Must-Know Tips for Starting Solids

Babies only need milk or formula before 6 months. Signs to look for are 1- Not drooling as much (aka swallows their drool), 2- Can sit without much assistance, 3- Shows interest in food and your eating, 4 - Mimics chewing, and 5- Brings food to their mouth given the chance. When your baby shows ALL the signs, not just one or two they are ready to be given solids. My son was nearly 9 months old before he was ready for solids.

This article is wrong. Dr. Sears recommends waiting until 7 months to stop food sensitivities. If you are nursing, don't worry if your infant doesn't take to solid food for a year or more. Babies without health complications are fine without supplements other than D. I waited until 8 months because DD wasn't interested--he is wonderful, bright as can be and yes he can chew his food. (say that out loud...."My baby won't learn to chew and swallow if I wait too long"...lol?!)

The most important thing to remember is that transitioning from milk to solids is a big event for your baby¿going from one primary feeder (mom) to many, from eating laying in someone's arms to eating sitting in a chair, from experiencing the same taste and texture at every meal to experiencing different things at each meal. Sometimes solid food rejection has less to do with the food than with all the change. http://www.itsnotaboutnutrition.com Dina

any suggestions for a 2 yr old who does not like to eat. we are looking at a visit to a specialist. He is 21 lbs. I am worried. we have tried force feeding and all sorts of things.

When my older daughter was born she wasn't gaining weight so the doctor told me to forget breast feeding. The doctors don't tell you need the extra weight for breast feeding. My daughter also had a milk allergy and we didn't know this when I was trying to breast feed her. She ended up on Soy Formula. My second daughter breast feeding went fine and she wanted to eat every two to two and half hours. She wasn't picky at all but she was started early on solid foods.