When Can I Start Introducing Baby Food to My Baby?

Hi D.,
I was so confused too! I started rice cereal at 5 months and then moved onto veggies. Then I moved onto fruits. I started meats around 7 months. I make my own baby food when possible but I do but jarred as well. I give my daugter water but she mostly plays with it. She is still breastfeeding so that might be why.
I wanted to let you know that I am a 30 year old first time SAH mom and I go to 2 mom's groups, one in Hyde Park and one in South Tampa, that are great ways to get out of the house and meet other moms. I also go to the malls (mostly Citrus Park) if you ever wanted to go. I also have passes to the zoo and Busch Gardens and want to start going more with the weather finally getting cooler. Let me know if you are interested in any of this.
Good Luck!
A.

Hi D.,

I started my kids at 4 months with rice cereal (under the direction of my pediatrician). After a week, I offered barley cereal, then another week later, oatmeal (you should wait 4-5 days, at least, between each new food, to check for allergies).

I started them on baby food and "Yo Baby" yogurt at 6 months. Orange veggies first (carrots and sweet potatoes), then yellow (squash --not corn, we waited on corn until they were 1, in case of allergies), then green. We started with veggies so that they wouldn't develop a sweet tooth and refuse veggies after the knew how yummy friut was.

Once we introduced all the single fruits and veggies, we moved onto the mixes. Stear clear of citrus until they are over 1 year old. It gives a terrible rash!

We introduced the jarred meats around 8 months and they hated it (I would too, they smell like cat food).

Then, around 10.5 months, we introduced finger foods (Gerber Graduates has a great line of easily-dissolved finger foods). We also introduced easily-dissolved and easily-gummed (test it out by putting you lips over your teeth and try to chew it) food like cut up ripe avacado, banana, tofu hot dogs (cut into TINY pieces), mashed potatoes, small pieces of white meat chicken, etc. By just before their first birthday, they were both on table food, exclusively. We just made sure to prepare meals that we could adjust (cut, mash, etc) for our kids. Actually, once we introduced table foods, both kids refused most of the bland, yucky jar food.

As for organics, I served them as much as I possible. I agree with you, pesticides, antibiotics, and growth hormones are not good for adults, so why should we feed them to our kids. I kept my older child on organic whole milk from age 1 to age 2. My little girl (15 months) is still on organic milk.

I hope you find this helpful.

Have fun with your little one and take lots of pictures when you introduce new foods. You will get some hilarious photos!

T.

Evidence suggests that feeding baby solid foods before 6 months greatly increases their chances for diabetes. I usually introduce solids between 6-9 months depending on which child and what their interest level was. I only recently began introducing juice to my almost 3 year old. Personally I would rather they eat the fruit itself, rather than the juice and juice is often just empty calories and can fill up their little bellies too much and take away from other more nutrient rich foods. Again personally, I hate it when baby starts to eat solid foods, so I try to hold off as long as possible and totally let baby tell me that they are ready. Breastmilk or Formula is all baby needs for at least the first 6 months.

I make all my own baby food, and yes, in response to your other question, we only eat organics.

Hey D.,

I started feeding my son baby food I believe when he was 5 months old. He probably could have eaten it at 4 months, but we wanted to get the okay from the doctor. We tried a mashed up banana 1st, then we went to stage one baby food. He only had it maybe 2x's a day. He didn't even finish an entire jar. Then, once he was about 7/8 months, he had a whole jar 3x's a day. Later on you just need to judge for yourself how much they need to eat depending on how hungry they seem. Once they don't want a bottle as much, that is when they will eat like pigs :).
As for the water, I gave my son water at about 3 months. Of course he would have rather had the formula. We tried apple juice around the same time that he started eating baby food. We didn't give it to him very much.

Sorry I rambled. I hope this helps a little.
Good Luck,
H.

D.,

I started my daughter on rice cereal at 5 months. It took her almost 3 weeks to get any meaningful amount in as she kept spitting it out since they are still losing their tongue-thrust reflex. After she was taking that in well, we started on vegetables (about 1 every 3-5 days to check for allergies). Then we moved on to fruit. A lot of people go right for the fruit, but I didn't want to spoil her taste buds for vegetables. I didn't start giving her water until around 6 months or so; and then it was only an ounce here and there. Milk/formula has a lot of water in it to quench her thirst. Don't be discouraged when it takes so so many tries to get any solids in the baby. It happens to everyone. Hope this helps.

