Hi friends.. im a confused 5 months old baby's mother.. My pead. said slowly start solid like rice and ragi kachi, steamed apple and banana.. just 2 meal per day. My lol always wants something to chew and looks constantly when me and my parents eat. When I checked this with pead, he said not give teether it will lead to infection and start giving solid slowly as baby chewing hands of her others for want of food to eat.. I know only after 6 months I can start solid.. But bcoz of pead and my child behaviour I feel like starting solid now.. My baby BW 3.3, LW 2.8 CW 6.1. Pee and poo counts is normal.. Please clear my confusion and guide me..

Hi mommy chewing of hands does not mean he wants to eat, around this time all the babies does that. Check the following pointers.

FOR ALL MOMMIES STARTING SOLIDS FOR THEIR LOS
There are 4 criteria that HAVE to be met most importantly before starting solids.;
1. Baby must have completed 180 days/6 Months;
2. Baby must be able to sit unsupported for a few seconds;
3. Baby must have lost tongue thrust.;
4. Shows interest in food;
Once baby meets ALL the criteria, only then you may start solids.;
Please remember that for the baby’s first year, bm/fm is the main source of nutrition. Solids are not to be used to make the child “fatter/gain weight/fuller/sleep better”;
This is because their digestive tracks are still not mature enough to process food completely so they may not be able to extract nutrition fully from solids. However, having said that, it doesn’t mean you should not feed them healthy options. This is the practice period which will set the pattern for their eating habits in the long run... so avoid force feeding, distraction feeding, giving junk food or masking tastes of things;
No animal milk, salt, no sugar/jaggery/honey till the baby completes 1 year. Even post that if you can avoid, please do.;
Before every solids meal, give bm/ff (about 20-30 mins before);
Continue to breastfeed as normal and don’t replace a feed session with solids.;
When you introduce solids introduce everything individually first, be it fruit or vegetable or cereal.;
6th month - 1 meals;
7th Month-2 meals;
8th Month- 3 meals;
9th month- 3 meals and a snack if needed;
10th Months- same; as above and give snacks as per demand.;
If you are doing traditional weaning, then steam instead of boiling before pureeing;
Start with breakfast and observe any reactions.;
Offer variety. Don’t give the baby the same thing for several days
Don’t be alarmed if baby doesn’t eat more than a few grains or a bite in the initial days, it’s normal.;
Follow the baby’s cues when it comes to quantity. If baby persistently refuses then don’t force.;
Will add to this if I remember any more points
Some suggestions for starting weaning :-
PURÉES
Beets
Cauliflower;
Carrot
Sweet potato;
Pumpkin
Lauki;
Zucchini;
Peas;
Rajma;
Chick peas;
Apples
Pears;
Papaya
Strawberry;
Plum;
Any other fruit or vegetable;
MASHED
Dal
Rice
Brinjal
Upma;
You can also give upma or Ragi porridge
Post introducing everything on its own you can start doing combinations;
Like peas and cauliflower;
Apples and banana etc
Introduce without spice first so baby can taste everything in its natural form.;

And by 6.5 months stop the puree and offer well cooked vegetables, rice , dal etc.

The Many Myths Around How Babies Chew Food

Thanks Rebecca Prakash . she is able to sit few seconds without support as now.. I will wait for 180days to complete.. but what is losing tongue thrust???

No

Hi keep a clean spoon on her tongue if she is pushing it out continuously then not lost the tongue thrust, if she is taking it inside then yes.