https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 08 May 2026 01:41:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2498567 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 17:41:12 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2498567@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: we do both purées and BLW type eating. Like, we'll give her pieces of our meals or cut up hotdog or blueberries, etc to feed herself. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2497619 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 08:55:41 +0000 wrkbrk 2497619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Good point. I hadnt even thought about day care yet (he goes in August bc DW has parental leave now)......we are going to try to make some purees to start either way I think! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2497616 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 08:54:26 +0000 gingerbebe 2497616@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Lots of people do both. Like it's common to send purée to daycare and so BLW at home, for example. My son had very little interest in self feeding and it didn't click for him until almost 12 months, so we mostly spoon fed while offering him finger foods at every meal he could try or play with (or mostly throw). But again, for us, calories in was important so I cared a lot about how much and how well he ate. but lots of BLW parents don't care at all about how much they actually eat because of the whole food before one is just for fun thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2497590 Thu, 17 Mar 2016 08:44:45 +0000 wrkbrk 2497590@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@gingerbebe: Ah yes - I have to start reading about BLW now, too. Is it possible to do a combo of purees and BLW? Or if you do BLW you commit to no purees ever? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2497265 Wed, 16 Mar 2016 20:52:56 +0000 gingerbebe 2497265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: there's totally no rush. Like I said, our son was sitting up and curious and we had separate issues with reflux. It IS extra work and mess, but I'm really glad we started early because my son was starting to wean from reflux meds by 5 months and was off them completely by 5.5 months and I'm positive adding solids aided us in that regard. </p> <p>Even when you do start solids, there's so much stuff out there like purees vs. BLW, allergenic foods, etc. So it's not worth going into it until both you and baby are ready and willing! If your baby is happy on formula and you're happy, you should totally wait. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2497229 Wed, 16 Mar 2016 20:10:15 +0000 wrkbrk 2497229@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.KMM: That is precious!</p> <p>@Mrs Spoon: Agreed. I can't take one more thing on my to-do list now anyway! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2496166 Wed, 16 Mar 2016 07:06:25 +0000 LulaBee 2496166@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DD1 started solids at 6 months. DD2 is almost 4 months and will wait until at least 6- but she is my last baby and starting solids seems so big :crying: - maybe I'll wait to 7. She doesn't show any signs of being interested, she naps through dinner! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2496139 Wed, 16 Mar 2016 06:50:37 +0000 looch 2496139@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Well, we began at 5 months, kind of splitting the difference. The reason we did this is because we used a formula that was designed by age and at 5 months, my son was drinking the recommeneded amount and we were advised by our ped not to increase the formula amount in ounces or move to the formula for 6 months and older, so our only option was to add food. Granted, it wasn't really food, more like very runny purees.</p> <p>Interestingly, I think the medical community all over the world differs in opinions. Guess what the first recommended food was for our son while we were living in Europe.....it was meat! I never would have guessed that in a million years. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2496036 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 22:42:17 +0000 2littlepumpkins 2496036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: That's what I thought too, although I'm ok with starting with them being assisted sitting up (lo1 didn't REALLY sit up til she started crawling at 8 months.) Thanks for posting though because all of these answers were making me think twice!!</p> <p>@Mrs Spoon: Exactly!! With lo1 I admit it was more exciting, but I'm just remembering the freezing baby food and the buying pouches with those attached spoon things, and the mess..it can wait if lo can!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495981 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:55:10 +0000 Mrs Spoon 2495981@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited till 6 months and I agree with a lot of other posters that a lot of babies are not ready until 6 months.</p> <p>I also don't get why the rush to start solids! It is messy, more work and costs more money. Granted my LO was EBF so we weren't paying for formula, but even FF babies don't get a lot that early from solids. I just think either BF or FF is easier so I would stretch that out as long as I could! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495970 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:48:03 +0000 Mrs.KMM 2495970@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started with solids right at 4 months. DD was showing all the readiness signs and took right to purées from the very first feeding. </p> <p>We started with veggies, introducing 1 at a time for a few days before trying something new. We did only vegetables for a while before starting fruit simply because I didn't want her to taste the sweet stuff and decide veggies were no good. </p> [attach=1437/16/o43zo3.600x397.image.