What's the rationale behind waiting 6 months to give rice?

[EBenes]

There's always someone telling you to move on to the next stage when you don't even want to, isn't there? It's my mum, she keeps telling me that dd is ready for baby rice (and has bought 2 boxes in for me) because dd lunges at food when I'm eating it and licks her lips and stares at it and appears in every way to want it. But she's ff anyway, so does it matter that much if she switches early? (Not that I'm going to do it because my mum tells me to.) She's not a very big or a very hungry baby, there is literally no reason to do it, apart from the interest in real food.

what age is she?

Just over five months, but was born a couple of weeks early. I know I should start soon anyway, but my mum is quite fixated on this right now.

Well remember that her generation weaned at 3 or 4 months. Interest in food is normal at this age, she's probably fascinated that the food goes into your mouth and doesn't come out again! But then babies watch everything you do at this age. Is she actually reaching for your food yet?

I think, IIRC that for formula fed babies there are actually no proven risks to giving solids as long as you are past 17 weeks, but OTOH there is definitely no harm in waiting - and there might be risks by starting. Also it's much easier to wait until 6 months because then all you have to avoid is honey, and things with high sugar or salt content. If you start before 6 months you have to avoid gluten, meat I think, and some other things as well.

It doesn't sound like you really want to give her baby rice yet - why not just wait a few more weeks? I know my mum was on at me to introduce solids early and at one point asked if I thought she had put me and my sister at risk when we were babies by weaning us at 3 months (as was the advice then). So it might just be her own insecurities coming to the surface, sometimes it can help to say something like "I know this was how it was done when I was a baby, but the advice has changed now and it just gives me peace of mind to follow roughly what the official advice is, as the research is improving all the time."

It's 17 weeks after the due date not the delivery date, I think.
I weaned my ds1 at 5.5 months, to wait another 2 weeks was just not an option for us!

But 2 weeks premature isn't really premature - so I don't think you adjust the age. Having said that, there is no harm in waiting longer to be sure

what is the fixation with wallpaper paste baby rice, it doens't really have much nutritious value. You'd be better off starting with carrots or banana.

yep 37 weeks is considered term, so she wasn't technically "early" iyswim?

i would ask what the rationale is behind giving it before 6 months??

the best thing for her is milk, milk and more milk right now. in fact, it should be her main source of nutrition until she is a year. so if she is happy as she is then stick with it

well the best thing about waiting til they're 6 months is that you don't need to do rice at all. they can have normal food not 'baby food.'

The rationale behind waiting until six months is to ensure that the baby's gut is ready to cope with food other then milk.

Thanks very much, all interesting and helpful! Am getting it again today as am eating a bacon sandwich next to her. "Is mummy eating food again and not giving you any?" My mum is a nutcase!

Enjoy having your sandwich all to yourself while you can, it won't last! Soon you'll have to give half a taste of everthing to your DD!

It's safer to wait until 6 months and if your DD is happy on milk for now, then why not wait? If you started now, you might not find she was very interested anyway if she's not ready so save yourself the hassle for a few weeks.