
Today’s topic: introducing solids.
I’ll do another about what is ok for feeding, but for now let’s focus on the *when*.
Solids are anything beyond breastmilk or formula. This includes: cereals, juices, purée, etc.
Not only is 6 months an important milestone, but there are also other factors that should ALL be met before introducing: sitting unsupported, loss of tongue thrust, pincher grasp are huge. These ensure your baby isn’t at risk for, amongst other things, choking. Baby being interested is very low on that list. Babies are curious, babies mimic- this does not mean they are ready to eat.
Feeding solids too soon puts your child at risk for long term gut damage, obesity, diabetes, poor eating habits, chrons, IBS, celiacs, food allergies and more.
Also- remember, just because your baby has the ability to eat foods, they do not have the digestive enzymes to break down and process the nutrients. They will just eliminate them as waste and not get what they need. They need breastmilk and/or formula until 1 because of this.
“Well I fed mine at x age and they are fine”: you don’t know this unfortunately. These things aren’t seen until late teens and early adulthood. Will some kids be fine? Yes. Is it worth the risk? No. Once you know, it’s too late.
“My Pedi said so”: most pediatricians are not up to date on infant nutrition. The WHO and AAP say 6 months, if your pedi goes against that question WHY they’d go against the recommendation and research of their peers.
“My baby is hungry”: be sure you’re pace feeding. It should take 5 mins per ounce when done properly. This is because you don’t want to stretch their bellies and it also takes time for their hormones to trigger a “full” feeling. Then— feed baby more formula or breastmilk.
“My baby is advanced”: sure. We all think that. However, they can’t turn 6 months early. And for preemie mamas- this means 6 months adjusted.
“My baby has reflux”: cereal for reflux is an outdated treatment. It should be used as a last resort after all other options have been exhausted and all testing has been completed. And for those who argue there’s formula with cereal- no that’s rice starch not cereal. That’s a topping for later though.
Don’t believe me? Here are some links (including Canada and the WHO since location is sometimes brought up as an argument)
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@maximusmommy I totally get what you mean! My grandpa smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day for around 50 years and never got cancer, my grandma ans my mom both smoked and they never got cancer either. This clearly means that cigarettes don't ever cause cancer, no matter what research says!
@sophiesmom, you’re welcome. Best to read straight from up to date credible sources as many people have “opinions”. Science is science and the research is there. Plus- why rush them to grow up? I’d like to squish my babies back to babies and cuddle them forever.
@mokimbo, tell me about it. My Gramps has been smoking 2-3 packs a day for 74 years! He has 90% lung function still. Medical anomaly 😳
@maximusmommy, why are you against actually reading the research? You might learn something. If not, no harm no foul. The more one argued without even looking at it, the more ignorance shows.
@maximusmommy I totally get what you mean! My grandpa smoked 3 packs of cigarettes a day for around 50 years and never got cancer, my grandma ans my mom both smoked and they never got cancer either. This clearly means that cigarettes don't ever cause cancer, no matter what research says!
@maximusmommy, yes. I am sure that all of the time, energy and money put forth into the research by medical professionals was just to make a big deal about nothing. Surely your mama’s uncle’s cousin’s dad’s experience outweighs the scientific facts.
@maximusmommy, the ramifications of early solids aren’t seen until adulthood. No one said every child who has solids early will have problems, but many do. The more you comment without reading the factual information, it looks silly on your part. One person’s short experience doesn’t negate science.
@laniejay, when I went back at 6mo they had the updated info which kind of pissed me off, but regardless I’m glad they got it now.
@nouveaububs, I fed my oldest at 3 months because I was misinformed by a pedi as well. In fact, my pedi gave the wrong info for my middle son. I’m the one who sparked him to become up to date on infant nutrition.
@maximusmommy, please read the links along with the content of the post. Your information is not correct unfortunately.
My son Maximus was eating Gerber baby solid food at 4months old and he’s very healthy, and alive. I give him fruits at 4months, vegetables at 5months, and meat at 6months. I told his pediatrician, I started to give him fruits, and she told me that’s good and she the one told me he can start having vegetables as well, so that’s what I did. It’s not going to hurt your little one by starting them off with little baby solid food. Everyone makes a big deal out of nothing. He’s now 1year and 1month old, happy baby.
