https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 28 Apr 2026 18:25:36 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds/page/2#post-667103 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 03:58:36 +0000 sunny 667103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started getting pressure at 3.5 months! I could only hold it off until 5 months. At that point, LO was exhibiting signs of readiness, so I was ok with it -- holding head up, looking at our food and moving her mouth. At our 4 mont appointment, our pedi recommended starting whenever we felt she was ready.</p> <p>I am confused about whether a skinny baby would benefit more from the calories from solids (e.g. avocado) vs. breast milk. In the beginning, she was only eating a few bites, so I didn't think it was replacing any breast milk, but now I really wonder. Our pedi seemed to think that the avocado would help provide extra calories vs. replace calories but I'm not 100% certain since I notice that she doesn't want to nurse as much in the evenings.</p> <p>At 7 months, she LOVES solids and can gobble up 2-3 oz no problem... I hope she doesn't self-wean too early :-( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds/page/2#post-667076 Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:08:42 +0000 red_seattle 667076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician said at the 4 month appointment that we could start solids whenever we wanted to. We waited until 5 months, but I knew better. I wish we had waited until 6 months or later. It's definitely one of my parenting regrets. Glad to see the CDC talking about it. </p> <p>ALSO-- 4 WEEKS!? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds/page/2#post-666898 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 20:46:09 +0000 autumn865 666898@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>"That big fat bottle at the end of the night isn't why your baby is sleeping- it's a skill you acquire." I loved reading this! DD is a less then stellar sleeper and I have heard over and over when she was younger that we needed to start the rice cereal to get her to sleep. We tried literally only a day of rice cereal at a desperate point around 5 months to see if it affected her sleep and quickly changed my mind to wait for real food at 6ish months. It's good to hear from a doctor source what I have already felt about sleep being something developmental and something she has to learn. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds/page/2#post-666494 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 17:05:29 +0000 MrsLilybugg 666494@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I tried posting about this earlier this morning! (0 replies- I'm lame). Definitely good ammo for those feeling pressure!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666475 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:57:32 +0000 shopaholic 666475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>9% gave solids at 4 weeks?!?! That's just nuts! I can already see my parents thinking 3-4 months would be fine, but I want to hold off as long as possible too. I already get comments about how things were different when they raised us, etc... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666445 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:44:05 +0000 LuLu Mom 666445@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was planning on waiting until 6 months, but our doctor wanted us to start at 4 months due to her low weight. She was hoping it would help her gain weight (and it did!) I'm thankful we started at 4 months, but it was definetely for medical reasons not for fun. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666393 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 16:17:41 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 666393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been preaching this for years! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666328 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:58:18 +0000 JerricaBenton 666328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Interesting article - tucking it away for later! What I don't get is why anyone cares when you feed your baby solids. Do mothers/MILs think you'll leave the baby with them longer if they're eating solids or something? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666244 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:31:54 +0000 Mrsbells 666244@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we waited til 6 months but a lot of people were trying to push us to start around 3 months </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666237 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:31:06 +0000 mrs. wagon 666237@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh I forgot to add-- introducing solids did NOT help with the length of her nighttime sleep!!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666157 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 15:00:19 +0000 pastemoo 666157@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: My doc pushed solids at 4 months since he showed all the cues... but said absolutely NO cereal in the bottle! Funny how different everyone's recommendations are. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666142 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:55:27 +0000 pastemoo 666142@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I got lots of pressure, especially from DH to start solids--we did start early but he wasn't much into more than tasting till 9 months and then suddenly he loves solids.<br /> I wish we had started later. I worry that he sleeps poorly because his tummy is upset from solids. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-666109 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:37:20 +0000 rachiecakes 666109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was onboard with the 6 months or later camp until DS started throwing a fit anytime we ate within eyesight. He would chomp, smack his lips, drool, cry, pound his fists against himself in frustration. (He was breastfed)<br /> Our pediatrician said we could try solids at our 4.5 month appointment. I tried shortly after that. There was no pushing out with his tongue. He took it, "chewed" it and motioned towards the spoon for more at the first taste. He was more than ready. (I never put cereal in a bottle, just spoon fed purees)<br /> BUT if he hadn't pitched fits and was fine with just BM, I wouldn't have touched them until much, much later. I've pretty much let DS tell me that he's ready for things and then ask the pediatrician if he thinks it would be okay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665563 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:50:29 +0000 Rainbow Sprinkles 665563@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom pressured me to start LO on rice cereal at four months. I never did, but she brought it up every single day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665451 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:28:05 +0000 mrsjazz 665451@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Sidebar about the article: one of the pediatricians in our office is quoted! Pretty cool. Obviously the office recommends 6 months or older and they don't suggest cereals as first foods. