When to start solids

Hi, I was just wanting some advice about starting solids. I am consious that I do not want to start them too early, but DS is now waking in the night for a feed which he has not done since 5 weeks. He is now 17 weeks.

How do I know he is ready?

I'm assuming you're going to be doing puree? If so, what I did with my DS is 'feed' him an empty spoon to see if he opened his mouth or still stuck his tounge out..Sticking their tounge out is a big give away that they're not ready. Also, does he seem interested in food? or could he just want more milk overnight?
I know the 'recommended' age is 6months but some bubs (i.e Mine) are ready sooner. Now, at 8months he's on finger foods and some puree..
So, see if your bub is showing other signs aswell as the waking, coz the waking could be an age phase and not hunger.
Sorry lol not sure if that helped at all. Good luck

Be careful, some babies have reactions to baby rice - mine included!

Your baby will let you know - trust me!

A good way to tell - regardless of how you plan to feed them spoon/blw/etc a good thing to do is sit them at the table with you, on your lap is good and if they start pulling things off your plate and putting it in their mouth - they're ready - have had so many people tell me this and in the end DD did this and that's when I knew she was.

I thought she was ready earlier but she wasn't when I look back, she'd open her mouth but stick her tongue out or spit it back out. Signs that they aren't ready.

The staring and mouth movements are normal parts of their development but not signs that they are ready. Same with night waking. Babies go through periods, especially when they learn something new, and actually fully wake up from sleep cycles - can't self settle back to sleep...

Def try the spoon thing, you could also put baby in highchair and put something like a soft steamed/boiled carrot stick on their too and let him play with it so he gets an idea. But maybe that's more if you want to do BLW.

GL - Starting solids is tricky! Plunket kept telling me strictly not before 6 months but no later than 6 months and only when they're ready... Contradictory much? But trust me - you'll know!

night waking alone is not a sign a baby is ready for food... they do go through a growth spurt and need more milk but food isnt necessaritly the answer.

And when you think about the usual first foods too, apples, pears... Not things we would normally have to fill ourselves up with as a meal iygwim.