually delayed solids until 9.5 months when P showed all signs of readiness &amp; I wasn't so worried about early self-weaning before the 1 year mark. She's maintained steady growth (despite still being small on the %) and is now easily eating 3 good meals a day on top of nursing ~5 times a day at 1 year old. =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734433 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 13:05:09 +0000 Arden 734433@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, not at all! Food before one is just for fun. Take the pressure off you and your baby and just play with it. Keep offering it, but if she's not interested, don't stress. She's getting everything she needs from your milk. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734334 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:18:50 +0000 mrsmate 734334@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You definitely do not HAVE to give her food. You may also want to wait until she is really able to sit up on her own, to reduce the chance of choking. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734330 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:16:55 +0000 chopsuey 734330@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Solids are just for fun and practice before they turn 1.<br /> My DD wasn't interested in eating solids until after her 1st birthday.. I still offered her purees and finger foods from month 5 onward though.<br /> WIth DS I'm thinking about waiting until he's 6-8 months old. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734329 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:16:32 +0000 Weagle 734329@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Yes!</p> <p>Though 6 months is a good time to start, don't necessarily expect her to gobble up food at that time just because you're starting. It took a good month or two before LO was actually interested in eating. If your LO doesn't like solids for a while, I promise she won't suffer from malnutrition. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734325 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:15:38 +0000 tysonja 734325@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>i believe if she is drinking milk well, then definitely not :)<br /> you can just keep trying little tastes every few days or weeks and I wouldn't worry about it at all! </p> <p>If you are EBF you can ask your doctor about making sure baby gets enough iron, but i don't think it should be too much of an issue :)</p> <p>I know there are moms who have held off on solids until 8, 9 months for different reasons :)! </p> <p>hope it goes well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734323 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:15:12 +0000 Mrs. High Heels 734323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No, at 6-months they're still getting most of their nutrients from milk. I know some parents don't start solids til their babies are 8-months, so I would just focus on teaching baby how to eat - they're just learning how to maneuver their tongue, mouth, and swallow reflexes at this point. I wouldn't worry too much about them getting their nutrients from solids just yet. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734317 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:14:16 +0000 T.H.O.U. 734317@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Food before One is just for Fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/do-babies-need-to-start-solids-by-6-months-for-nutritional-reasons#post-734313 Mon, 22 Apr 2013 12:12:31 +0000 NovBaby1112 734313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD is 5 1/2 months and is a mommy's milk addict lol...we recently bought a highchair to get her used to sitting in it, etc, for when we start solids. This weekend we tried giving her some sweet potato puree and she pretty much didn't want anything to do with it lol. She didn't look like she hated it (didn't make any weird faces or what not) but she wasn't swallowing any of it and just look disinterested, so we stopped. I'm not too sure she will be ready again in 2 weeks...</p> <p>Do babies NEED to start eating more than just BM at 6 months old? Will she be getting enough nutrients from just my BM or do they need more nutrients from food starting around 6 months? She could very well be ready again in 2 weeks when she turns 6 months, so i could be worrying for nothing, but I just wanted to check. I am just worried I won't be enough for her and she will need some food to fill her up and for more nutrients, but what if she isn't interested in eating solids? </p>