Solid foods

[Firsttimemum1999]

Hi all,

I was just wondering when is the best time to introduce my baby to solids they're gonna be 5 months in Sunday, just that a few people who I know who baby is an week younger than mine is on solids or jar foods and I wasn't sure if it's best time to start mine on them or wait another 4 weeks but if it's best time what is the best things to introduce him to ?

Thank you

Not yet. Babies don't need anything until 6 months. If they have it sooner, they can damage the lining of their stomach.

People start them early because they mistakenly believe the baby will sleep better.

I started mine on one thing at a time...cooked potato....or sweet potato...mashed up soft.

Obviously cool it down...give them one thing at a time and see if they react to it.

You can move on to pear...uncooked and mashed up....banana...just mash one up....

Don't worry if all they do is sort of mess about with it. Many don't really eat it properly.

There's loads of advice online but cook your own if possible or just do them a bit of veg when you make your own meals. It's better for them to eat when you do too...tricky but they learn more.

From 6 months unless you’ve received medical advice otherwise.

They need to be showing all the signs of readiness - able to sit up comfortably, can put things to their mouth independently, have lost their tongue thrust reflex so if something goes in their mouth they don’t immediately push it out with their tongue, and showing an interest in food - but any of those on their own are not enough so say they’re ready for weaning. Neither is being a ‘hungry baby’ wanting a lot of milk (they get far more calories and nutrition from milk than they do food anyway).

The advice used to be sooner and lots of people are still insistent that they should do it sooner because ‘mama knows best’ or whatever, but the advice has changed for good reason and it really is better to stick to it.

Is your health visitor any good? They should be able to give weaning advice. There are some good Instagram accounts - I love SR Nutrition who also has a Facebook group where you can ask questions, but there are lots of others.

And the NHS weaning advice is all here too
www.nhs.uk/start4life/weaning/

I started a week before my baby was 6 months (I was just excited to begin lol) but it was too early for my DD. We persevered with it, giving purees with a spoon... but there was a sudden change around 8 months when she could really sit up confidently and showed genuine interest and enjoyment with the food and we progressed to doing some finger foods as well. In hindsight I think my baby wasn't ready until 8 months. If you look at the signs of readiness she didn't have them at 6m really. So go with what your baby is ready for...but I think while it's possible to do it too early it's not possible to start too late (if that makes sense) as they are getting everything they need from BM or formula. So if in doubt, delay it by another month or two

Thankyou all I was just thinking about starting him on porridge as I have seen Porridge in my local shop for 4-6+m onwards

Shop bought stuff will say 4+ months but that's not nhs guidance... they are trying to sell stuff after all! Obviously it depends on the baby but I think there's no harm in delaying it, whereas you could overwhelm baby's digestive system if you start too early, or worse, risk choking

You don't need that baby porridge, just buy regular porridge. You can get large bags much cheaper.

Advice is to wait until 6 months unless you’re advised otherwise by GP.

It's a lot easier if you wait until your baby is properly ready. DD was just shy of 6 months sitting next to me when she swiped toast off my plate and started gumming it to death with an expression of pure delight.

@Mummy1608

I started a week before my baby was 6 months (I was just excited to begin lol) but it was too early for my DD. We persevered with it, giving purees with a spoon... but there was a sudden change around 8 months when she could really sit up confidently and showed genuine interest and enjoyment with the food and we progressed to doing some finger foods as well. In hindsight I think my baby wasn't ready until 8 months. If you look at the signs of readiness she didn't have them at 6m really. So go with what your baby is ready for...but I think while it's possible to do it too early it's not possible to start too late (if that makes sense) as they are getting everything they need from BM or formula. So if in doubt, delay it by another month or two

Hi yes they're getting what they're need but they're on 7oz bottles and it's not always filling them up, we have to top them up and they end up having an 10oz all together sometimes

There is no rush. You could cause baby to have long term digestive problems if you start early. NHS guidance is six months. I highly recommend the book "how to wean your baby"