Starting solids at 4 months old

amother

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 11:10 am

My baby is not a good bottle feeder for some reason. We’ve tried many different things, maybe he just doesn’t like the taste 🤷‍♀️. I’m thinking (based on a suggestion by a feeding specialist) of starting him on solids because I think he’ll like that better and at least will get some more calories. Right now he’s not even taking in the minimum he should.

Has anyone done this? And can give me tips? How and with what to start? And when to progress to “real food”?

amother

Slateblue

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 11:12 am

My pediatrician recommended starting baby on puréed chicken soup at 4 months. We didn’t actually start until about 5-6 months.

out-of-towner

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 11:25 am

Go for it! Many pediatricians recommend starting solids at 4montbs old.

However, of your baby isn't taking the calories that he should then you need to see a nutritionist.

amother

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 11:27 am

out-of-towner wrote:

Go for it! Many pediatricians recommend starting solids at 4montbs old.

However, of your baby isn't taking the calories that he should then you need to see a nutritionist.

Can you give me tips on starting so young? I forgot how to progress with solids for infants?

ggdm

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 1:14 pm

I started my son at 4.5 months. He was really into it from the start, so it was the right choice. I tried with my daughter at the same time and it took her three weeks to eat anything (trying again every few days). You will see.

I did what is the recommendation in my country. You should check with your pediatrician. Here, they say to start with purreed veggies. Like carrot. Start with a few tea spoons, make the portion bigger until you replace one nursing meal. That may take weeks. Add oil to the veggies and later meat. Start to replace the second meal with milk cereal. Milk is only recommended from 6 months on here, but that was more or less around the time I introduced the second meal to my son anyway. If it is before, use formula instead of milk.

I am very curious what the recommendations in your country are, I think they are very different around the world Wink

amother

Rose

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 1:35 pm

I started at 4 months

I started off with the gerber baby rice cereal, then each week introduced a new food. I made my own baby food and each week tried a new fruit or vegetable. I also would put chicken soup broth in a bottle which she loved, and gave chicken from it at around 5 months

chili-n-cholent

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 1:40 pm

I started solids at 4 and 1/2 months with my son as he was this big buster that just wasn't getting full.
My pediatrician fully recommended this and wasn't even necessarily particular about what I start him off with as long as it wasn't milk or milk products as he's a more laid back old time doctor.
His first food was blended soup, I also gave applesauce jars and slowly moved on to more after a few weeks.
I found it very important to have a good highchair that can support them when so young as they really can't support themselves, I got the Primo Cozy Tot which was amazing, it really held him in place like a big boy.
What other questions do you have?

amother

Violet

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 2:50 pm

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until 6 months. Speak to your pediatrician. If your child doesn’t like to nurse or take a bottle that’s an issue that needs troubleshooting ASAP with your pediatrician.
Good luck

honey36

Wed, Apr 21 2021, 3:06 pm

My daughter refused to take a bottle of pumped milk. (Tried literally everything) and I went back to work when she was 3 months.

My babysitter started giving baby oat cereal mixed with breast milk when she was 3 months. I heard oats are healthier than the rice cereal which could have more pestiside etc.
Eventually we started pureed veggies and fruits.
I would have preferred to start solids a bit later, but didn't really have a choice. Anyways she turned out fine (7 y.o. now)