Pressure to start solids

[Heaven]

Ok DD is only 4 months old, why do ppl keep saying I should start solids soon??

I am NOT going to!! And why is it any of their business anyway??

People (like my mum, grandma, and aunties) keep asking me when I'm giving her solids and I say 6 months coz that's the guidelines. And I get roll of the eyes and 'that's ridiculous' and then I have to hear about how they started their kids at 3.5 months or 4.5 months because they were starving and they need to eat and if I give her solids she will sleep through. I'm not asking them to get up at night with her! I don't see how it's anyone else's business.

So what's with all this pressure??
Are other people getting this?

[jamakin]

Its crazy isn't it! i got the same pressure with my ds. just ignore them and start solids when you and your bub are ready. trust me theres no rush, things are simpler when there just having milk

[Arimeh]

haha I think DD was about 2 months old when DH's nana tried to give her some chocolate cake, and then pulled her hand back and said "oh no, I suppose your mummy wouldn't ALLOW you to have that".

Damn freakin straight ya old bag.

Everyone has an opinion - and they aren't afraid to use it - but that doesn't mean they SHOULD.

MIL kept on telling me that she had fed DH's older brother farex when he was 2 weeks old and I should have been doing that with DS when he was first born - as he was a hungry baby

[feeb]

Do what is right for you.

I was told at 4 months to start DS on solids as he was not sleeping as he was hungry, he has only just started sleeping throught most night (10 hrs) in the last month!! and we started at 6 months.

Grr why do people need to push views and tell you how to parent!

[Liviam]

Oh I love this arguement, NOT!! I was under exactly the same pressure and so was my SIL. I was told to start as DD obviously wasn't getting enough as she was such a fine little baby but my SIL was also hassled because she had a big boy so he needed solids because he was so big.
That generation just don't get the whole wait until 6 months at least for solids. When I was told it was what I did I used to say "yeah well you also feed us watered down condensed milk - want me to do that too??"It's so hard but you are here mum and you know what is best. Just to annoy them all I secretly started DD on solids when she was a bit older than 9 months but didn't tell them for another 6 weeks so DD was about 8 months. They were absoltely deside themselves, LOL!!!

[~Trish~]

Unfortunatley it's a universal thing and every mum will hear the older generations POV .

Learn to ignore, it's a great skill to have and you'll need it for more years of childrearing to come yet LOL!

[LaDeeDa]

My MCHN said it's time to start at 4 months....
Apparently when they start reaching for your food and watching you eat - DS does both of those things...
I'm not sure I am ready - but he seems to be :-(

[anna]

We started when DD was reaching for our food and crying until we gave her something to hold onto. She has taken to solids like its going out of fashion. She was a bit over 5 months.

Do whatever YOU want! Its your baby!!!!

Sometimes I think the oldies just want something to talk about. Just because they've done it all before, they seem to think..."oh, what's next? Solids that's right!"

[~Kim~]

Yep and you'd think that mostly beingm others themselves they would also remember how annoying interference is....
Though say that some of my girlfriends who have babes similar in age to Nate are starting now....I just smile and agree....

[STARRYSKY]

yep, I got the same here! my own father fed him chocolate at 3 months!
and to be perfectly honest my ds was a really good sleeper until we started solids so dont believe all the BS about it making them sleep better, it didnt here!
how about telling them that until 6 months of age babies have an open gut which makes it really easy for them to absorb all the goodies from your bm (antibodies and such) but it also makes them highly susceptible to infection from foreign things (like food before they are ready!)
Bm is the best thing for your baby, and food is only supposed to be fun in the first year anyway, sounds like you are doing a fantastic job.
you are so not alone xx

[sushee]

Originally Posted by LaDeeDa

My MCHN said it's time to start at 4 months....
Apparently when they start reaching for your food and watching you eat - DS does both of those things...
I'm not sure I am ready - but he seems to be :-(

LaDeeDa,

just thought I'd mention that at 4 months they pretty much put EVERYTHING in their mouths and watch EVERYTHING you do. That's not the best indication of your baby being ready, unfortunately.

At 4 months, they have had no experience of tasting any food besides milk, so they really can't 'desire' solids when they don't have any experience with it, IYKWIM. It's a developmental thing that they watch you eat, not specifically a desire to eat.

And gee, it's funny isn't it? If you were living in my suburb, you'd have an MCHN who would be encouraging you to wait until your baby was 6 month before offering solids, esp if they're consistently gaining weight. My MCHN was definitely against the introduction of solids prior to 6 months.

Which only goes to show that it all depends on you you've got in your ear. Which is why the best idea, I reckon, is to inform yourself and make up your own mind.

[Shanti]

Yes I've had a few people say "is she on solids yet?" "when are you starting solids?" ugh!!
Just do what is right for you!!!

We just say that we're starting at 6mths as per the recommendations!! End of story.

[dragoncookie]

Noone really asked me... there wasn't anyone around.
I was also really confident about doing my own thing.
I think a lot of new mums tend to underestimate themselves, because of the pressure... I just tried to never let it get to me. When it did it was normally when I was disppointed in myself.

My mum once commented to her MCHN when I was there and I said I would be pushing for six months and she said that was great, technically the girls were underdevloped and pointed out my mum should have waited... that's when my mum stopped asking IIRC.

At four months my MCHN said he didn't need anything until six months but if i felt I had to farex would be most appropriate at a young age. I said I wouldn't be starting.

At six months my MCHN congratulated me on the exclusive breastfeeding and recommended skipping farex (unless I was nervous) and starting with veges as they were less sweet. To avoid heavier foods like potato and pumpkin as it often unsettled their still young stomachs. I said we'd take things as they come.

At 8 months she counseled me and gave me the confidence to believe introducing 50/50 formula was the right thing for my PND and asked me if I needed or wanted any help getting back to FT breastfeeding to please see her. She asked how solids was going and I explained BLS and she said it was PERFECT

Sorry for the OT there, but It is ALWAYS hit and miss with familes and health professionals. They can shirk the guidelines all they want she is YOUR baby! YOUR decision if that's what you want to follow!

[AJC]

Yep I had that too, MIL made a few comments around 4mths about solids and I promptly told her that we will not be starting until 6 months. We started 10 days before DS was 6 months so pretty close to the mark, he was showing very strong signs for about a week or two leading up to that.

Good for you, she is your daughter and the decisions are YOURS!!! I get really annoyed when people stick their noses in.

[missymoo84]

to answer your question hun, yes I used to get it all the time because Ashton was a 2 hourly around the clock feeder, even his dad used to push me into starting. AND I believe it's because... they are IDIOTS who clearly have no clue and need to read up on the effects of introducing solids too early!