when to introduce solids?

[cantthinkofagoodname]

I have a 17lb 16wk old ebf baby. I know that the official advice is to wait until 6mo to introduce solids but my dp is suggesting we do it a bit earlier. She read a baby book (baby milestones) that basically said these guidelines were written by the WHO for babies in less developed countries with impure water supplies and where babies are smaller.

The book also said that babies develop their sense of taste and smell from 4mo and dp is worried our baby will miss out. Baby food labelled "from 4 months" doesn't help matters either.

My gut reaction is to wait but I don't want to be making all the decisions about our baby and want dp to have an equal say (I don't want to claim birth mother privilege IYSWIM!)

As our baby is 98th centile (although also cows milk protein intolerant) should we wait until bang on 26wks to introduce solids? How do we know when our baby is ready?

Are there any studies etc I can show dp regarding optimal age for introducing solids?

I agree that the gut maturation thing can be over-stated - quite simply, the jury is out on whether after four months (but before 6) is riskier than at/after 6 mths. The guidelines don't major on gut maturity at all. There is very little evidence that solids after-4-but-before-6 shows up as bringing harm.

My point is that the guidelines do show that there is no need for solids before 6 mths as a general rule, and that bf supplies all the baby needs for growth, health and overall well-being, so it is good nutrition to stay on the best human food for this time. Why would anyone want to move their baby onto other food before it is needed?

The ESPGHAN guidelines say this, more or less - public health policy should be to encourage full breastfeeding for 6 mths. If for whatever reason this doesnt happen, then parents can introduce other foods no sooner than 17 weeks, but there is certainly no good reason to do so.

I caved in under pressure from family and friends to try my daughter on baby rice at 17 weeks, (she was 15lbs and gaining lots of weight on exclusive breastfeeding) 3 days in i stopped because she was screaming in the night with tummy ache. As soon as I stopped she returned to her usual self.
She is now 19 weeks and I am going to wait until she is 6 months (HV said 24 weeks).
Some babies may be OK on solids before this but why take the risk?

When ds1 was 17 weeks I gave him a banana to play with and he ate the whole thing unassisted (I wasn't expecting him to).

Afaic, when ds2 does this I'll assume he's ready for food and give him other solids.

I can understand why your dp is keen to get on with weaning, though. Dh found it very empowering (and fun!) when he was able to start feeding ds1. And both ds1 and ds2 became pretty obsessed with food from about 14 weeks, so it's kind of lovely to be able to offer them some and see the delight with which they take it and stuff it into their mouths.