[Loz07]

Hi

So DD is 4.5mo, currently EBF (occasional EBM), and I'm starting to think about solids. I'm in no great rush, but my GP did advise that the new guidelines recommend from 4mo for allergies etc (side note - she mentioned this before this was in the mainstream media so I'm quite impressed that she is so up to date . Oh, and I know she is referring to the Allergy/Immunology society guidelines and that the NHMRC have not officially been releaed yet) so I'm thinking of starting in the new year (around the 5mo mark - a compromise I think ).

I know some people talk about the baby being 'ready' - how do you know if they are? Everything goes into DD's mouth at the moment, but I know that's a developmental stage... She watches me drinking coffee, and will suck happily on whatever food DH sticks in her mouth for her to suck on/slobber over (I drew the line at the octopus ball and he's just doing fruit or veg...). Any other signs?

Also, can somebody give me a basic intro to BLW or some good links? (side note to mods - maybe there should be a sticky about what is BLW / basics / links / tips etc? The BLW thread gets a bit long to go thru to try and pick out info from general BLW disussion...)

Can you do a bit of 'traditional' solids (eg puree), plus some BLW??? (once she has a bit more hand-mouth control...)

Any info appreciated

Thanks

[Jenflea]

umm, if she' s started having food in her mouth then you've started her on solids.
If she can sit up and hold her head up well and watches you eating etc she sounds ready.
just make sure it's not raw carrot and hard foods which pose a choking risk.
You can do purees if she'll open her mouth for a spoon, but mine never did!

[Giltine]

We started DD on solids last week (16 weeks). Nothing major, we give her a bit of whatever we are eating when we have dinner. During the day she is on full bottles apart from the occasional bit of watermelon to suck on. She doesn't eat a great deal, and I don't expect her to. She plays with it, spits it out, prefers to watch us eat etc. I'm happy with this so she has an association with food.

We had two main reasons for starting her so young. One is that I have several severe allergies that my Dad also has, so docs have always been worried that they may be genetic, and exposing her to said foods early might help with that (Tomatoes and citrus fruits are the main culprits).

The other was that she is waking up absolutely starving at 2am and drinks an entire bottle in one go, which she never does any other time of the day, preferring to play with it and take an hour or so to drink it (she's never been a good feeder). The nurse suggested trying her on food to fill her belly up a bit so she gets a better sleep. She's still waking up at 2am, but she isn't screaming at me like she's dieing of starvation, and quickly goes back to sleep until at least 6am.

It's all trial and error, and I'm not expecting her to actually want food or have too much interest in it for a few months, but we'll see how she goes.

[Loz07]

ha ha, should have said she's not actually swallowing any solids (except maybe some fruit juice etc that she's sucked out...) but I see your point
She doesn't sit independently, but she stays sort of upright when seated in a pram etc (bit of the drunken lean, but otherwise ok). Head control is fine

[Loz07]

PS - also meant to add - when starting solids, I know they follow a feed to begin with, but when do they replace a feed (ie, you drop a feed?)

[elmo_mum]

we started purees at about 4.5 months corrected...
ds was looking at us eating, and trying to to eat

started rice cereal... then went to veges...

was told he should be doing 5/6 feeds a day.. so we kinda just add an extra solid in.

we are trying to start "real" foods.. but hes struggling to hold the food and put it in his mouth.

if you do blw, just feed blw food when u eat... you may still need to have the full bf as well

[feliz6]

I'm also interested in this thread and in links to info about starting solids. Child health nurse said I need to start DS on solids at 3.5 months because I am going back to work when he is 4 months. I'm not completely comfortable with that and would like more info.

[Loz07]

Hi Feliz

From what I understand there are two main approaches to starting solids - 'traditional' or baby led weaning (BLW). The 'traditional' is rice cereal then purees then soft foods, then finger foods etc approach, only 1 food at a time... You can see more info at the CYH SA website here (this is the 'safe' approach...)
http://www.cyh.sa.gov.au/HealthTopics/Heal...302&id=1487
http://www.cyh.sa.gov.au/HealthTopics/Heal...302&id=1927

As far as I can gather, BLW is considered a more 'natural' approach (they didn't have stick blenders in the caves did they?) and it is about letting the baby eat what they can, when they are ready - ie skipping the puree and going straight to (soft) finger foods. I think. This is what I'm hoping for some more info on (anyone? )

Also, I didn't think any health professional bodies recommended starting solids before 4mo (earliest) unless there was a medical reason to do so (not gaining weight etc)

Hope this helps you a bit

[Jenflea]

Starting solids JUST because you're going back to work makes no sense to me.
Every other baby has bottles at day care, I'm sure yours can too!

[Kay1]

There is a book called Baby Led Weaning which I am currently reading which explains everything you want to know about BLW. I got it on my kindle. Its so interesting. I will be doing it with DS3 soon.