How early did you start real solids?

[Whiplash7828]

Ok, here are a few "specs" on our son (6.5 months old):

cut his first teeth: 3.5 months (bottom two)
started cereal: 4.5 months
started fruits and veggies (puree): 5 months
started lactose foods (yogurt, 3.25% milk in small quantities): 6.5 months (this week)

Lately he has not been enjoying his purees (sweet potatoes, carrots, etc.) as much as before and we thought he might be getting tired of it so we started ripping up some of our own food and wowsers! has the interest ever come back!
What he has tried (of our food):
- very small pieces of chicken
- very small pieces of cheese
- spaghetti (just a few noodles)
He'll chew on these for a while and seems to enjoy it (he's got more teeth coming so I think we may like chewing on anything!)

My question is: At what age did your child start to show lack of interest for baby food? When did you start putting little chunks of "real food" on his platter? Keep in mind he's had teeth since 3.5 months.

[nalababe]

Breast fed until 6 months.
Cereal after
fruits and Veggies shortly thereafter


when little apple sauce, avocado, bananas, pears were the main fruits...would mix with cereals

As far as a lack of interest....we made most of our own...over time we just mushed it less and less....to this day he loves all fruits and vegetables (except papaya just never liked it).

supplemental breast feeding at nights until he no longer wanted it...

Never gave mushed up meat...introduced fish first (salmon/trout)

[pfbmgd]

We tried turkey and mashed at 6 months.By one year she was putting away steak and salmon .Salmon being her favorite by far .

[Whiplash7828]

that's 2 for salmon...interesting...

[tkl]

13 Month old, 25 lbs.

Cut his first teeth: Not yet !
started cereal: 6 months
started fruits and veggies (puree): 6 months
started homo milk : 13 month
current diet: rice, porridge, all fruits, yogurt, juice, milk, fish, minced meats, etc, etc, basically everything.

[ai_c]

started at 5 months with cereal and slowly introducing pureed fruits and veggies. so far he is liking everything.

[shoppingmama]

I delayed solids for both of my children, one because a family history of allergies and the other because breastmilk is the perfect food and that is really all they need. One started organic homemade veggies/fruits at 8 months, one at a year...we did not do any processed baby cereals, although they did get organic oatmeal after fruits/veggies.

[Kranberry]

Cut his first tooth: 8 months
Started Cereal: 5.5 months
Started fruits/Veggies: 6.5 months
Started meat: 7.5 months

[Xax]

I thought it was widely recommended to not start babies on solids until at least 6 months. I know that one side effect for doing otherwise is the increased likelihood of developing food allergies. Depending on how well breastfeeding goes, we'll likely start ours between 6 and 12 months.

[gorf]

For the parents that wait til 6 months or later to start cereal, I'm just curious how often the baby gets up or wants to feed.

[llbgal]

For the parents that wait til 6 months or later to start cereal, I'm just curious how often the baby gets up or wants to feed.

I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old. I exclusively breastfed my 3 year old until he was 6 months old when I started him on rice cereal. I plan to exclusively breastfeed my daughter until 6 months as well.

Having said that -- the two are completely different in terms of when they eat. My son when he was an infant ate only once every 4 hours or longer during the day -- but got up during the night A LOT. My daughter "snacks" frequently throughout the day but only gets up ONCE in the night for breastmilk and sleeps 10-12 hours at night.

It is commonly thought to be an "old wives tale" that starting children on solids will help them sleep through the night. As other posters have noted... there is a good amount of research that suggests if you have concerns about allergies that it is wise to delay solids to 6 months and certain solids (e.g. milk, peanuts etc.) even later.

Also -- for those feeding their children fish... you should be careful about the PCB and mercury levels in fish with children under 5 as it can interfere with development (this is the same reason it is recommended that pregnant women do not frequently indulge in eating fish).

[getmail99]

I thought it was widely recommended to not start babies on solids until at least 6 months. I know that one side effect for doing otherwise is the increased likelihood of developing food allergies. Depending on how well breastfeeding goes, we'll likely start ours between 6 and 12 months.

Keep breastfeeding as long as you can. You can still breastfeeding after starting solid food. We found solid food did not really help the baby sleep through the night. Think about this, breast milk contain more fat = energy than solid food.