Starting solids
Printed From: OHbaby!
Category: Have A Baby?
Forum Name: First baby? Second or more?
Forum Description: Want help? Need support? Want tips? Men and women share advice and tips in this supportive community
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=23895
Printed Date: 11 September 2025 at 7:31am
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Topic: Starting solids
Posted By: FionaO
Subject: Starting solids
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 7:41pm
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Hi, as a first time mum I am totally and utterly clueless about solids. My wee man is gaining weight rapidly and even my plunket nurse suggested I think about solids sooner rather than later. So I have a few questions What age and why did you start solids What did you offer and when If you mush up fruit, do you have to cook it first How do you store it, ie for how long, like with formula in the fridge is ok for 24 hours etc If you freeze some fruit in ice cubes how do you then warm it? ( no microwave here) What did you use to mash up/puree fruit?
Any thoughts/suggestions very welcome, i'm hoping to delay it for a couple more weeks but want to know what i need to get sorted. ------------- 
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Replies:
Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 7:45pm
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we started at just before 5 months, but with hindsight should have waited maybe another week or 2, as she's only now starting to get into them. If Finley's weight gain is good, personally I would wait until at least 5 months. And strange that plunket would advise you to start earlier.....they give you the 'solids talk' with all the info at 4 months - at least they did for me. the watties site has heaps of info too. -------------  
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 7:47pm
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Oooh thanks my other question was are there any sites anyone would recommend -------------
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Posted By: blondy
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 7:49pm
sorry - eating dinner, otherwise would find the link for you! lol  -------------
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Posted By: sottise
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 8:10pm
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What age and why did you start solids:
5 1/2 months because she decided she wanted to... What did you offer and when: started with a couple of tsp of baby rice + EBM at her mid-morning feed, then moved on to pears / apples. If you mush up fruit, do you have to cook it first: depends on the fruit. Apples and pears, yes - kind of hard to moosh otherwise! Avocado, banana etc no need obviously. We've done both raw and cooked plums, with no noticeable difference. How do you store it, ie for how long, like with formula in the fridge is ok for 24 hours etc: Advice on the jars is use within 2 days, but I usually take one serving out then freeze the rest in tsp lots. I wouldn't store the unused canned food in the can though - put it in a sealed container instead. If you freeze some fruit in ice cubes how do you then warm it? ( no microwave here): Probably easiest to put them in a bowl and stand it in hot water - I usually microwave. ;) What did you use to mash up/puree fruit? Depends on the fruit! We've used a ricer, spoon and sieve and stick blender and all have done the job. The Watties site is http://www.forbaby.co.nz/ - For Baby - obviously a bit of Watties bias, but there's a lot of other sites out there if you do a search. Having said all that though, I'd agree with Blondy to see if you can hold off for a while yet. If he's putting on weight there's definitely no hurry to start. Is he showing any signs of being ready? ------------- 
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Posted By: monster
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 8:12pm
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I waited until 6 months and did baby-led weaning (ie. no purees - he self-fed finger-type foods).
If your boy is gaining weight well that would suggest milk is just right for him. I'm surprised your Plunket nurse is suggesting solids so early as the MOH guidelines recommend solids from 6 months. Obviously this isn't a strict thing, but in most cases it is better to lean more towards 6 months than 4 months iygwim? -------------   
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 8:24pm
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Very interesting, what signs show he is ready for solids? -------------
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Posted By: busyissy
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 8:34pm
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If you have a very hungry baby you can do solids from 4 months but most babies aren't ready until 6 months. You will definately know when he is ready, he will be watching everything you eat intently and he will lose the tongue push reflex thing they do. You could try offering him a spoon with nothing on it or a bit of very runny farex if he pushes the food out with his tongue then he isn't ready for solids.
For your other questions. First food is usually rice porridge made with expressed breast milk, formula or water and only a very runny constitution. For the first week one or two teaspoons is enough and one solid feed a day. The other options are pureed apple, or pear, or mashed banana once again mixed with breast milk or formula to make it thin enough for a first food. Id stay clear of things like peach or berries for a while as some babies react. Your plunket nurse should provide you with this information, they usually give you little sheets with all the information on it. I think if your son is gaining weight well and is contented, not hungry and wanting to feed all the time then you could probably wait a little while before introducing solids. I would definately wait until he is 4 months old, their little digestive systems just aren't ready for solid before 4 months. |
Posted By: LeahandJoel
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 9:09pm
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We started Joel last week at nearly 5 mnths. Only thing I had in the house was pears so that was his first food.........loves it Is doing about half a little tin twice a day already and seems like he could do more. -------------  
 
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.Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 20 January 2009 at 9:14pm
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What age and why did you start solids
At about 5months, because she was feeding off me 8-11 times a day. What did you offer and when Farex mixed with EBM, mid-morning after a milk feed. If you mush up fruit, do you have to cook it first You need to cook everything really well except banana or avacado. How do you store it, ie for how long, like with formula in the fridge is ok for 24 hours etc I freeze my home-made babyfood in glad bags for up to 3 weeks, or if it's in the fridge up to 48hours from "fresh". If you freeze some fruit in ice cubes how do you then warm it? ( no microwave here) I put the cube in a small pyrex teacup, then sit that in a bowl of hot water. What did you use to mash up/puree fruit? Cook well, mash with a fork, then push through a sieve if you want a nice smooth puree. ------------- http://www.babysfirstsite.com"> 
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Posted By: FionaO
Date Posted: 21 January 2009 at 9:08am
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Great tips thank you. i think what was pushing me is how often in the day he wants to feed now, he used to last 3.5 to 4 hous now i really have to try and make him wait 3, i will check how he reacts to an empty spoon, not going to do anything before 4 months but he just seems to hungry and some days goes through way more milk than he is supposed to (according to the tin) -------------
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Posted By: monster
Date Posted: 21 January 2009 at 10:14am
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It's also common for babies to have a growth spurt around 4 months. They may want more milk feeds, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're ready for solids yet - check for those other signs too. -------------
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