i dont think how big she is matters, its all if she is ready or not

and it sounds like she is ready for something more

i would suggest asking about starting her on baby rice cerial

~alicia~

Our ped started Jaylon on solids when he was 4 months. He was 'average' size.
Every ped is different though

If she shows interest in ya'll food I'd start her. I've read that when babies can support their head and show interest in food they're ready for solids.
We started Ava at 4 1/2 months and she was big like Eadie.

I started both my kids around 4 months as well. They were both big babies......but the reason I started them is because they would stare so intensely at me whenever I would eat something. Plus my son would just devour his bottle so I knew it was time. Once I tried it there was no turning back. I started them both on a rice cereal and did that for a little while before I went to veggies. I bet that Eadie will really enjoy it

My son was 22lbs at 5 months and is the same now and he's 1 yr old.He was a big baby and I started at 3 months with cereal. I think she is ready for rice cereal.

If she seems very interested in what you are eating, that's a really good sign that she is ready for solid food. We started our daughter on a little bit of cereal a couple of weeks ago (she'll be 4 months on the 18th) because she was interested in what mommy and daddy were eating. She didn't take to the rice, but she loves the oatmeal.

our doctor started us on solids at her 4 month check up.
She said its more about head control.
If the baby has good control then it is fine. But you will get the food nazi's out there who say not until their 6 months. (ive gotten a new one ripped from a few people)

Well, I agree that her interest in your food is a good siganl that she is getting ready. Also, as Vanessa said, head control and ability to swallow easily are both indicators as well. I started both of my kids on solids earlier than 6 months because they were ready. Your doctor will advise you at your next appointment whether she is ready yet or not. She does sound big! What a healthy girl you have raised. ISn't it amazing that you did that all yourself?

I tried Brian on rice cereal and he is not ready:(. He closes his mouth in protest and sometimes will laugh while doing it. I know he is hungry. I have tried this a few times and after I clean him off and hold him, he starts rooting on my shirt or his hand. He just wants me. Last night, he would not stop eating. So much for sleeping through the night. It really seemed like it was every 1 1/2 hour.

Yep, it does sound like Eadie is ready!!! Lucky you. I feel like I am feeding Brian all the time. He now refuses a bottle from me and other people. When I am at work (two day a week), he refuses the bottle and may only drink a few ounces. From what I am told, he seems happy. When I finally return to him, he eats for the remainder of the night. I wish he would at least eat something. Oh well...he will soon enough. I have decided to breastfeed longer. I was going to stop at 6 months but the whole weening process doesn't excite me.

OH...it definitely sounds like your milk supply is enough for her if she is already 17 pounds. You must have some rich milk, mama.

Eadie certainly sounds ready for the big world of solids. I started Chandler just after his he was 4.5 mths old. He LOVES it. He was screaming at me one night to eat my dinner so I got out the cereal and he ate all I gave him. He has been eating it 2 times a day since, and we just started with Sweet Potatoes on Saturday and he is not too sure about that, but does not complain while I am feeding. Speaking of feeding Chandler, he is just waking up and will be wanting some dinner.

Good luck!

yes hun, i agree. If they're ready or not is the question. landon was "ready" at four months, I started him on rice cereal and then the oats. He didnt like it too much so started the baby food asap (6months), good luck!

Meeeks was 12 weeks when she started on solids, she's one hungry bubba, she weighs over 18lbs and is in size 4 nappies.

thanks everyone. i guess it won't be long then. she has great head control and i noticed that she doesn't push her tongue out anymore when she gets her vitamin drops. i think it's so amazing that they can grow so big and sturdy on just breast milk. eadie isn't even really fat, she's chubby of course, but she's also just really solid and strong. i love it. i'm so sad that it goes by so fast though. can't we slow it down and keep them babies a little longer? i know i will love and enjoy every age she is at, but right now she is all mine and she loves me best. i guess it's a little selfish but i just cherish this time so much. all this just because she'll be getting her food from somewhere else soon! lol ....SIGH

I really know what you mean. I was super bummed when my kids weaned themselves from the boob. I think I would have fed them all the way up until graduation if they would have asked me to.

I'm dreadign the day when i stop breastfeeding, i know i'll hate it. Though sayign tha Mika has to be completly off the boob by 14 months when i go to college because i can't just nip out of my lesson to go and feed her

Reese started solids around that age.. and he LOVED it.. the first thing he ate was a pickle cause he stole it from shawns hand and started sucking on it..

the doc said i should just wait to give her any solids. she said she could probably take them now but there is no need for it yet. she said if i don't mind feeding her at night a little longer it would be better to wait until she is 6 months old. so i will wait longer. i sure don't mind, it's not hard to pick her up and give her a boobie in the middle of the night lol. the doc said she is getting enough and she is healthy and growing so i have nothing to worry about. so i guess we will wait!

oh, i guess it's better for their digestion and all that to wait longer she said. also, it might cause food allergies to feed them too soon.

so that's that.

isnt it funny how doctors differ. I had a few nurses tell me that and then two of brees peds told me to start her on food.

I know what you mean. My health visitor said it was ok to start Mika at 12 weeks and i trust her because she's my sister's kids health visitor too but when my health visitor wasn't available for my appointment and i saw anotwe one (she was quite old btw) she practically had a go at me saying i'd give Mika Gastro Entoritis