When Should I Start My Baby On Solids?

Reader Question

I could also use your advice on babies! This one is uncharted territory
for me. My daughter is now 10.5 months. She basically hasn’t eaten solids
yet. My boys both seemed “hungry” by 5.5 months and smoothly transitioned
to solids and nursing. She doesn’t like solids and solids don’t like her
(any little bit of food binds her up so much she can’t sleep and is
miserable for several days until it passes!). She seems healthy and well
fed just on breastmilk, and I noticed on your blog a few moms wrote in that
they didn’t start solids for a year. I guess I am just not sure when to
push solids now, what to start her on if I do. But I am just not sure what
to do and how to know if she needs it? Any advice?

Advice From Judy

    Lots of babies don’t eat solids until 12 months or even later.
    Nutritionally they don’t need it. The only reason to introduce them is for
    the experience of different tastes and textures. I would say follow her
    cues – if she isn’t ready, keep offering, but don’t push it. Your
    breastmilk is all she needs to be healthy and strong.

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2 comments to When Should I Start My Baby On Solids?

  • Many babies are not ready for solids at 6 months, 9 months, or even 12. But a large number of babies do need solids long before 12 months. For them solids are not just a matter of texture and test; they might not gain weight or develop properly without them.
    It’s important to follow the baby’s cues, and not artificially delay solids. It’s one thing if a healthy baby refuses solids (although some conditions like anemia can depress the appetite) and another to maintain that breast milk alone is enough for under 12 months. Breastmilk is the mainstay of a baby’s diet until 12 months, but solids are important.

  • My son is 9 months today and I started him on solids at around 5.5 months. He did fine on them and now in the last several weeks he has had no interest at all. I can get about 4 bites into him and he’s done. I am not really that worried but my mother is freaking out about it. He also goes to a doctor that I won’t share this info with unless he gets to a year and still won’t eat anything because we don’t really share alot of parenting philosophy. I agree that you should follow her cues. If she is happy, meeting milestones and gaining weight steadily don’t worry. Too many people transition babies to large amounts of solids and forget that the main source of nutrition should be breastmilk until a year.

    Amy

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