So, I know. Don't rush things, right? I mean, the breastfeeding poops smell like chocolate cake and skittles (yeah right) and eating is so neat and clean right now *she says wearing her ridiculously milk stained bra sleeping in her ridiculously milk-stained sheets*. And considering he's such an easy nurser and just loves to relax and eat without me having to lay down on my side with my feet in a specific position and the planets aligned (okay, so not the feet and the planets -- but seriously, it's HARD to nurse laying on your side at PF Changs).
HEH. You get my drift.
If I'm not home during the day, he doesn't really eat very much.
And so, I just wonder. Is it time for a little food?
He's sitting up extremely well, and he's grabbing at everything that passes by his face. Of course, that includes ice cream, water, and my computer.
According to my fabulous pediatrician, the one who guilted me a for a good 20 minutes about not giving my son all 2,401 shots at his 4 month visit, he doesn't need food yet since he's clearly doing well with breastmilk. (Clearly would be his 20lb 28 inch frame). But then, I hear big babies might like a little food to nibble on.
Let's be clear. I don't want to clean up food messes NOR do I want to deal with diaper stank. But I don't want to starve my kid (I know he won't technically starve people). My daughter was not ready until about 7-8 months and so I happily waited to feed her. But this kid seems ready. I think.
So, what do you think? When did you start your kid on food?
--
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Orla is 18 weeks and 19 lb 8 oz. We started weaning last week - breast milk just isn't enough for her. If he's interested in food, can hold his head up and seems to want more after a full breast feed then he's ready. Try him on a teaspoon of baby rice mixed with breast milk after one of his morning feeds and see how he does.
Good luck. Great to know someone else has a huge breast fed baby like mine!
x
Posted by: Mummy M | June 25, 2007 at 11:10 AM
My son is 4 months old and is 1/2 ounce shy of 13 lbs. What in the hell ARE you feeding that baby? LOL
My ped. said yesterday that since he's still nursing every 2 hrs, that we could give him some, if he wanted. He also said to give him whatever he'd eat, not just rice cereal - so we'll see. I'm thinking PIZZA!!
lol
Posted by: Dawn | June 23, 2007 at 09:24 AM
I started my daughter on rice cereal at 4 months. Mostly, I was just eager to try it. She wasn't really into it. After I started her on the doctor okayed it anyway. She was a big baby.
My son, a little peanut of guy, I started at four months too but he was ready and happily wolfed down anything I gave him. He's still a great eater at 18 months but he's lean. I don't know where he puts it!
Posted by: Kara | June 23, 2007 at 01:00 AM
I am actually wondering the same thing about my son. He is 4 months 3 wks and grabbing water glasses, food plates and anything else he can get his hands on. I wanted to wait until 6 months, but I get the feeling he is almost ready. I am not sure what the best thing is. Dr. Sears says 6mths, but he also says moms know when babies are ready. Let us know what you decide and how it goes.
Posted by: Indigo Children | June 21, 2007 at 08:22 PM
Cordy was 20 lbs at 4 months old, and we started solids right after her 4 month checkup. The doctor said she was drinking so much milk (it was a LOT) that she needed to start solids. She took to them easily at that age, and never looked back.
Posted by: Christina | June 21, 2007 at 11:28 AM
I introduced baby food (carrots to start) at 4 1/2 months. The pediatrician suggested it.
I had stopped breastfeeding but was still pumping after I went back to work. So we had expressed milk, one bottle of formula a day and Dawson was still on the light side. So I gave him some Gerber and he loved it.
I think he was ready.
Posted by: dana | June 21, 2007 at 09:30 AM
You're the mom, so you're the expert!
Posted by: Damselfly | June 21, 2007 at 08:18 AM
Right about 3 1/2 months. He was downing bottles like a champ (he REFUSED to nurse) and my brother-in-law (a doctor) witnessing this told my husband, "that kid needs food".
PS Everything's so much more casual with the 2nd child.
