https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 22:50:46 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months/page/2#post-2836199 Thu, 26 Jul 2018 11:25:41 +0000 MaryM 2836199@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started a week or two after 4 months. The pediatrician said she based it on a baby's head control, and our baby's been holding his head up since he was born (pretty much) so she said we could start whenever, and just follow his cues. </p> <p>We started with oatmeal, then have added a new puree on a weekly basis. He has oatmeal at school, then a little bit at home for "dinner" with about an ounce of fruit or veggies. He still takes 3-4 7 ounce bottles at daycare, but started cutting back on nighttime eating once he was eating regularly (there's probably 4-5 ounces of formula in all of his cereal combined, so he's basically "eating" the equivalent of a bottle in formula)</p> <p>Some research is saying the rise in allergies could be due to people avoiding them for too long in recent years, so we're trying to introduce the biggies by 6 months. So far he's had wheat and egg. We're working on peanuts and milk next. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months/page/2#post-2836183 Thu, 26 Jul 2018 09:49:31 +0000 snowjewelz 2836183@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>More or less at the 6 month mark; maybe like 1-2 weeks max before! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months/page/2#post-2836112 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:42:02 +0000 Tanjowen 2836112@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: My pediatrician is a fan of offering around 5 months and see how it goes. My first had zero interest until closer to 7 months and wanted nothing to do with purees. Our newest little one was ready at 5 months and is all about the purees. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836110 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:33:26 +0000 Mrsbells 2836110@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: that shouldn't be an issue at all. I think the main thing is you shouldnt be reducing her formula or breastmilk amount to fit in a solid food at that age. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836109 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:31:11 +0000 Mrsbells 2836109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: oh I see. I'm not aware of that, i guess it hasnt come into my circles yet. I do know about exposing them to nuta and eggs before age 1 but hadnt heard of it before 6 months. But like you said things are always changing... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836107 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:24:42 +0000 peaches1038 2836107@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 6 months and did BLW. I wanted him to be confident in sitting independently before starting </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836103 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:09:41 +0000 starchild 2836103@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We tried a puree at 6.5 mos and she had diarrhea for a week so we've backed off. That was a month ago, and she had such a bad time with it that we're waiting to try again until after her next pediatric gastroenterologist appointment. I worry about allergies and development and she is interested in eating, but she's just so sensitive and she's never gotten to baseline to start. We go on Friday so I'm really hopeful for some better guidance! (She has severe reflux and milk/soy protein intolerance at best but I'm starting to wonder if she needs more testing because she hasn't ever cleared up.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836102 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 20:04:26 +0000 lilyofthewest 2836102@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We stopped trying to prevent him from grabbing our food and beverages around 5 months but didn’t start actively offering solids until 6 months. He didn’t do much more than play/taste until close to 9 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836100 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 19:59:22 +0000 alphagam84 2836100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started right at 6 months but she didn't really seem interested until 7 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836079 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:59:08 +0000 Silva 2836079@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsbells: interestingly, I think the recommendations are changing again! The evidence for allergy prevention when exposure occurs prior to 6 months is pretty strong, so I think now there is some push to get kids exposed to things like nuts earlier (with primary nutrition still coming from breast milk/formula).... it’s always changing, no wonder we can’t keep up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836078 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:57:22 +0000 Silva 2836078@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: totally fine! Have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836073 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 17:16:14 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2836073@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks everyone! I let her suck on a banana in a mesh feeder thingy today. She just turned 5 months yesterday. Do you think that’s OK? She seemed to really enjoy it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836065 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 16:52:17 +0000 Mrsbells 2836065@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@CatchAFallingStar: for both kiddos we waited til 6 months. I think all newer recommendations advise waiting because there is no nutritional benefit to giving solids earlier than 6 months. Their main source of food for those 1st 6 months should be breastmilk/formula. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836054 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:11:00 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2836054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Before 6 months because my LO was tapped out drinking the maximum amount of formula he could and his doctor was concerned about weight gain. He was already drinking 30-32 oz of formula a day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836052 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 15:01:34 +0000 LemonJack 2836052@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited until six months with both of our kids. We did BLW though, and both girls weren’t interested in eating much of anything until close to 8 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836046 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 14:31:51 +0000 JJ2626 2836046@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following because we are at just over 5 months and it feels kind of daunting so I sort of want to put it off just for that reason! Our ped suggested 5-6 mos at our last appt. She only shows mild interest in food and can’t sit up alone, though her head and neck control is great and she is a master roller. My guess is we’ll do it right at 6 mos. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836040 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 14:00:19 +0000 birdofafeather 2836040@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited til 6 months exactly with my first. And a few weeks past 6 months with my second because we were going camping and I didn’t want to deal with the huge messes of new eaters then. We’re going on another long trip when my 3rd turns 6 months so trying to figure out if we should start before or wait til after. We’ll see how she’s doing a few weeks before and if she’s sitting, I’ll probably just do bites of egg or avocado or something simple that I’m not preparing separately and bringing along. No time for that on vacay!! 