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495949 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:30:31 +0000 sapphire 2495949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@lawbee11: AAP doesn't agree with itself. The nutrition committee has one opinion (4-6 months) and the breastfeeding opinion has another (by 6 months) What is clear is that is important (and the recommendations reflect this) is that complementary foods are part of the daily diet *by* 6 months. </p> <p>My personal opinion is that it varies by baby in terms of readiness, but that making sure to get them on a good regimen by 6 months is important, particularly as iron stores start waning at that time. I do think right at 4 months is early for most babies (no way mine could sit up well enough at that point). We started some cereals around 5 months, purees around 5.5, and had a good daily routine by 6 months. This did not at all impact her milk consumption at that point. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495921 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:06:13 +0000 lawbee11 2495921@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our ped said to wait until 6 months so that's what we did. I think the AAP guideline is 6 months? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495917 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 20:02:44 +0000 catomd00 2495917@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I don't think the vast majority are ready at 4 months, nor do I think their guts are mature enough. We wait until baby is ready (sitting up, can put the food in her own mouth, tongue thrust reflex gone, etc). But, even if this all happened before 6 months, I'd still hold off. I just don't think solids are really necessary before then unless extenuating circumstances exist. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495893 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 19:34:13 +0000 Eko 2495893@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My pediatrician definitely said to wait until they can sit up, are interested in food, and the tongue reflux is close to gone. We start practicing around 5 months. It was good too because it gave us time to start out slow and start eliminating allergies. I wanted to not super wait because of DS reflux. I think at the 4 month appointment food is still a good conversation to have in case LO seems ready to try a couple things before the 6 month one. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495856 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 18:51:29 +0000 wrkbrk 2495856@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for the input! I'm guessing he's not ready yet bc he can't sit up, has never reached for our food, etc.! He pretty much just babbles happily when he's at the table with us. ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495799 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:43:39 +0000 MrsRcCar 2495799@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited until 6 months for foods. My boys didn't really dig food until 8 months or later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495786 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:31:31 +0000 Torchwood 2495786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't generally agree with starting early, and LO clearly wasn't ready so it wasn't much of an issue. We started around 7mo (she was a preemie), and now at almost 9mo she's on a combo of purées and BLW style solids and LOVES it. I don't think she would have done well earlier. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495785 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:30:36 +0000 FannyMae 2495785@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Last time I saw our paediatrician he wanted me to introduce baby to solids at 4 months - she is a large baby with a big breastmilk appetite. He wanted me to start with rice cereal, then all fruits and veggies, meats and lastly yoghurt and cheese by 6 months. Baby has a dairy intolerance, and he wants to have that introduced earlier rather than later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495781 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 17:25:41 +0000 gingerbebe 2495781@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We started right at 4 months because he seemed to enjoy sitting at the table with us and seemed interested in what we were doing with the food and utensils and what not. But really, we started early because DS had weight gain issues and pretty bad reflux, and I felt like some rice cereal or oatmeal would help. </p> <p>I'd say at 4 months, the biggest surprise was how little he took each time. He was really "tasting" food off a spoon - like he probably wasn't getting more than a tablespoon of food at a time. We started with 1 meal a week (so breakfast only for the first week), then added another meal the next week. We only introduced one food at a time for a few days each. So first it was rice cereal,which gave him awful constipation, so we switched to oatmeal, then sweet potatoes at lunch for a few days, then carrots, butternut squash, green beans, peas, etc. By 5 months he was on a variety of fruits and vegetables and oatmeal, but again, only like 1-2 tablespoons at each feeding. A LOT of food had to be thrown out because they're supposed to be used up in 2 days. </p> <p>By 6 months, we were doing 3 meals of purees, maybe 1-2 ounces each meal, and offering him a mum mum or some puffs to practice with. This is also when we started offering some more homemade foods, like soft cooked rice porridge in broth, egg drop soup, etc. I also added some PB2 powder to some prune puree then to check for allergies. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495749 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:40:40 +0000 Ms.Badger 2495749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Dahlia: I love that article thanks!