https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 02:28:43 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-780048 Tue, 14 May 2013 09:15:10 +0000 PurpleUnicorn 780048@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: he turned 6 months yesterday. still no where near sitting other than tripod, but he did learn that pretty quick, so i am confident that when he is ready, he will sit up on his own and it will be a quick transition. I put him the bumbo chair yesterday and he seemed to like it more than usual. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779601 Tue, 14 May 2013 01:10:35 +0000 Arden 779601@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another vote for Kellymom's "Why Delay Solids" article. </p> <p>We'll be waiting until she can sit unassisted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779580 Tue, 14 May 2013 00:05:04 +0000 mrskc 779580@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurpleUnicorn: The other thing the books said was waiting until 6 months for their digestion system to mature. How old is your LO? My son was still kinda sitting tripod when we started. But he could lift his arms up for a bit and still hold himself up. It was amazing to watch him within a week go from tripod to sitting up almost on his own. For my son, it seemed obvious. He would grab everything and bring it to his mouth and gnaw on it. I think just use your best judgement. There really is no rush to start solids. Good luck! It's so fun to watch them discover food for the first time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779416 Mon, 13 May 2013 21:25:49 +0000 PurpleUnicorn 779416@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrskc: hmmm, i will have to pay attention for that. L is definitely reaching out, but now sure about the chewing motion as opposed to just getting his mouth on anything he can. But he definitely can't sit unassisted yet, not even a little bit - only tripod position. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779412 Mon, 13 May 2013 21:24:13 +0000 mrskc 779412@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My baby-led weaning book says with little to no support. Other signs they list are reaching out to grab things and take them to their mouth accurately and gnawing on toys and making chewing movements. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779406 Mon, 13 May 2013 21:17:48 +0000 googly-eyes 779406@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurpleUnicorn: Mine was sitting supported and for some periods unsupported but sort of wobbly, but she was six months and we didn't do blw. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779401 Mon, 13 May 2013 21:15:53 +0000 PurpleUnicorn 779401@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@mrsmate: thank you! i think this is why i was so confused. I read up on BLW a while ago and thought it sounded really interesting and i wanted to try it. But since then i must have forgot that is where i first read why it is so important to have the baby sitting unassisted and you just reminded me! And i ordered my BLW book from amazon and it arrived today, so since i am no longer stressing about starting on the 6 month mark exactly, i have time to read the book! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779158 Mon, 13 May 2013 19:49:38 +0000 immabeetoo 779158@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurpleUnicorn: I'm not sure. He is sitting unassisted but not for a super long time... and shows all other signs of readiness. I told DH we'd evaluate next weekend and come to a decision together. Sorry, that is not helpful :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-779137 Mon, 13 May 2013 19:43:38 +0000 mrsmate 779137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did blw so we waited until DD could sit unassisted - it's one of the major tenets of blw. You are supposed to wait bc otherwise it's a choking hazard. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-778763 Mon, 13 May 2013 16:26:16 +0000 PurpleUnicorn 778763@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: i actually read that article yesterday! I was planning to start solids this week simply because L is six months old as of today and i thought i was pushing to the end of when i should start, but now i am questioning it. Also, i've always sort of questioned since i learned that the health recommendations are to exclusively breastfeed for "at least" six months. The term "at least" means a minimum of and probably more, so i wondered why if that was how the recommendation is worded, do people start solids "no later than" six months - or so it seems that way. From reading the kellymom article, i realized that the previous recommendation was to start by 4 - 6 months.</p> <p>@scg00387: have you decided if you are going to follow that recommendation? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-777925 Mon, 13 May 2013 12:30:50 +0000 immabeetoo 777925@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been pondering the same thing - asked the lactation consultant I saw and she says LLL recommends unassisted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-777667 Mon, 13 May 2013 11:12:53 +0000 pinkb 777667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our Dr said its ok for purees when they have full head control and can sit assisted. She explained it was so that the esophagus and everything lines up so they wont choke and can swallow correctly. I think it is all what you are comfortable with, you know your LO the best. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-777624 Mon, 13 May 2013 10:59:45 +0000 runsyellowlites 777624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@PurpleUnicorn: We tried occasionally after P was 7 months but only because we got a LOT of flack from our pedi &amp; it really stressed me out (won't be doing that next time around). So other than that we waited until 9.5 month.