Sorry the thread is a bit wordy but I feel as though the details are necessary.My youngest child is a boy who has just turned 5 months. I had a huge gap of 15 years between my children and people seemed to treat me like a first -time mum and offer lots of annoying advice. Also I had been caring for my young nieces and nephews from birth throughout that time so wasn't exactly out of practice. Anyway, he's a bit unusual. firstly he was born at 43.5 weeks gestation which is about the longest 'cooking time' any child I've known ever had. He really liked it in there! He arrived by C-section after it was established that he was in the strangest, breech presentation. I was delighted that he was a C-section once I saw him too. In the98th percentile for weight and his length was off the charts. He looked about 3 months old. I breastfed 3 times before deciding formula was the way forward. Doctors commented on his muscle tone and the fact he could lift his own head etc while at the Hospital still. He has continued to grow and develop quickly. At 3.5 months he was sat on my knee at a wedding and I was busy chatting when I noticed the couple opposite us giggling, he'd been helping himself to fistfuls of gateaux and whipped cream. After establishing that this had done him no harm(the absence of allergy symptoms or gut issues next day) I decided he was ready for food and started offering regular solids. His sleep improved and it was lovely to explore foods and flavours with him. I got serious bashing from other mums about the 'not before 6 months' advice thing but I reasoned that he was the size of a 6 month old and the cake incident told me he was ready. At 5 months he sits up quite well unsupported with only occasional face plants on the floor and is crawling (not particularly well, resembles a wounded caterpillar) but does a great job of feeding himself, can use a sippy cup, bottle and can spoon mash into his own mouth. I'm not bragging that he's some sort of genius because this stuff wont be any indicator of how bright or successful he'll be as an adult, hes just super big and strong and loves food. I'm sick to death of people 'telling me off' for letting him eat 'adult food' and thinking its something I've forced on him. Not strangers because they assume he's a normal older baby but certain female relatives and friends who tell me that he shouldn't be eating this, that's too chewy... Its neglect to let him hold his own bottle blah blah. Its got to the point where I'm not visiting or inviting people over because I feel like throttling them when they harp on at me, Anyone else get lectured for bringing their own baby up their own way?