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665408 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:16:19 +0000 Arden 665408@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think a lot of the people who are feeding tiny babies "solids" are actually putting rice cereal in the bottles, which is just as bad. </p> <p>It's an old-school theory to get babies to STTN, but it's certainly not scientifically backed to be feeding anything other than breast milk/formula that young! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665403 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:14:38 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 665403@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was very adamant about waiting until 6 months, and LO was and is juuuuust fine. What's really shocking to me is that some parents are feeding month-old babies solids. WHAT? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665370 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 11:05:42 +0000 teamjse 665370@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our doctor told us to start at our 4 months appt. LO didn't take a liking to it, so I held off but offered it to him once in a while to see if he had any interest. He just ate his first bowl of vegetable congee at 8.5 months. Previously he was gagging and spitting it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665313 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:49:42 +0000 littlek 665313@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited till after 6 months to start solids because I heard starting solids too early can lead to childhood obestity. Plus, why rush? They will be eating solids the rest of their life... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665282 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:41:08 +0000 mrskc 665282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hellobeeboston: lol, yeah. My mom and Gma formula fed so I think they forget about the BFing thing. But still. I just know they have old school thinking going on right now. </p> <p>@runsyellowlites: yeah, maybe I could send them some info. I wonder if that would offend them... </p> <p>I even had a coworker tell me to give him cereal. She said she gave her son cereal when he was just a few weeks old so he would STN. Ugh. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665252 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:33:06 +0000 mediagirl 665252@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrs. wagon: haha. Puffs nonstop. Same here. I have to limit her on those... We wanted to get through a game of backgammon yesterday so I sat her in the high chair and gave her some puffs and melts. They were gone in like 30 seconds. Piggie!!! :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665233 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:29:35 +0000 Silva 665233@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I am interested in doing more research on this. My husband is starting his residency in pediatrics, and he has read a lot of new research that suggests that starting certain foods early (once baby can sit up, as soon as 4 months) helps prevent allergies later on. I think he mentioned specifically wheat/gluten. Small amounts of food, like a bite here and there...nothing for nutrition or calories, which he agrees should come from formula/breast milk. </p> <p>I'm way more in the camp of waiting until 6 months, but that is just because that is what I've heard recommended.</p> <p>Edited to add: I checked with my husband, and he clarified that mostly he just enjoys my reaction of horror when he suggests 4 months. It seems there is a window in 4 to 6 months where exposure to gluten helps reduce the risk of an allergy developing later in life, but that the baby needs to show all signs of readiness (head control, hand grasp to midline, and tongue/chew/swallow reflex). He said his personal stance is 5 months at the earliest. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665223 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:28:12 +0000 mauri 665223@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oooh, I wish I could send this to my MIL. She keeps telling me she started her 3 sons on cereal at 3 months, and doesn't understand why I plan on exclusively breastfeeding until 6 months (or formula feeding if necessary). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665199 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:22:08 +0000 runsyellowlites 665199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: Kellymom has some great posts on solids, delaying, and nutrition in breastfed infants! Maybe some evidence backed info will get them off your back?.. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665197 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:22:05 +0000 lovehoneybee 665197@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We never got any pressure from anyone (although I know my MIL was very eager for us to start) but we were given the okay to start him on rice cereal at 4 months. We opted to wait until he was over 6 months and was reaching for the food on our plates, skip the rice cereal altogether and start with vegetables. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665190 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:21:22 +0000 pui 665190@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have a LO yet, but I like the advice of waiting until your LO shows signs of actually being able to chew before introducing solid food. Great information! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665187 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:20:36 +0000 hellobeeboston 665187@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: yikes ... my MIL said that to me once also - but she keeps forgetting I BF as well, i think she thinks it's weird since her babies were formula fed. I just ignore ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665179 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:19:31 +0000 mrs. wagon 665179@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We kind of waited until past 6 months just because I didn't have time to start shopping for all the stuff and get my crap together!! She still wasn't even ready at that point-- she pushed the food out with her tongue and let it drip down her face. She did this consistently for over a week. Then one day it just clicked and she started doing a chewing/sucking motion and now she has 3 meals a day. Lately she gets frustrated with the purees and wants to just eat puffs nonstop, so we're gonna start some chunks of food to let her feed herself. Baby Led Weaning, I believe it's called ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665176 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:19:27 +0000 hellobeeboston 665176@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>interesting! we just did our first puree yesterday at just over 5 months - i wonder if we should wait longer? we are doing it more for learning at this point, and LO seems really interested in our food! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/infants-are-fed-solid-food-too-soon-cdc-finds#post-665174 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 10:19:22 +0000 mrskc 665174@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just heard from my grandma, yet again yesterday, that I should be putting cereal in his bottle at night so he sleeps all night. I snapped at her a little b/c I'm so sick of her and my mom telling me he needs cereal. 1. I'm breastfeeding, so how am I supposed to put cereal in my boob? And 2. I don't want to feed him solids before 6 months. My pediatrician even told me it was ok between 4-6 months but didn't really go over the signs of readiness with me. </p>