Since you asked... :oops: , here's a differing view! :wink:
Current research and recommendations from ALL the major health organizations now recommend waiting until 6 months to start solids - and for good reasons. Babies stomachs just aren't mature enough to properly digest solid food much before then. No matter how advanced your lo might be in other areas. Starting solids too soon can lead to an increased risk of allergies and digestive problems, not to mention more gas and nightwakings. And starting proteins too early can potentially damage their kidneys!
Around 3 and 4 months, babies start to salivate more and put things in their mouth as part of the developmental process of learning and exploring their environment. They look with interest at the world around them and at what we're doing. Watching us eating food included. But that DOESN'T mean that their bodies are prepared to handle solid food. Your lo may well eat the solids if you offer it, but it doesn't mean it's really good for her - babies will eat dirt if it's offered! Besides, for the first year, milk is the most important source of nutrition - solids are just for practice.
Finally, people always seem to use the example that so-and-so (often a parent or grandparent) started solids at such-and-such an age and were fine. To that I remind them that those people were also probably brought home from the hospital in a basket resting on the back seat of the car. Yes, they survived that too, but I wouldn't want to do that to my child. :shock:
You mentioned that you're transitioning from 3 to 4 hrs right now. I would give that a chance to settle in before starting something like solids. Your lo will have years and years of eating solid food - what's the rush now? In some cultures, solids aren't started until close to one year.
Anyway, just my 2 cents. You'll hear lots of people encouraging you to start early - I just want to make sure you get the other side of the coin! Good luck with whatever you choose!