😝 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836015 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:47:04 +0000 peachykeen 2836015@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did a few days shy of 6 month with LO1 mainly because DH was super interested in letting her try food. With LO2 we waited until a week or two after 6 months just out of laziness/lack of necessity. Eating is messy and EBF is so much more convenient! We did BLW with both and both were sitting up by 6 months so that was only a partially deciding factor. We did allergens very early, especially peanut butter (try Bamba puffs - LO2 loves them!). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836008 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:16:00 +0000 Silva 2836008@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: we still haven't gotten a baby under the age of 6 months to sleep in a crib!!!<br /> and the downside is that he has seen things go really, really bad- so sometimes (particularly when our first was really little) he gets freaked out about stuff that I don't think other parents would (the first time our daughter had a fever he was absolutely CONVINCED beyond any doubt that she had leukemia). Labor/delivery can be hard for him- I think he might have some trauma from attending deliveries in med school/residency.<br /> But he does come in pretty handy. Especially when he brings home that otoscope. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836005 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:13:02 +0000 SweetiePie 2836005@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: not an asshole at all! It seriously has given me so much comfort. And it’s great to see that even a pediatrician/Pediatricians wife faces the same kid issues we all have! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836001 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:09:36 +0000 Silva 2836001@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: ha! Its definitely a privilege I have to remind myself of sometimes, easy to forget that I have the benefit of not having to make all these little decisions with only the internet and books to guide me.... its pretty nice to be able to ask him all my mom questions without having to go in for an appointment with our doc!</p> <p>eta: i always feel like kind of an asshole when I drop the "he's a pediatrician" thing, but i figure it gives some context. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2836000 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:07:42 +0000 SweetiePie 2836000@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Silva: I have to say I always love when you respond because I know you’re coming with a pediatrician parent perspective. :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835999 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 12:02:04 +0000 Silva 2835999@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>we basically do baby led weaning, so they get chunks of whatever we are eating. but we wait until they can sit up. it was a few weeks shy of 6 months for both my kids.<br /> my husband does like to give them licks of peanut butter starting earlier than that as an allergy prevention strategy. he is a pediatrician, and would probably prefer that we start sooner- I'm more comfortable waiting for the "sitting up" milestone. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835998 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 11:59:46 +0000 periwinklebee 2835998@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started a bit shy of six months, because he seemed ready. He went from below the 30th percentile at the 4 month check to around the 70th at the 6 month check, so clearly he was getting enough calories without solids. </p> <p>It's ridiculous how much conflicting advice there is, about when to start and what to feed. I think the AAP says 6 months in their breastfeeding section, and 4-6 months in their general feeding section. At LO's 6 month appointment, the advice the nurse gave explicitly contradicted the handout - i.e. when to give potential allergens like eggs. The nurse also said no finger foods until 9 months, last time we saw the pediatrician she said we'd talk finger foods at 6 months, and the handout said purees until 11 months. I've tried giving LO chunks of very soft fruit and he has zero interest (whereas when he sees a spoon with puree he grabs it and shoves it in his mouth) so we will just keep following his lead. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835997 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 11:52:20 +0000 dolphin 2835997@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I waited until close to 6 months. Maybe 5.5 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835987 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 11:02:01 +0000 KT326 2835987@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started at 5.5 months with my first and closer to 5 months with my second. They were both ready by then, sitting on their own, wanting food from our plates. </p> <p>It took awhile to get my older one interested in solids. He hated anything with texture and would not pick up any food until around 11 months. My second was not on purees long, he was shoveling food into his mouth by 7 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835960 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 10:00:41 +0000 Woolly Mammoth 2835960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Has the recommendation changed back to six months?</p> <p>With my first, we waited until six months because that was the recommendation at the time and he had no interest.</p> <p>With my second, we started at four months because 4-6 months was the new recommendation and she had been demanding food from our plates for weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835955 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:39:54 +0000 LBee 2835955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think we started at 5 months with both, but can't remember. We started when they met all the developmental signs. Both kids were early independent sitters. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835953 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:33:38 +0000 DesertDreams88 2835953@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my son, we did 5 months for many reasons, some legit, some not:<br /> 1) I was eager for the milestone.<br /> 2) I wanted to start before going back to work at 6 months.<br /> 3) He had a huge appetite - nursing often, and when away, 6 oz breastmilk bottles.<br /> 4) He had all the developmental signs of being ready.</p> <p>With this LO, 5.5m, we haven't started bc she is not developmentally ready. She hasn't even rolled, she barely sits up or pushes up during tummy time, etc. Her appetite is small and so is she (maybe 13 lbs now?). I am eager to start but I don't know if she is ready. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/starting-solidsdid-you-wait-until-6-months#post-2835951 Wed, 25 Jul 2018 09:18:35 +0000 mdf106 2835951@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I started about 5 months with DS1 and 4 months with DS2. My pediatrician recommended it at 4 moths to reduce the likelihood of food allergies, but I was nervous the first time. I did some research, and did not find any studies saying starting at 4 or 5 months had any downsides, and it had a small decrease in food allergies, so I went with it. There were not a lot of studies, though. I would have waited until 6 months if my pediatrician recommended that. I started with a few basic foods (banana, sweet potato, avocado) and then moved on to foods that are likely to cause allergies. </p>