K. R.

Hi D., I strongly caution you against giving your baby rice cereal at this age. There are good cereal recipes in the Super Baby Food book. The rice cereal doesn't really offer much nutrition and there are studies to suggest that rice cereal at this age can lead to diabetes. Refined carbohydrates(rice cereal) are physically addictive.

Okay, jumping off the the soap box,
E.

Hello D.;

That happens to be my daughters name also. She's 16 1/2 and I also have a 17 1/2 year old son, they are both in High School. First of all I would like to congratulate you on being a new MOM. You will find it the most rewarding thing you can do with your life.
Anyway, I started feeding my kids as early as 3 months. Many Pediatricians do not agree with that. My son was born over 10 pounds and the bottle was just not enough for him. I also started him on Chamomile Tea (very weak brew) as early as 3 weeks old because he was colicky. Pediatrician recomended that. The Tea substituted water because he prefered it.
At 3 months I started him on a very soggy cereal mix in the AM and late Afternoon formula mixed with very little ceral (wet consistancy) so the baby can slurp from spoon. They still don't have the chewing/mushing thing down. Be prepared she will make a mess. Try not to start the Baby on Rice Cereal because it can constipate a baby's delicate digestive system. Oatmeal or BArley is good or mixed barley. As far as vegetables and fruits go they say you should start with vegetables first and then introduce fruits. Introduce 1 thing at a time ; 1st week or two Cereal, then in the evenings (IF THE BABY IS DOING WELL WITH CHEWING(MUSHING/MOVING FOOD AROUND MOUTH)INTRODUCE A VEGETABLE GREENSBEANS OR PEAS?) Feed the baby one thing for 3 to 4 days and do not introduce anything new for those 3 to 4 days. This will help you realize easier if the baby has any allergies to any foods.
I agree with the vegetable introduction first because once babies taste the sweetness of fruits they pretty much know what they want and like; so save fruits and sweeter veggies like, squash and others for last.
Once you start fruits I guess you will pretty much know your babies tastes better and you can figure out what to do as far as juices (but remember to dilute juices with bottled water, because of sugar content).
REMEMBER many pediatricians these days believe in waiting until six months or longer before feeding.
BUT I TRULY BELIEVE IN THE MATERNAL INSTINCT. Who knows your child better than you? Besides your Mom maybe, I listened to everything my Mom told me to do and now she swears I'm a better Mom than she ever was, BUT I always tell her I had the best Teacher.
Another thing about being a new MOM enjoy every minute, every touch, every gurgle and every smile. IT GOES way too fast.
I've been a babysitter since I was 15 years old I'm now 43 with two (almost)grown kids. I helped my working siblings raise my Nephews and Nieces and I loved every minute of it. I went to College for Early Childhood education and I still babysit for family and friends.
Any other questions feel free to e-mail me at ____@____.com I also live in the Palm Harbor area and have friends with younger kids.
Remember go with your gut, you can't go wrong with maternal instinct.
As far as allergies are concerned don't be too concerned. When I first gave my daughter eggs(around 6 months) she broke out in a small rash, but six months to a year later she was able to eat eggs. Depends on what kind of reaction.
These days we have to be careful because of additives and pesticides.
BUT REMEMBER WHEN IN DOUBT ALWAYS ASK YOUR PEDIATRICIAN. Especially since I'm not aware if your baby has any special needs as far as digestion. For example my daughter has been Lactose intolerante since she was an Infant and had to have a special formula. Turns out I'm also Lactose intolerante but we didn't know about these things in the old days. My Mom says I was always a fussy baby and always had stomach problems with my milk.
Ok. hope all this was helpful and good luck at the Pediatrician.
Bye, C.

There is a wonderful book out there called Super Baby Foods. The author is Ruth something. It has been my baby food bible since I started my 5 month old on "solids" a month ago. Everything I have read and my pediatrician have said you can start at 4-6 months. My daughter was ready. The book explains how to tell when they are ready, what to start with, how to make it, what other foods to start and when, how to make your own baby foods, what jarred foods to buy (Earth's Best brand is all organic and pesticide-free, etc)... there is so much information in it. It is so comprehenive in regards to anything baby food related. I highly, highly recommend it. So far, I am making the baby food myself, which has been so easy. Mashing bananas instead of jarred bananas... microwaving sweet potatoes and freezing them in cubes instead of the jarred. It also talks about introducing other grains (millet, barley, oats) and legumes and beans... it's been wonderful and so inspiring to me on how to start healthly habits with my daughter. It answers questions about water and juice. Anyways... I hope that helps. Any questions you may have should all be answered in that book. Good luck!!!