For moms.

megleo818

Started solids at 4 months with both of mine, but continued breastfeeding. They're 12 and 13 now. Perfectly healthy.

Crochetluvr

I started my son on cereal at 4 mos. because I had to go back to work and someone other than me had to feed him. I did express milk but not enough. I did continue to breastfeed him when I was home until he weaned himself at about 10 months.

majordlite

We started ours on cereal a week shy of 6 months, after exclusively BFing. The little guzzler is still latching on at 30 months, but I'm hoping she'll wean off before long. She's only in the 2 percentile on both height and weight, and I just hate to keep her from getting all the nutrients and calories I know BM provides. We have a dr. appt tomorrow, and we'll see what he says. Actually, he said 6 months ago that he'd like to see her weaned, but that didn't quite happen. :grumble:

zephtalah

My first was ready for foods at 4 months. I wanted him to wait till closer to 6 months or later, but he was a very hungry guy and still is. Most of my others were a little after 6 months. With the twins, I thought they might need it sooner since I was nursing 2 babies instead of one, but they refused all food till closer to 8 months. They are now finally starting to eat about once or twice a day a jar each and still nursing often. Every baby is different. Unless there is a specific reason why they need the baby food early, I would probably just follow their hunger cues and then just try it out. There is no point in wasting half an hour to get 1/2 tsp. of mashed whatever down a baby.

cmeade20

My SIL and brother started their kids on food around 4-41/2 months because by that point they were screaming for a bottle every 45 minutes if they weren't fed food. A mother knows her baby best use your instincts.

Minnesota_Nice

I started all three of mine at 6 weeks to help them sleep through the night.

You make your own judgment call. You know your baby the best! And don't be ashamed for what you chose to do!

RunIntheMud

My son was breastfed and I started him on cereal at 5 months at the doctor's recommendation. This was because he was always hungry. The cereal helped him to stay full longer.

My daughter was formula fed and we didn't introduce solids until 6 1/2 months.

AnjaZ89

we started giving solid foods to our baby boy beginning at 6-7months, now he is 10 months and eats almost everything except for dairy

kingscrown

My doc said 4 months so that's what I did. I didn't know any better. They are 18 and 21 now and are great healthy people. The doc suggested starting out with rice cereal and then adding one new food a week. The one a week was to test for allergies. Fortunately, mine didn't have any. My kids were eager to start eating what we were eating.

Effpcos

I start feeding solids when my babies can sit well alone, have good head support, the tongue-thrust reflex has diminished, and they show an interest in eating food--watching us eat, mimicking our mouth movements, reaching for our plates, etc.
This is different for each baby, but it's generally around six months.

^ this.
I have five children (aged almost 2y- 11y) and the recommendations for everything change every year. If you're happy and your baby's happy do what you feel is right.

bonjour24

i have 3 kids, and i started all of them on solids when i thought they were ready. one of them started at 3 1/2 months (she was SO ready), and the other 2 at between 4-5 months.
you're the mum- go with your gut and what you think your kid needs. it's usually right. and if they're not ready, they will just spit it out and you try again in a little while. no dramas!

neciejones

I waited with my daughter until she was 6 months. I assure you what you are giving her is what is best! I have never heard of a doctor saying that. Strange.

DawnieB1977

I started weaning both of mine about a week before they were 6 months old. They started on things like baby rice, and mashed up banana. My 1st was really bad at eating, just not interested, but my 2nd was amazing, she'd eat anything! I never gave either of them jarred baby food, I made all my own purées and things.

I do know some people who weaned earlier though. I think you should just do what feels right. I know sometimes people mistake a growth spurt for needing to be weaned.

DenyseMarieL

My babies are certainly not babies anymore, at 21 and 17, but things sure have changed about breasfeeding since then. My oldest I nursed until 4 months, and started him on rice cereals at 5 months. My 17 yr old, I couldn't nurse her, she wouldn't latch properly. Thusly, she was on the bottle at 3 wks. I also had a different, older doctor for her, and she recommended cereals at 2 months, along with her formula. What I find strange, is that my youngest is definitely healthier than my other child. He had earaches, throat infections, you name it, growing up. Even as an adult, he is 10 times more likely to get the flu than my youngest. She is hardly ever sick. I don't know if they way they were fed as infants has anything to do with it, but it does make me think sometimes.
I think all babies are different, and what you choose for your baby is the right decision for you. I do think breastfeeding is a wonderful experience, it's moments that you share that noone else gets to have. Trust your instinct. Your baby will let you know when they are ready for the next stage.
Congrats and good luck!

jfrankic

First, congrats on nursing!! I started a little cereal at 4 months, but pretty much exclusively breastfed until my son was about 7 months. Then I only added purees with cereal twice a day usually. My son didn't really have much interest in foods, so we happy and healthy nursing. My supply tanked and he was gaining too slowly at around 10 months, so I had to add in more high cal/fat foods for him. I still breastfed past a year with both of my kids. My daughter started solids sooner and was very interested in table foods earlier on.

Do what is right for you and baby. As long as you are both healthy and happy, add solids as you both think it's time. Baby will let you know.

RunnerBlonde808

All four of my kids were breast milk only until at least 6 months. Then they really didnt eat 'food' until 12 months. They were all perfectly satisfied with breast milk and are perfectly.healthy kids. Breast milk is total nutritikn and all your baby really needs.until the age of one.