Our ds had eczema when he was an infant so we were told to delay his food introduction until he was 6 months. There was some concern that he would develop food allergies, which he did...(most are cleared up now, thank God). He still deals with eczema.

Haven't started cereal with dd, but just wondering when others started introducing food (solid) into their babies' diets.

I missed the memo but knew as preemies it was good to get mine on it early but also had done some research on grains and amylase and decide to really limit grains the first year as a result. We started with a few fruits, a couple of veggies, egg yolks, yogurt, a small amount (never over a tbs dry/day) of oatmeal to thicken up their morning glop, then meat. Then cycled back through adding more fruits, veggies and meats. They started bananas first and even at 3 1/2 months adjusted, were in hog heaven.

HI V, thanks for writing to me about R.
There is a product here called Goats Milk Soap. It does wonders for LOs with skin problems.

Meanwhile, I started R on cereal (farax) at 17 weeks. He loved it.
good luck with the food issues, best, THK

As recommended here after fully breast feeding for six months...

and it varied with each child. With our last DS, now 3 we started him at 5 months b/c he was nursing around the clock and also his weight dropped off around the 5 month mark and I just felt that he would be receptive to eating which he was...he was also showing lots of signs of being ready...sitting up, he was getting teeth, he was grabbing at my spoon and pulling what I was eating towards him and when I introduced it he didn't have any tongue thrust...he knew how to pull the cereal off the spoon and eat it.

With our twin girls we waited a bit longer since they were born a month early...we didn't introduce the cereal until around 7 months and then our smaller twin and the one who had what looked like eczema as well wasn't receptive to eating...I just pumped more and gave her more of my milk..we had been having nursing strikes with her as well...so we gave one twin cereal at 7 months which was her corrected 6 month age...and we waited until our other one was 8 months which was a 7 month coreected age. By the way her eczema has now cleared up...but she is still a lighter eater..well with some things...she has just discovered fresh blueberries and now can't get enough.

So I think the rule of thumb is around the 6 month mark but I have known women who waited until almost a year before they started their children on regular food due to allergy fears...they just nursed and they were happy that they listened to their hearts and their babies. We are all different.

Blessings from Hope

Didn't know anyone started earlier than that nowadays. We started with rice cereal mixed with bm at 6 months but she didn't like it. My sister is starting her 6-month-old on sweet potatoes first.

I did - they were 6.5 months actul - and they took to it like they'd been doing it forever.

we started at six months..also a few weeks later, fruit and veges..
some peds start children earlier depending on their weight issues..DD was breastfed only with no formula up until that age..

We started with rice cereal and every 2 weeks introduced a new food of mashed veg or fruit then oatmeal. The kid, almost 3, does have exema as do her 3 month old brothers and are all breastfed.

We just started rice cereal about 10 days ago, when DS was 7.5 months (5.5 adjusted). Our pedi wanted us to wait until 6 months adjusted, or close to it. We'll start vegetables soon (we plan to start with zucchini from our garden). I hadn't heard about the meat thing that BT mentioned, must check that out.

Of course, he'll continue to get the bulk of his nutrition from formula until he's a year old.

DS didn't show an interest in food before then. Dr was also waiting for him to be able to sit up a bit better. We actually started with sweet potatoes... then oatmeal cereal. The doctor said that rice cereal is typically the first food, but doesn't have to be. DS tends to get constipated, so the rice cereal wasn't a good way to start.

Just rice cereal and oatmeal at first. No confirmed food allergies so far. Maggie (in VA)

I thought I was a little behind the curve or playing ultra-safe mommy when I thought that I would not start solids right at 4 months, as our pediatrician suggest I do. I just want to do it when our LO seems to be ready.

She does look at my food now, but certainly does not reach for it yet. And while she is holding her head up by herself for the most part, I just wanted to wait a little longer.

I think I will know when I know, and I really didn't want to start with solids simply because the dr. said, "It's time."