<br /> We started just before 5 months, he was really into our food and had been sitting unsupported for a few weeks. I think, like a lot of stuff with babies, that it's best to do it when your child is ready. I kind of find it funny that so many people are fine with babies developing at their own pace for crawling and talking and everything but think that each baby should follow a certain timeline for eating and sleeping. Each baby is different and following their lead along with your gut and your peds advice is usually the best way, IMO </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495747 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:34:19 +0000 pachamama 2495747@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Following! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495744 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:29:49 +0000 KT326 2495744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>At our four month appointment our pediatrician talked to us about solids only because she knows some babies are ready before their 6 month appointment and she wanted to make sure we had our questions answered. She went through all the signs of when he would most likely be ready. We started oatmeal a couple weeks before he was 6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495733 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:21:29 +0000 Ms. RV 2495733@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For my LO, she let us know when she was ready for solids (shortly after 5 months). She started grabbing for our food and when you held an empty spoon up she opened her mouth. Hopefully your LO let's you know when he's ready! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495714 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 16:09:29 +0000 Dahlia 2495714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This article does a really good job laying out the arguments on both sides: <a href="http://scienceofmom.com/2015/05/14/starting-solids-4-months-6-months-or-somewhere-in-between/" rel="nofollow">http://scienceofmom.com/2015/05/14/starting-solids-4-months-6-months-or-somewhere-in-between/</a> </p> <p>Our ped recommended starting early because of the new research on allergies, but DD was totally not ready (or interested) until closer to 6 months. We started with veggies, then fruits, then oatmeal. So far so good, now we're working on getting her to eat finger foods/things that don't have a smooth texture. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495672 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:41:48 +0000 QBbride 2495672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Personally, I think there are a lot of cons to starting solids at 4m. Their gut is still super immature and permeable and there is a lot of evidence that starting solids early increases the risk of many chronic diseases, including diabetes. </p> <p>If he doesn't have all the signs of readiness (sitting up unsupported, interested in food, loss of tongue thrust reflex etc), I would definitely wait. </p> <p>I find mesh feeders sooo difficult to clean properly, but Boon has a silicone feeder that is apparently really good and easy to clean!! Same idea but silicone instead of netting. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495653 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:28:15 +0000 wrkbrk 2495653@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thank you so much for the responses and information. That link is helpful! I completely forgot they are supposed to be able to sit up - he cannot sit up!! Looks like we will most likely wait a bit but now I know more of what to ask the ped next week. And I am off to google mesh strainers! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495626 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:17:19 +0000 psw27 2495626@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We waited til closer to 6 months because LO was born early + didn't seem that interested at first. We also did BLW so he needed better motor skills before he could really "eat". Our pediatrician said closer to 6 months - I think she was going off the old allergy risk advice (that it increases if you intro food too early) they used to give - which might be debunked now? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495615 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:11:37 +0000 BSB 2495615@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My babies were preemies so I knew they weren't going to be ready at 4 months and it was iffy if they would be ready at 6 months. At 4 months, they weren't gaining as much as the ped wanted so we were told to stay on high calorie formula and not start solids. At the most recent 6 month appt, they said we could start if the babies had an interest in food. I know my son did but my daughter maybe. Last night (babies turned 6 months last week but were 6 weeks premature), we tried solids (rice cereal per ped recommedation) and my son took about 10 spoonfuls (very slowly). DD had her tongue still out so I don't think she's ready... most of the rice cereal would come back out of her mouth and I don't think she ate much. I think I might wait another week or two to give her cereal again. </p> <p>My ped did recommend starting with rice cereal because they are not sitting up yet and suggested starting with something single grain and waiting on oatmeal and whole grains. She also said the arsenic in rice cereal is no longer an issue. Though arsenic is naturally occuring and is in a lot of other foods like chicken and seafood. So skipping rice cereal isn't is going to protect from all the other food that has arsenic. Also low amounts of arsenic is ok. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/who-wants-to-tell-me-about-solids-at-4m-v-6m#post-2495608 Tue, 15 Mar 2016 15:07:48 +0000 Alba4 2495608@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Our pediatrician suggested we wait until 6 months, but our son was begging for food at 5.5 months, so we started solids then! We didn't start with cereal, but green veggies, then orange veggies, then fruit. </p>