when to start first solids

[carlyryan]

I have a 4 month old son, and Im thinking about starting to introduce Farax, but im not sure if its too early or how to start introducing it.:flowerz:

[GraceUnhearing]

not until 6 months


Why Delay Solids?

* Reasons for delaying solids
* Additional information
* References

Health experts and breastfeeding experts agree that it's best to wait until your baby is around six months old before offering solid foods. There has been a large amount of research on this in the recent past, and most health organizations have updated their recommendations to agree with current research. Unfortunately, many health care providers are not up to date in what they're telling parents, and many, many books are not up to date.

The following organizations recommend that all babies be exclusively breastfed (no cereal, juice or any other foods) for the first 6 months of life (not the first 4-6 months):

* World Health Organization
* UNICEF
* US Department of Health & Human Services
* American Academy of Pediatrics
* American Academy of Family Physicians
* American Dietetic Association
* Australian National Health and Medical Research Council
* Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
* Health Canada

Most babies will become developmentally and physiologically ready to eat solids by 6-9 months of age. For some babies, delaying solids longer than six months can be a good thing; for example, some doctors may recommend delaying solids for 12 months if there is a family history of allergies.
Reasons for delaying solids

Although some of the reasons listed here assume that your baby is breastfed or fed breastmilk only, experts recommend that solids be delayed for formula fed babies also.

* Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.
Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breast milk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time. (Wilson, 1998) Many other studies have also linked the degree of exclusivity of breastfeeding to enhanced health benefits (see Immune factors in human milk and Risks of Artificial Feeding).

* Delaying solids gives baby's digestive system time to mature.
If solids are started before a baby's system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy. Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months.

* Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies.
It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies (see Allergy References and Risks of Artificial Feeding). From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an "open gut." This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream.This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby's bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also. See How Breast Milk Protects Newborns and The Case for the Virgin Gut for more on this subject.

* Delaying solids helps to protect baby from iron-deficiency anemia.
The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby's iron absorption. Healthy, full-term infants who are breastfed exclusively for periods of 6-9 months have been shown to maintain normal hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. In one study (Pisacane, 1995), the researchers concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months. The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia. See Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary? for more information.

* Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.
The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood. (for example, see Wilson 1998, von Kries 1999, Kalies 2005)

* Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.
Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby's diet - they do not add to baby's total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.

* Delaying solids helps to space babies.
Breastfeeding is most effective in preventing pregnancy when your baby is exclusively breastfed and all of his nutritional and sucking needs are satisfied at the breast.

* Delaying solids makes starting solids easier.
Babies who start solids later can feed themselves and are not as likely to have allergic reactions to foods.

[Aquillah]

Great post Unhearing!I too believe in the 6mth mark. Is there a reason why you want to start now?what is bub doing to make you think that?

Its just widely recognised that babies (on a whole) thrive on milk alone until 6 mths. I would say do some research and make your decision!

[Cicho]

Both mine started between 4 and 5 months... All the research in the world is great, but all babies are different thus their requirements and appetites are different too....

Do what you believe is best. Your baby and you know them best! :)

[Cicho]

not until 6 months

LOL whats this about spacing babies? What does that have to do with feeding solids? ( In the article )

Anybody who has used breastfeeding as a contraceptive knows how hit and miss it can be!

Scare mongering article in my opinion

[GraceUnhearing]

All the research in the world is great, but all babies are different thus their requirements and appetites are different too....




all babies are different yes.

but all internal systems are not.
all stomachs etc are not
we are all built the same
these things are not different


Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months

this is the same in EVERYONE!


All babies go through the stage of putting everything into their mouths. my 5 month old is doing that right now! anything he grabs goes right in his mouth
that doesnt mean he need solids what so ever
its a stage
so is watching everything we do
again this is not a sign, its what babies do.


scare mongering? come on!
hahaha
check out kellymom.com its full of great info

[babygizaiah]

I started ds on organic baby rice at 4mths (recommended starting age is 3mths).Even though he was breastfed until he was 12mths at the 4mth mark he was showing he needed abit more food even though I had a really good milk supply. I only started off on 1tbsp once a day and then gave 3 small meals of 1tbsp at 6mths onwards. Worked treats. My son was filled up and slept like a treat.

I say there is no set rules you just have to do what works for you and this definitely worked for bubs and I

[Milliner]

DS Started at 6 months - spoon fed

We did BLW with DD and she had her first taste of solids at 8 months.

[Adelaides Mum]

I started my DD on solids at 4 months, just Farax to start with once a day. Shes now only just hit 6 months and is on 3 solid meals a day and 4/5 250ml bottles.

[just her chameleon]

I introduced solids to DD 2days before she was 5mths.

She was starting to wake through the night again and formula just didn't seem to fill her up.

I think it really is a case by case basis. Personally, 4mths is too young IMO.

Good luck with whatever you choose :flowerz:

[cja]

DS - 4.5mths
DD - 6.5mths

Every bub is different...... do what you think is right for yours

[carlyryan]

Ok kool, yeah i was just wondering, my mum said not to feed Lucas untill 6 months no matter what anyone said and she is a nurse, and then i get told by other mothers that they started feeding there little ones at 4 months and i should be doing the same. I think Im going to leave it to 6 months just to be sure, the formula seems to be diong ok for his appetite right now, he is eating the recommended amount daily and is happy.

[Roopee]

6 months minimum.

Showing 'signs' like opening their mouths when your eating and following your food is all normal developmental milestones for a 4-6mth old baby. It is NO indication that they are ready to 'eat.

If you introduce food to an immature gut then your running the risk of that child, later in life possibly developing allergies and some food intolerance.

I would wait until 6 months as a bare minimum. :flowerz:

[Luna Lovegood]

The recommended age is 6 months, it is true all babies are different.

I wouldn't start my baby on solids prior to 6 months unless I had sought medical advise and the doctor agreed that for whatever my reasons were, they were justified, and that my baby would not be harmed in doing so.

Don't do it until you have seen a doctor. :yes:

[lambjam]

The guidelines will continue to change forever, they aren't set in stone.

My boys were both hungry at 5 months so I fed them accordingly. Go with your instincts, mums underestimate themselves all too often in the face of experts and statistics :goodvibes:

[Silvana]

Because every baby is different, then it stands to reason that every baby will be ready for solids at different ages. The guidelines released by WHO, are just that, guidelines. They are not the law.

With my eldest, she started at 4 months, because formula could no longer sustain her, and she was on the max amount already.

With my youngest, she started after 6 months, but she isn't a big eater. She is 7 months now and eats really well.

Also guidelines change all the time, so you should do best for your baby, and you will know when they are ready.

[naebie]

I believe in the 6 month mark too- Check this out:
http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/guidingprin_nonbreastfed_child.pdf

[rachel1976]

It's true that the official advice from health authorities is that we should wait until our babies are 6 months old before introducing solids. But I just thought you might be interested in the fact that my babies' paediatrician (not sure of spelling!) is very passionate about starting solids much sooner, i.e. 4 months. He insists there is much more evidence that sooner rather than later is beneficial, re. allergies etc, in fact he is really angry about the '6 month rule' as he says the evidence is not clear enough. His advice is to introduce EVERYTHING by 9 months.

My daughter is nearly 4 months old so I'm planning on starting her on solids soon, mostly because there are severe allergies throughout the family. My son is now 2, and we did everything by the book with him - i.e. solids at 6 months, and we didn't introduce egg until 9 months and he is allergic to egg.

Ultimately it's your decision, I just thought I'd share that info with you FYI. :)