Note sure about US advice, but here the emphasis is that babies *must*
start solids by 6 months because of iron. This is the reason more often
heard than the 'or he'll never learn to chew' thing.

I think many babies do start to enjoy solids by about this time - and that
it's certainly appropriate to offer them in a social, family context (KD is
so right when she paints the sad  picture of the un-social eating situation
of too many babies today).

The trouble with cut-off ages which apply to the generality of babies is
that health professionals (here, anyway) think they apply to each and every
baby they come across, even (especially?) the happy, thriving ones who are
bouncing with health on mother's milk alone. Mothers here are often put
under pressure by health visitors to offer solids at three months - even
though official DoH advice is 4-6 months and has been for ages, and the
Dundee study showing the harmful effects of early solids (before 15 weeks)
was widely publicised in the journals.

Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK