when to introduce solids

[Hosanna]

Hi
I have a four month old baby. I know the mainstream recommendation is not to introduce solids before 6 months but I just heard from my doctor that she says not to leave it any LATER than 6 months either. This flummoxed me as my mum raised six vegetarian children and breastfed exclusively until 12 months.
any thoughts?
Anna

[Erin Pavlina]

Yes, get a new doctor. ;)

But seriously, feeding babies solid foods before they are ready should never be done.

There's a list somewhere to see if your baby is ready for solids. With both of my kids I took note of them reaching for my food, seeming to want to try something from my plate, etc. With my first born, Emily, at 5.5 months she was chomping at the bit to get to my banana. I mean she was practically launching herself out of her chair to get it. So we put the banana under her nose and she started licking it. We mashed some up and she was eating it from our fingers like she had been born to it. I had intended on waiting until at least 6 months to start checking, but there you have it.

Meanwhile, my son, Kyle, didn't want any part of solid foods until closer to 10 months. We didn't push it. Since they were both getting breastmilk I knew they didn't need solids from a nutritional viewpoint.

Let the baby decide.

[annie7]

Giving solids that early seems like "asking" to give them tummy troubles.

[ProudVegetarianGirl]

I was told by my doctor 6months is the age to start solids. But actually he said you could wait till 9months untiill you start.Depending on if your formula or breast feeding. The milk is the best thing for the baby.

[bluefin]

well it depends on child to child
for my nieces my sister in law started solids at the age of 7 mnoths
i mean crushed food off course
well they really like it as they wrere feeling bored drinking the same stuff everyday
so we started with all normal meals but crushed