Thank you for this! I unfortunately started purées at 4mo due to outdated info from my ped. We stopped when we found out and restarted at 6mo with BLW.
Thanks for info! My girl is almost 7 months but not sitting upright on her own yet and still has tongue thrust. I let her taste a few things but ill stick to formula
i also think to wait till baby is 6 months to introduce any food is best. I exclusively breastfed till my daughter was 6 months although sometimes i would let her "try" something but i never did it as her main source of food. She was 8 months when i officially started trying to feed her solids. Now she is a healthy 1 yr old that eats every food and has 0 allergies ! She is not picky at all either and loves fruit, veggies...everything! Also she never ate pureed food as she didn't like the texture. i am glad i didn't force her into anything...i think intuition is best and taking time and see what your baby is asking for
@aliceinwonderland_, ugh- I’ve been working very hard to repair DHs gut and my own. Luckily my family is now receptive. They took a while to get on board though.
Yesssssss. Our families are very "I did this and my kids are fine" meanwhile my husband can't even have a snack without having to poop after.🙄
@alyssa5792 ya I don't think it's ok so get ur panties in a bunch and go calling people names or being disrespectful just because I don't get it, don't understand or don't beleive. It's good every now and then to be able to have a discussion on topics that were not educated on or disagree on and be an adult about it. I was proven wrong and can admit to it. That's ok because I sure as heck don't know half of everything and like @laniejay said. Knowledge is power and I totally agree. I was in denial that's for sure but that's ok because my opinion was changed
@chadandtanya14, crazy, isn’t it?!? We can’t trust companies to keep our kids safe or our government to regulate it!
@chadandtanya14, trust me- I wasn’t like this with my first and I am horrified at some of what I read now! I tell him sorry a lot 😬 I forward faced at 10 months, Fed him cereal in a bottle at 4 weeks, juice and solids at 4 months, Ugh. But again- know better, do better. (And I didn’t have internet in my back pocket then 😂)
@alyssa5792, I like to say pediatricians are jacks of all trades, master of none. It is true, they can’t stay up to date on everything! That’s why we have specialists, so they can focus on that area and be the best.
@chadandtanya14, I don’t take it as disrespectful.
Keep in mind that rice is high in natural arsenic, but also the manner in which baby digests the arsenic concentrates it even further. That’s why it’s not as much of a concern as you get older.
@alyssa5792 ok I agree. Not trying to upset anyone here. I get it. Just seems odd why everyone including doctors say to use it. Even tho it's a safe amount. I did find some stuff here about it and am actually shocked. I had a convo with my MIL about the arsenic thing and she had me going like there's no way blah blah blah.
@chadandtanya14, sorry, I’m on vacation at the beach so I’m just seeing some of these things while I’m rocking the baby to sleep so I only have a few minutes.
I am a researcher by nature. Part of that includes knowing how to research and using credible sources. It also includes constantly reading and staying up to date. I am part of many groups who do this with moms (and some dads!) who gather and collect credible sources and share their findings.
I make an effort to find information that is not opinion based- and any articles that I do post that are of opinions - cite credible sources in which you can read more information.
The world is our oyster. We have it all at our fingertips. We have access to a lot of the same resources that doctors do- you just need to know how to find it and, in some cases, how to read it.
I post these as help for those who don’t know where to look or read. No one says you need to read it. If it only helps 3 of 3,999 people, heck I’m more than pleased with that.
A simple search on arsenic in rice cereal would have shown you that I was correct in my information. Instead, you chose to dismiss and insist I am wrong. That’s your choice, but an open mind would have looked into it before trying to make others get on that train.
I am of the belief that good parents should do their research and make the best possible decisions for their children. Credible, factual, science supported research. That may mean going against what has been previously taught, how we were raised and standing up for what is best. Be able to back up decisions.
Knowledge is power. We know better, we do better.
@laniejay I do want to say that I respect your dedication to the facts and I do enjoy reading your posts. I'm not trying to be a rude biatch which I realize that's how I'm coming off and I do apologize for that! I just find alot of it hard to beleive although i will probably follow most of it. I'm seriously just genuinely curious how you find these things and then I've never heard about them in the news or so on. And my wording and how it came out was wrong and it didn't intentionally mean it to be and had a bit of a smile and giggle as I wrote it. Others took it with attitude and as argumentative. But to you I want you to know I meant no disrespect!
