Getting antsy to start solids

So, solids. I feel like every time I turn around I'm doing something different than I'd planned . I really thought we'd hold off on solids until at LEAST 6 months. Right now I bf and bottle feed. We're pretty close to 6mo, but there are a few things going on that make me think we should start sooner:

-They're really interested in our food (watching us eat, reaching for food)
-They're less interested in bf and bottles (this could be due to teething though)
-Our pedi said we could let them suck on frozen banana for teething. When they do this they literally look like they're in heaven! They LOVE it, and scream when I take it away because it looks like they're eating too much of it.
-I totally understand that milk is their primary source of nutrition until at least a year, but lately they just seem "unsatisfied".

I know there have been a lot of posts on starting solids, but based on the above, what do you all think? Should we just hang in there a little longer? I'm also considering starting them on avocado or banana (rather than cereal) and am curious about your experiences with that as well.

 

Based on what you have stated I would start them now but it is only 3 more weeks until they are 6 months so they won't miss out if you decide to wait. This was about the same time we started the girls

 

It sounds to me like they're maybe ready for some new food-things. Are there other kids in your family, or are they around a lot of people? Just curious....my dh has a pretty big family & lots of cousins (kid aged) that live close by & we spend a lot of time with. My lady at WIC told me it's really common for babies around a lot of people to be more interested in food at a younger age. I think as long as it's healthy food, it won't hurt!

 

I agree that it sounds like they are ready. My kids didn't like the cereal, so we moved almost immediately to fruits and veggies. Bananas or avocados would be a great start! Just make sure to introduce only one new food every 3-5 days to make sure there is not an allergic reaction. Good luck!

 

If you go ahead and start then I would stay on the cereals until 6 months. Feeding solids takes a lot of time. Lunch and dinner took us an hour each yesterday. Have fun and get your camera ready!

 

I felt the very same way you did and started at 5.5 months, approx 1.5-2 weeks ago. We haven't done it everyday but on most days. I really wanted to wait and my pediatrician really wanted us to wait until 6 months- he's a very strong bfing advocate. In any event, we went ahead and started several days ago and I'm fine with it. They are getting very good at eating their cereal. I add applesauce to it because water and rice cereal are pretty plain. You could try that with bananas instead. I am wanting to try that this week. Have fun with it and if your family thinks it's time, then go for it!

 

I started mine a week shy of 4 months and they loved it from the start!!! We started with rice cereal and then moved to veggies, then fruits, then oatmeal - if you mix the cereal with EBM or formula you'll get more nutrition out of it...

my kids are great eaters and now at 11 months we are transitioning to table foods and sippys - the doctor doesn't want them on whole milk just yet because of low birthweight but I've started stage 2 formula (same exact as the regular formula and its cheaper)...

if they enjoy it go for it, and if they're not ready they will let you know!!!

 

My twins have been on solids on 4 months, like my oldest. My ped is totally fine with it, especially since they're both 75%. We also hope(d) it would help my boy with his reflux, although I know from experience that is not necessarily the case (my oldest spit up until 7 1/2 months). Why waiting if they're ready. Six months is just a number, many people like myself start at 4 months and it's going really well. We skipped the cereal (my oldest hated it too) and they've had pear, banana, apple, squash, sweet potatoe and carrot. Not a problem.

 

Like the pp's said, if you think they are ready then go for it. Start out small like the rice with apples or bananas in a jar and if they well with that, then you can move on to other foods like the pp said. 6 months is just a guideline. I've always listened to my pedi, but also followed my own maternal instinct. And if they are interested in your food, that means they are ready and are probably not satisfied like you said!

Good luck!

 

Thanks everyone! I think we'll start this weekend. Like the pp said, 6mo is just a number, so if they seem ready I'm just going to go with my instincts. It's just us and the twins (we don't have a large family that's around all the time), so it's interesting that they seem so ready for food. But...they seem to start early on a lot of things like rolling, teething etc. Pretty sure weight is not an issue either--they were around 15# last time we checked.

Think I'll start with banana since they've already given me the big thumbs up on that one!

 

I understand wanting to start before 6 months... I started at 5.5 months because I couldn't wait. For me it wasn't so much that they seemed hungry, though I knew they could sit up fine. But it was more like I just needed or wanted something new to do with them, especially when one is napping and the other is up, I can't take a walk, so I just needed something new to do. At first it was not that exciting, but now they are totally into it. We started with banana, then avocado, then rice cereal (Earth's Best brand) and then sweet potato and yesterday we did yogurt. They love it all. I don't even mush it up super smooth, there are tiny soft chunks and they do fine with it. I make it all myself and I plan to make the rice cereal soon & mix it with formula so I know they're getting the iron until I can add other foods that are iron rich.

 

QUOTE(cajuntwinmom @ Apr 17 2007, 02:41 PM) [snapback]223466[/snapback]
I've always listened to my pedi, but also followed my own maternal instinct. And if they are interested in your food, that means they are ready and are probably not satisfied like you said!

Good luck!


Yep, that's what I'm thinking too. We see the doc today and I'll ask her about it, but I feel they are ready for some solids soon ... they are big babies and are really starting to take in a lot of milk ... my parents had them a few days ago and in the morning Con took 9 ounces!!!!! I also understand waiting until 6 months, mine are BF babies, but I think solids are a good idea for them soon.

 

IMO, there is no reason NOT to start solids at 4 months... if your pedi approves it. My guys loved solids, and it was such a pleasure watching them eat and love it.

 

I started mine on solids at 5 months, but solids never really satisfied any hunger they had until they reached about the 9-10 month mark. That's when the formula intake started slowly going down due to more solid food.

Just a word of advice...it's a lot of work. Looking back and if I ever have more, I'd wait until 6 months to start.

 

It is a lot of work, but you get into a routine with it. We started solids with the twins at 4 months and will do the same with Liam. This is when my pedi starts them. They did well with it. At the beginning, they are just getting used to the texture and the new way to feed, so they don't take much. Good Luck!