also have you seen this? http://www.nhs.uk/news/2008/04April/Pages/Arsenicinbabyrice.aspx

btw if anyone is weaning before 26 weeks you need to avoid allergenic fruits so bananas, strawberries, kiwis, citrus fruits, tomatoes.

perhaps try baby led weaning instead. that will let you know if they are ready. They should have lost the tongue thrust reflex and be able to hold their head up and sit up straight with minimal support. If they are doing all this then try baby led weaning. just put bits of steamed veg in front of them on the high chair and see if they manage to pick it up, put it in their mouth, chew and swallow. if they can do this then they are ready for weaning, if not then try again in a few weeks.

THANKS FOR ALL THE ADVICE.

sething else to remember...the dried and jarred baby foods all start at 4+ months...if it wasnt allowed they wouldnt be able to lable them as that

as i said before...use common sense, dont overload them with lots of different flavours at a time and you should do fine

to the PP...DS1 also prefered the sweeter flavours to start with...it can take them quite a few tries before they decide whether they like something or not, so keep trying with the savoury things...she'll pick it up...im a really fussy eater, DH will eat everything except artichoak hearts (says they're slimy) and shellfish (mildly allergic)...DS1 will eat everything he's tried so far, now 19 months even eats gherkins and radishes

We started around the 4 mth time as well she is now 21 wks and at first I made up half the recommended amount for a 4 mth old that is said on the pack and she had that and then she had the rest of her normal milk feed just did that once a day for a few weeks and then at 5 mths started the organix apple and mango rice milk tub half of that for another feed and then after a few wks added pureed carrot to the apple and mango and today i've just added potato to the carrot and apple and mango so she is getting veg as well as I found she preferred the fruit baby rice flavours and obviously has a sweet tooth and likes the fruit but not the veg so we're working on that and i've going to make sweet potato and carrot puree this week for next weeks flavour sensation.

Yesterday and today she has taken a full portion of baby rice (as per the box says for a 4 month old) and all her veg/fruit puree mixture.

the best advice is really to follow your instinct as to what your baby wants to take

4 months is the younger end of todays weaning ages (thats if you go by the book lol)...so keep to the rice for at least a few days, add in carrot,cooked apple,mashed banana etc if you feel your LO is doing well...they may be accepted right away or you may need to do a half and half with baby rice to tone the flavour down a little until they get used to other flavours

as for amount...if your LO is happily wolfing down 1 tsp worth, make up 2 tsp and see if they will take it, making sure you dont lose any milk intake

i started DS1 at the 14/15 wk mark on baby rice and he was a wee grubber and onto other things in no time...now at 18 months the only things he wont eat just now are lettuce and radishes...havnt tried him with jalopenos yet (im not that mad, they'd burn his mouth and i hate to think what might come out the other end LOL)

remember when adding in new things that it takes up to 3 days for things to work thru the system...thats why its advised to try adding one new thing a week rather than every day, makes it a lot easier to see if there's any bad reactions and whats caused it

hi there, i stuck to a spoonful of rice for a week then moved to fruit puree for another week but the same flavour as i had heard they need to get used to a flavour...

after that we were changing the fruit and upping the amount, but stuck to one flavour, i.e didnt mix pear and apple just gave one in one portion, iykwim....!!!!!

to be honest i find its all trial and error on the amount you give, your baby will let you know if he/she wants more or dosnt!!!!

i still find it hard to judge the amount and dd is 6months, and my second child!!!!!

good luck... xxx

I know it isnt the done thing but we had a starvo baby boy so we put a spoonful of baby rice in his bottle from 3mths cos he was a nitemare... and it worked!!!!!

Hi i have just started to wean my lo on monday have started with a spoonful of baby rice he is 4months. Could someone tell me do you keep to 1 spoonful of rice for the first week or do you change to different things and spoonfuls? This is all new to me so could do with a bit of advice. Also any receipes to start with.

Thanks