@chadandtanya14, I do not believe everything I read but I do believe things that come from credible sources: Mayo Clinic, the CDC, aap.org, safercar.gov. You know people who are research doctors responsible for keeping us safe.
@chadandtanya14, Rice cereal DOES have arsenic in it. All rice contains a naturally occurring arsenic.
@bigmama18 I have very curious feelings towards how she gets her info. Telling me there's arsenic in rice cereal. Wtf. Ya and there is rat poison in milk too as I seen that one researcher found that 6 months ago
@bigmama18 who said I was arguing? U take it as an argument but I was being serious when I asked how she gets this info as research isnt enough. If u beleive everything u read then geez we would all not know right from left.
@chadandtanya14, she had said this before on a previous post. She had a premie and bad depression. She took the time her baby was in the nicu to read up on the safest things for him. Everything she sites is not just random pages but credible sources. And just because you pedi stays up to date doesn’t mean everyone else’s does or you would not have people giving babies food before 6 months, babies would all be buckled in correctly, cribs would not have bumpers on them. Everything she posts about you see every single day on this app. Why argue?
@alyssa5792 I'm not criticizing what so ever I'm genuinely curious. She has an answer for everything. Anyone can make a research page and put together some pictures with info and say it's true. Alot of what's on the net now a days is B.S. and untrue and it's people thinking they know what's wrong and what's right. Most things I use my head and agree that it makes sense enough to be true. Other make me wonder. One thing she told me is that rice cereal has arsenic in it! Seriously? If that were to be true I'm sure there would be crazy lawsuits and it would be taken off shelves and much more on the news and so on. I've never heard of a baby dying from eating rice cereal because it's loaded with arsenic. But again some points are very valid. Just kind of the big question mark hanging above my head how she comes up with some of these things. I could call myself a researcher and create pages and references to anything and call it true. My pediatrician is very very old and he still takes time off to go to school here and around the world to learn about more and more to this day and says that more then half the stuff on the net and that is so called been researched is un true. So will I follow what the doctor who is a profession and still continues to be for over 40 years says or will I beleive what this lady found on the net in her searches? Any right minded person will follow the professional but also take what she says into consideration.
How long did you go to school for all this info? You have all the "up to date" and "correct" info for every topic is seems and know everything about every topic so you must be a research doctor or something!
Same here waiting till 6 months. Babies don't even know what food is this young
My exact reason we are waititng till 6 months . I’m really in no rush I’m enjoying every stage . Plus on a side note I think it’s just pretty awesome to say I was my baby’s source of food for her first 6 months of life
Would like to know where did you find the info that early feeding causes food allergies and gluten intolerance. Do you mind giving me the reference?
Thank you, Lanie! Wonderfully detailed and accurate info!

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@chadandtanya14, sorry, I’m on vacation at the beach so I’m just seeing some of these things while I’m rocking the baby to sleep so I only have a few minutes.
I am a researcher by nature. Part of that includes knowing how to research and using credible sources. It also includes constantly reading and staying up to date. I am part of many groups who do this with moms (and some dads!) who gather and collect credible sources and share their findings.
I make an effort to find information that is not opinion based- and any articles that I do post that are of opinions - cite credible sources in which you can read more information.
The world is our oyster. We have it all at our fingertips. We have access to a lot of the same resources that doctors do- you just need to know how to find it and, in some cases, how to read it.
I post these as help for those who don’t know where to look or read. No one says you need to read it. If it only helps 3 of 3,999 people, heck I’m more than pleased with that.
A simple search on arsenic in rice cereal would have shown you that I was correct in my information. Instead, you chose to dismiss and insist I am wrong. That’s your choice, but an open mind would have looked into it before trying to make others get on that train.
I am of the belief that good parents should do their research and make the best possible decisions for their children. Credible, factual, science supported research. That may mean going against what has been previously taught, how we were raised and standing up for what is best. Be able to back up decisions.
Knowledge is power. We know better, we do better.