</p> <p>Kellymom has a post "Why Delay Solids" that has some great info on it! Really I just love her stuff on bfing &amp; solids and toddler nutrition in general.. I wish pedi's where more versed on this information! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-777324 Mon, 13 May 2013 09:04:39 +0000 PurpleUnicorn 777324@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: I think they are definitely related, but i was wondering to what extent. I have heard and read in many places that sitting up helps their food along and therefore assist digestion.</p> <p>@travelgirl1: i hope you have fun today!! Can't wait to hear about A's first solids experience :) </p> <p>@runsyellowlites: how long did you end up waiting before introducing solid foods (including purees?). I am sort of in this camp too now because I don't see any signs of readiness, so I would feel weird just starting because he hit the 6 month mark. Babies develop at different paces for everything else, so why not starting solids, you know?</p> <p>@Mrs Green Grass: I did research too before writing this post and saw a lot that says assisted. But i wonder if it outdated advice - similar to advice that says we have to start with rice cereal and can't introduce certain foods (like meats) until later.</p> <p>@regberadaisy: and this is why i am confused! the responses in this thread vary!!</p> <p>@Ree723: for sure we are going to go with our instince and what we feel is best for L and what he is ready for. I actually talked about it some more with DH last night after starting this post and seeing the responses and we decided to wait a bit longer. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776665 Sun, 12 May 2013 19:07:43 +0000 Ree723 776665@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it depends on the type of assistance your LO needs to sit upright. LO only needed a bit of assistance at her base (around her hips) to maintain a completely upright sitting position from about 5 months onwards; we started her on solids at 5.5 months. If she had needed assistance to hold her upper body upright, we probably would have waited. LO didn't sit completely unassisted until 7.5 months and she was ready for food long, long before then. Like someone else said though, she only had purees in the initial months and we've only just started finger foods in the past few weeks (LO is nearly 11 months now).</p> <p>I think it's very much a judgment call. Our LO never leaned forward whilst sitting up (never did the tripod sit) so I was comfortable with putting her in a high chair, knowing she'd be able to hold her upper body upright, but I think you know your baby best. I'd go with your instinct, rather than following a rule (start solids by 6 moths, or don't give solids until sitting completely unassisted, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776618 Sun, 12 May 2013 18:21:54 +0000 hummusgirl 776618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My 7.5-month-old can't sit unassisted but we've been doing purees for a month now. The doctor didn't say anything about needing to sit unassisted and it hasn't been an issue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776597 Sun, 12 May 2013 18:06:09 +0000 regberadaisy 776597@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UNassisted. How can she swallow her solids properly if she can not keep her back straight? That sounds like a choking hazard to me....<br /> I personally feel this one is more important than 4 vs 6 months rule! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776578 Sun, 12 May 2013 17:55:00 +0000 Andrea 776578@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Assisted. DD could not sit unassisted until she was pretty old. 8 months maybe? But she could crawl and cruise by 6 months so we started. She was fine sitting assisted by 4 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776543 Sun, 12 May 2013 17:34:54 +0000 Mrs Green Grass 776543@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just did some quick research and most of it says assisted. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776512 Sun, 12 May 2013 17:03:08 +0000 runsyellowlites 776512@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited until P was sitting fully unassisted. We're in the camp of delaying solids until all signs of readiness are there &amp; don't worry if its after 6 months though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776509 Sun, 12 May 2013 16:56:12 +0000 sarac 776509@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think that's a terrible reason to wait, personally. My late on physical milestones daughter was ready for food long before she could sit unsupported. The two things have nothing to do with each other. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776508 Sun, 12 May 2013 16:55:18 +0000 travelgirl1 776508@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think as long as they can sit with support they're okay, but I admit, we waited until she could fit fairly well without support for my peace of mind although, as you have seen, she does still topple over sometimes :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776507 Sun, 12 May 2013 16:55:09 +0000 MamaMoose 776507@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would probably be ok with purées before baby can sit unassisted but nothing else. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/start-solids-before-or-after-sitting-unsupported#post-776492 Sun, 12 May 2013 16:28:43 +0000 PurpleUnicorn 776492@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I feel like i hear conflicting advice and recommendations on this. Are we supposed to start solids when babies can sit WITH support or WITHOUT support? L is 6 months old (in a few days) and can only sit when propped up on his arms for support (and is therefore leaning forward - tripod position).</p> <p> Should I keep waiting to start solids just for this reason? </p>