EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

My ped has given me the okay to start me 4mo DD on solids. i know i want to wait, not sure for how long and i just wonder if she is ready for it. she eats every 3hrs and STTN 10-11hrs. i don't want to deprive her but i want to keep EBF her too.

thus, with that being said, when did you start solids? why did you start/what was your reason to start? any advice you can offer me would be great.

tia ladies. i've hit a crossroads and just don't know what my next step is.

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

I started DD on rice cereal just the other week at 5 months old because her GI said she gained very poorly from 3-5 months.

Otherwise, my ped said there is no reason to start until 6 months. The purpose of starting food on baby is for iron at this point.

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

I started them because I thought it might help them STTN. I know some claim this is a myth, but Ryan did start STTN about a week after I started (he started at 5.5 months) and Colin improved (longer stretches) after I started him at 5 months.

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

I EBF both kids and started them very slowly on solids at 6 months - didn't see a need for it before then and neither were sleeping through the night at that stage at 6 months.

DD showed a little interest in solids at 6 months but she still mostly BF until she was around 8 months and then she perked up to soilds. DS had ZERO interest in solids at 6 months - he refused anything off a spoon so he went straight to table food - small pieces of course around 8-9 months.

I would not rush it if I were you but thats just me

Edited to Add - in this house starting solids did not help them STTN - DS is a year and on soilds and still not STTN.

Message edited 8/10/2010 11:23:35 AM.

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

At our 4 month ped appointment he said to start her on oatmeal and/or rice cereal. She had been showing interest while we were eating at that time also. She took right to it and loved it from the start.

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

my ped said i could start at 4 months

I decided to start at 6 months - he was sleeping through the night at 5.5 months - he would watch me eat around 4-5 months - when we started he took to it right away - did not spit much out and want to feed himself right away

i waited till 6 months also because there is a lower incidence of obesity in children EBF for 6 months - and my dh's familyt has a history with obesity

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

Our dr said not till 6 months so we'll probably start fruits and veggies a little after that.

I don't see any reason to start before then, he's growing like a weed with nothing but BM in his tummy

Re: EBF moms- when & why did you choose to start solids?

we started at 6 months - that was our ped's recommendation. she said that babies get the most benefits by having only breastmilk for the first 6 months of life.

we were in no rush to start. we did "try" a little oatmeal cereal at 4 and 5 months and he was NOT ready at all.

even at 6 months, it took him 2-3 weeks to really get it.