Time to Start Solids

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…Or not! 😀

Once a baby hits the 6month mark, almost everyone will assume that he/she has started on solids. Some parents are even distressed that their babies persistently refuse to eat.

Well, I am here to buck the trend – again! 😀 We actually deliberately delay the introduction of solids for as long as possible 🙂

The usual plan is to start breastfed babies on solids when they turn 6months as their caloric needs increases around that time and it is often thought that breastmilk is no longer sufficient or nutritious but I beg to differ 🙂

A baby may be ready to eat at 6months but it doesn’t mean he should. There are many studies done which show that babies who are prone to allergies should delay starting solids as long as possible. And actually, babies are much smarter and more attuned to their bodies needs than we are! So a baby rejecting solids may actually be protecting his delicate gastrointestinal tract!

Since both sides of the family exhibit lots of allergy issues 🙁 we’ve chosen to breastfeed exclusively for as long as possible. Please note that this does not mean we do not allow babies to eat if they want to. But most of our babies (except #1 & #3) do not lose their tongue thrusting instinct until 8 to 10months. So offering them food only results in them spitting everything out. And while they may want to taste or put what I am having into their mouths, they are by no means ready to eat a full meal or even a teaspoon of it! Like a MOMYS said – “At this age, even if you offer your baby a shoe, he’ll grab it to stuff it into his mouth!” Lol! Babies generally put everything into their mouths. It is not a sign that they are ready to eat.

So I let my babies take the lead. I strongly believe that breastmilk is the best, most well balanced, nutitionally superior food for babies in their first year of life. And I’d rather nurse them than feed them rice cereal. Besides, my babies almost always constipate when they first start solids 🙁 No matter how diligent I am about increasing their water/liquid intake. Especially if they eat wheat based food items. Which hints at an immature/sensitive gut.

When they are finally ready, I feed them off my plate – gasp! 😀 As mentioned, they are mostly interested in tasting, and not eating, so it really doesn’t matter if they food does have seasonings in it. If they were eating more, I would be a lot more careful – as I was with #1.

In case you are wondering, I did do the whole pureeing/blending/mashing thing with our first child. And he loved his food! He would nurse to his heart’s content and then still be able to wallop a bowl of rice porridge! Three times a day! None of the rest were as enthsiastic as he is about food until they were weaned. And yes, he’s still very interested in food!

So far this has been our “pattern”. The babies are allowed to nurse as long as they want. They get a taste of “safe” foods as and when they indicate interest. I don’t prepare special foods for them. They eat so little it is just not practical. Sure, it is possible to freeze their food but it would take us a good 6months to finish even 1 bowl of food!

Usually after they turn one, their interest in food increases 🙂 And so I feed them what ou family usually eats – which is usually Chinese food (rice, noodles, stir frys). The only thing I do monitor carefully is any reaction to any food. And I avoid giving them any seafood, except fish, and eggs for as long as possible. Now that I know better, I also try to avoid giving them any wheat-based foods until they are past a year old.

By the way, the number of teeth they have or have not does not interfere with their ability to eat solids. Babies are able to gum their food even if they have no teeth. Of course we must use our common sense not to give them hard or chewy foods!

I am not dissuading you from feeding your baby solids 🙂 But I am sharing that it is not crucial that your baby must the moment he turns 6months old. Please do not get all stressed up if your 6 month old baby refuses to eat your steaming bowl of yummy porridge. Give him a break. And try again in 2 weeks’ time. If he still refuses, leave it. Just continue to nurse him and one day he’ll be ready and enthusiastic about food!

Just remember that as you intoduce solids, you must increase the amount of water/liquids you give your baby or you’ll have to deal with constipation as I did. It is really not a pleasant experience.

Happy feeding!

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