Posted by: Christine | June 20, 2007 at 07:19 PM
I started my daughter at 4 months, because I hoped it would help her sleep. WRONG! However, I stuck with it and she was eating one jar of veggie and fruit by the time she was about 6 months old. By 9 months she refused all baby food and we started her on table food. She has always been a good eater, but a small girl.
I wanted to wait with my son. I tried him at about 5.5 months, but he wasnt having it. He prefered breastmilk and then the bottle.
He was weaned at 9 months, because there was some concern for his weight. He was still drinking 3 6 oz bottles a day until he was 13 months old and decided he had enough. He still has some gagging issues, but it isnt so bad. I rarely jump anymore. He can work it out by himself.
He is picky and doesnt try things easily. We keep trying and hoping. He eats enough, but I would say he eats to live not the other way around. I dont think it has anything to do with when we started him on food. I think it has everything to do with his personality.
Good Luck.
Posted by: Wendy | June 20, 2007 at 05:08 PM
We started Grady at 4 months. I told myself that I would wait until he started showing interest or 6 months, whichever came first. The interest came first. By 4 months he was already following our our food when we ate and grabbing at things. He's almost 6 months and eating three times a day now. He loves anything orange.
Posted by: Nicole | June 20, 2007 at 01:25 PM
All four of mine have started between 4 and 6 months, depending on when they started to stare us down and try to grab our stuff. Nemo's been on solids since 4.5 months, and due to his size and obvious affinity for eating the ped told me to jump right to 2 meals/day. He's very happy with that.
Posted by: FishyGirl | June 20, 2007 at 01:00 PM
I agree that when they start to try to steal food, they are probably ready. But, he's 20 lbs already? I fear for your food bill once he starts eating!
Posted by: Fairly Odd Mother | June 20, 2007 at 12:30 PM
When he starts mooching. And/or when he outgrows his tongue-thrust reflex. That's my rule of thumb, and it's worked for me.
Posted by: Country Mouse | June 20, 2007 at 12:24 PM
My second daughter refused anything baby food. For a month. Turns out she wanted normal food. Once I just pulled small pieces of our food off for her, she was thrilled and ate like a horse. But no baby food. My pedi. said one of her kids was that way as well. Kids are so confusing. Once you've figured out one child, the next one comes a long and messes everything up! :-)
Posted by: Smiling Mom | June 20, 2007 at 10:48 AM
When my youngest started boring holes into our plates of food with his envious eyes and trying to grab my plate, I let him have some. I think that was somewhere in the 5 month range.
There's no magic age. If he seems interested in it, who are we to tell him no? I just made sure it was something squishy, like banana and he loved it. I know, I'm such a rebel starting him on FRUIT first and not veggies. How dare me.
Posted by: Heather | June 20, 2007 at 10:19 AM
The first wasn't ready til 7m or so. #2, 6mo, has been mentally ready for about a month. We tried him about a month ago, subsequently, and his mouth and tongue-thrust reflex just weren't as ready as his desire to eat was. So he's been watching us, eyeing me angrily with that look that says "ok, you put it in your mouth, in the other boy's mouth, WHERE'S MINE, DAMNIT!?" I've started, against the usual rules of foods to start with, letting him suck on things. Apple slices, pickles, etc. He gets the taste, but nothing to swallow but that. Loved both, btw (for those of you thinking feeding a baby pickles is ghastly). We'll be trying him again on "cereal" in another week or so, to see how that goes.
Posted by: Kelly | June 20, 2007 at 09:46 AM
About 3 and a half months. I say go for it.
Posted by: Mrs. Chicken | June 20, 2007 at 09:29 AM
My second child was ready to eat much sooner than my first. She was bigger, and was just plain hungry. She started on food around 3 1/2 months. ( accidentally, the toddler fed her a sandwich) But, turns out, thats what she needed. Well, not so much the sandwich, but, you know, food.
Posted by: Eryn | June 20, 2007 at 09:09 AM