>> Well, you guessed it, my little guy had his own ideas about starting solids.
Attending a party at 5 months, he crawled all the way across a large rug to
get a croissant, he was not to be denied.  The hostess aptly commented that
she didn't understand why mothers didn't know when it was time to introduce
solids. If you watch the baby , s/he will give you undeniable cues :) Cathy
 >>

Have to tell everyone that *I* am the hostess referred to in Cathy Liles'
post  ;)


>>I don't think "reaching" for solids is an appropriate "cue".

Her son did a lot more than "reach" for solids -- he crawled a long way,
with a very intense look on his face, and stuffed that croissant crust into
his mouth with glee.


  Can't remember if I read it in WHO or
LLL but I agree with waiting for all the developmental milestones such as
holding up their own head, being able to sit at the table in a high chair
unaided, the pensor ability to pick up food and put it in their own mouth,
and a few teeth to chew the food.    ( also read that children who teeth late
inthe first year tend to be the ones with food allergies???  and therefore
it's good to wait for teeth to sprout.....anyone heard that???)

There is no known connection between dental eruption and food allergies.
Children erupt teeth according to strict genetic timetables inherited from
their parents.  My first didn't get any teeth til 13 months, but started
solids at 4 months.  You don't need teeth to chew most foods, just as not
having teeth doesn't mean you can't hurt your mom when you bite while
breastfeeding.  The gums are quite strong and firm, and have teeth right
beneath them.  Teeth erupt with lower central incisors first, followed by
upper central incisors, then lower lateral, then upper lateral.  It isn't
until well into the second year of life that children have teeth they can
actually use to "chew" food (the deciduous molars).  Those incisors are for
biting off chunks of food from a source -- like taking a bite from a banana
mom is offering.  NOT for chewing food.

Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Texas A&M University