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I started DS at about 5 months and he is now a happy healthy 2.5 year old with a fantastic diet. He eats everything we eat and is not fussy at all! Plunket say to wait until 6 months but I have just read a book which recommends starting NO LATER then 4.5 months! It said that if you leave it until 6 months bubs can become deficient in some nutrients (esp. iron) and it can lead to fussy eating later on! I was just after your opinion on when is a good time to start and if there are any major issues with starting too early or too late. I know each baby is different and I will largely follow my daughter's lead but I don't want to do her any harm by starting too early or late!
She is EBF at the moment and we have no allergies in the family. Idealy I didn't even want to think about solids until closer to 6 months but reading this book has got me thinking!
in fact your question highlights a somewhat transitional stage we are in regarding solids. Current guidelines in Australia and NZ till recommend ‘about six months’. However, research out of Europe regarding the growing rate of food allergies, now suggests that there is a window of time where the immune system isn’t fully ‘primed’, that being 4-7 months. It seems that this is the best time to offer foods to avoid a reaction, that leaving it too late can lead to a more ‘alert’ immune system in a sense over-reacting. Hence, you are likely to see a shift in recommendations back to 4-6 months.
What you have said is right ‘on the money’! Baby is your best guide. Potentially, the to’ing and fro’ing simply strengthens the argument that we should take our babies lead. We do know that solids prior to 16 weeks is not advisable because their intestinal canal doesn’t have the healthy bacteria in place for immunity. Even four months for some bubs can be a bit of challenging immunologically and mechanically, which just brings us back to looking for a number of signs of readiness as apposed to just age. And yes, at about six months many babies are beginning to run low on their own body stores of iron. So we have a rough range which most, but not all, bubs will fit into.
Having said that, there are some bubs who simply won’t budge on solids and start when they are ready, that is just how it is. So like all things theory is fine but often reality is quite different.
Stick with your own time line in relation to baby, that:
- Baby is able to hold head up well (so that the throat is clear for the passage of food).
- Bab can sit unaided.
- Baby’s tongue doesn’t poke out as much, which shows they are able to chomp over simply suck food in.
- Baby can move food about in the mouth.
- Baby shows clear interest, such as practicing chomping motions with their mouth while they watch you eat.
Once you see a number of these, and in particular the top 3, then you might like to give solids a go. Not sleeping through the night, particularly on its own isn’t really sufficient to suggest starting solids, especially at an early stage.
If you would like more specific detail on solids, I have some tip sheets on Huggies on starting solids and also a book that might help with solids, the links are:
Solids
http://www.huggies.com.au/baby-care/baby-feeding/solids
Book club
http://www.huggies.com.au/benefits/book-club
(it is at the end as the books are listed in alphabetical order)
www.sneakys.com.au under the nutrition resources page.
I hope that makes sense of things ok
All the best
Leanne