The general consensus on when to start a baby on "real" foods is 4-6 months. Apparently their little systems can't really handle it before 4 months, and they probably don't show much interest before then either. Our pediatrician wanted us to wait until 6 months on the basis of recent research regarding obesity (which applied only to formula-fed, not breastfed, babies) but was okay with us starting with a little cereal before that. Well, by the time N was 5 months old, that child was RARING to go. The highchair was still in the attic, so at mealtimes he'd sit on my lap while I ate...and every single bite I took was watched alllllll the way from plate to mouth. Every last one. And then he started reaching for the fork/spoon, and reaching for the plate (catching it, more often than not, the fast little bugger!), and generally making a nuisance of himself. So we plopped him in the bumbo chair, strapped a bib on him, and gave him what he wanted...real food! If you can call rice cereal that. It was organic, and whole grain, and mixed with breastmilk...and he ate that stuff like it was going out of style. Loved it! By the end of the first serving (maybe two tablespoons, total?) he had the hang of it and was looking around for more.
In deference to our pediatrician's concerns we held off on other foods until closer to 6 months, doing nothing except the rice cereal, but then we introduced bananas. LOVED it!
Couple days later, avocado. Didn't love it, but ate it just fine.
After a few more days, sweet potato. Loved it!
Butternut squash? Loved it!
Carrots? Loved it!
Asparagus? Um, three bites is enough, thanks.
Oatmeal? LOVED it! (that boy can eat him some oatmeal!)
Green beans? Loved it!
Zucchini? Loved it!
So, so far the only thing he really rejected was asparagus. And I'm not going to call it quits on that juuusst yet. I learned a few things about asparagus, blenders, and cleaning ceilings when I made the first batch. But that's a topic for another post...
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