Grabbing apple at 4.5 months

[mrsjuan]

My DD has just pulled my husband's half eaten apple towards her and started sucking it with gusto. Take it we will just have to keep food away from her for another month or is it ok for her to have a little taste?

[pinkthechaffinch]

Oh, let her have a gum!

I did with my dd at around the same age; and i didn't count it as weaning as such. A nice ripe nectarine was her grab of choice IIRC

Just remembered, she had a taste of creme brulee at a restaurant at 12 weeks

[mrsjuan]

Oh good. It must have tasted nicer than the ball, mirror, door bouncer frame and various other toys that she attempted to eat that day!

[ilovemyoboe]

My baby boy just did the same thing today and he is nearly five months. He's very big for his age. Is this a sign that he is ready to wean now? Do you think they know at this age that the apple or whatever is food, or just another object that goes in their mouths?

[mrsjuan]

I'm pretty sure that they just think it's another object that goes into their mouths. It's just how they explore things at that age. I don't think that size has much to do with it - my daughter is a tiny little thing!

[Bucharest]

Hold a plastic train in front of her and I expect she'll do the same.....not many vitamins there though....

[seeker]

Sit her on your lap in the car and watch her grab the steering wheel, then think 'Now, is she telling me she's ready to learn to drive?"

[mrsjuan]

No need to sigh seeker - I know the principles. In fact I was going to list the 'real' signs of readiness (sitting up unaided, having lost the tongue thrust etc) for the PP but I didn't have time because I had to feed my daughter.

I was just wondering whether it was 'safe' to explore food like that at this age i.e licking it, smelling it etc. . I'm not going to shove it in her mouth. If not, that's fine - I'll divert her attention or take the offending item away as I do when she grabs something else that isn't safe such as a baby wipes etc.

[seeker]

Sorry.

[mrsjuan]

and I'd just geared myself up for an argument!

[sherby]

hold out a bottle of whiskey, she'll probably take that too

[BertieBotts]

I'd agree with the PP who say let her explore it, as long as she is sitting up ie not likely to choke.

Raw apple btw is not a very good first food to explore because it tends to break in chunks which can be choked on. I still slice apple very thinly for my 1yo.