What first foods would you start/did you start your baby on?

[mrsm22]

I have heard loads recently about weaning your baby and am about to start this process in a couple of weeks and would like to know what people would advise to start my baby with first. It seems that most or a lot of mums start their baby on baby rice for the first days but I have heard recently that this contains toxins that are in arsenic poisoning, which has worried me a bit. I am planning to give my baby his first spoonful of food somewhere in the morning between his first and second bottle feed but am wondering what would be good/ideal to try first for the first few days. Do people think go for baby rice, baby porridge that you mix with baby milk, baby porridge from a jar or something completely different? I like the idea of boiling my own pieces of pear and blending that and possibly adding some formula milk but I'm not sure if this should be one of his first tastes of better for later after a breakfast type food is tried first. Can anyone advise or share their opinions?
Also when babies first try foods are they likely to experience tummyache or gripe while their bodies are getting used to the food, and should I expect this?
A friend of mine suggests that I buy the Annabel Karmel complete guide to weaning baby book. I think its called something like that or meal planner.
Any advice appreciated and thank you in advance!

Give him some broccoli or something. See what he does. If he is keen, full steam ahead. If he isn't, maybe try a puree. If not keen on either, maybe wait a couple of weeks.

Guidelines say "around 6 months" which is 26 weeks. I would say you're in that territory, so you know your baby best - if you're happy to start then why not.

Thank you Penguins and Embarrassed - I think I'll give him a go with it tomorrow and see what happens. I'll update you.

DD's first food was actually roast beef! She grabbed it from my plate one night, aged 5.5 months and devoured it. We'd been planning to try solids at six months. Didn't see much point in attempting purees after that, so we stuck with finger foods/BLW.

I think the best foods at that age are eggs (if no allergy concerns) brocolli, banana, plain yoghurt, and sweet potato. Mince is also an easy way to get iron in. DD also loved feeding herself mash, but you have to be willing to tolerate mess

A lot of people recommend avocado as a first food, but DD hated it as a finger food- too slippery and difficult to grip.

The main thing is not to fuss about how much he eats. Initially its all about learning- new tastes and textures, how to move food around and swallow, how to chew or gum food, how to get food in the mouth or from a spoon, etc. Don't forget to check his cheek pouches after meals- they often store food there instead of swallowing.