It seems to be a very far-fetched idea that there is a "window" that children
will learn to eat solids.  This is such a life-requirement that humans would not
be able to survive without.
[Didn't I read somewhere that even children who are strapped on their parents'
back all the time tend to walk at about the same age as those who are allowed to
roam freely as ours do?]

In our case, On our first-born's 6th month birthday - I ceremoniously started
the mashed bananas, then on to the usual foods, first in a very mashed state
then on to more formed foods that he could pick up as his pincer capabilities
developed.

Second son - hated mushed foods and refused them.  Gagged every time I tried to
feed him anything mashed.  (Which I really didn't try until he was over 7 months
old - too busy to make a ceremony of it, either!)  He did like to pick up food
and eat it with his fingers when he was 9 months old, and did fine as long as I
didn't give him anything too soft or mushy.

Daughter - no ceremony - no attempts to feed her solids as she had no teeth
until she was 14 months old.  She did start "solids" on her own at 8 months
(grabbed mashed potatoes from my plate, so I figured she wanted some!).  She
"gummed" everything to death then swallowed.  Again, no ceremony - just feeding
when she wanted and always had healthy foods around.

(In fact it wasn't until the kids were in the upper grades that I had sodas,
etc. in the house - they were my way of welcoming their friends so my house
would become the meeting-place. )
Bribing has its uses!

Jeanette Panchula, BSW, LLLL, IBCLC, RN
Puerto Rico
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