Breaking the Rules (or Starting Solids at Four Months)

Sorry, I know I've been away for a while but I've been keeping a few plates in the air. Since we last spoke I've been dealing with illness (serious and otherwise, mine and the illness of others), signing up for a marathon (more on that later) teaching B to swim (with the help of Little Dippers), got back on the weight loss wagon. The most important development is that B has started solids.

Once again I'm ignoring the advice of the good people at the NHS, I know they mean well but most of them have never met B or I so I think my judgment about what my child needs is better.  They say not to wean until six months but as the Ella's Kitchen pouches advise 'every baby is different.'

The NHS lists a number of signs to look out for which indicate that a baby is ready for food. These include being able to stay in a sitting position (the literature does not say 'being able to sit unaided), showing an interest in food and being able to get food into their own mouth with their fingers. While B can't feed himself (it would be terrible messy and most of it would end up in his eye) he can certainly do these things. I feel the most important indicators are the facts that he is interested in food and he can physically eat. He makes chewing motions with he mouth and can swallow fairly thick purees, baby rice and baby porridge.

Since starting solids his weight gain has improved slightly (he seems better 'covered' as my mum puts it) , he is sleeping better ( or he would be if it weren't for the teething!) and he loves meal times. He is obviously digesting the food- his nappies are evidence of that and he is still taking four milk feeds a day.

I've been reading around the subject- mainly trying to justify my decision to myself- and I came across an article on the US version of Baby Centre. In America they accept that all the signs may not happen before your baby is actually ready for solids and or much more forgiving of individuality- somethings the NHS probably doesn't have the resources to consider.

As for the theory that exposing babies to food too soon could lead to food allergies, I feel that research makes as much sense as not eating peanuts when you're pregnant- proven to be entirely backwards, in fact eating peanuts may help to prevent but allergies. In the US this study has already been discredited so it may only a be matter of time before that happens here.

B is loving his solid food, he loves ellas kitchen pouches, particularly the green ones and he loves a bit of mashed banana and sweet potato. He's not keen on carrots or sweetcorn.

I'm sure he'll be eating roast dinners soon.