Should you ever wait longer than 6 months to introduce solid food?

Question

I've been reading that you should wait until the baby is at least 6 months old or the baby will be more at risk of developing respiratory or ear infections.

I just wonder if 6 months is the exact right time to introduce solids, or if waiting even longer is better if the baby is thriving on breastmilk.

For the lady who asked about my internet source regarding the respiratory and ear infections, follow down the page to the 1st of the list of reasons to exclusively breastfeed until 6 months and you will see:
"An extended period of exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of gastrointestinal, respiratory and ear infections in babies."
Here is the link: http://tinyurl.com/qxyyd

Answer 1

Six months is the *earliest*. Most of my kids started around 11 months old, but I had one who had allergies and couldn't tolerate *anything* until he was a year and a half. (At that point, he had outgrown the allergies and ate everything.) 3 of my kids are healthy adults; the allergic one is a healthy teenager.

Signs of readiness for solids include the ability to sit unsupported, appearance of teeth, and development of the "pincer grasp"--where a baby can pick up small objects with the thumb and *one* finger. If she/he has all 3 of these (or *maybe* 2), she/he may be ready for solids; otherwise, not.

If you think baby may be ready, then try. She/he'll let you know. If baby takes to it like she/he's interested, then continue; otherwise, try again in a week or two...or even longer. No matter *what* age your baby is when she/he's ready, you'll know it. In fact, some families *never* start solids. Instead, they wait until baby takes something off the parent's plate, puts it in her/his mouth, chews, swallows, and wants more. That's the *best* sign that baby is ready!!

As for all the people who said "I gave my baby solids earlier, and she/he is fine", keep in mind that some side effects of too-early feeding don't show up for 10-50 *years* later. Breastfeeding protects your child from some cancers *throughout* her/his lifetime. You won't know if this child will be one of the "statistics" who dies of cancer 30 years too early (but as an adult) because of your choice to feed mush to her/him before her/his body was really ready...

Answer 2

Agreeing with the response above, a baby would be fine on only breastmilk for the first 12 months. Any solids offered before a year are just for fun and practice.

If your child is interested in solids at 6 months, then I wouldn't deprive him/her that learning experience. The majority of the nutrition will still come from breastmilk, but they'll have the opportunity to experience new tastes and sensations.

With my older daughter, I started solids at 4 months (at the advice of ped) b/c I didn't know about the 6-month recommendation. She actually loved all kinds of baby food and then table food. Sometimes it took a few offers before she got used to it, but at 3, she's still a very good eater.

My younger daughter started solids a little before 6 months, and she was very interested in trying what we were eating. (She hated baby food in any form.) She rarely ate more than a few bites a day and preferred to nurse a ton. It wasn't until close to a year old that she showed an interest in eating a larger quantity of solids.

FWIW, my older daughter weaned at 14.5 months, has had very few colds in her life (mostly very mild), and got her first ear infection at 2 1/2 years. My younger daugher still nurses 4-8 times a day at 19 months, and she's had multiple colds and 3 ear infections.

I do believe very much in the benefits of breastfeeding, but every child is different. Simply withholding solids will not guarantee that a child will stay completely healthy.

Answer 3

The reason why giving solid food to a baby before six months of age is not advisable is because solid food will replace some of the mother's milk in his diet. The mother's milk provides antibodies which protect the baby from infections with bacteria and viruses. And by decreasing breast milk in his diet you will decrease his protection against infection.

According to medical experts, the baby's immune system is immature and cannot defend the baby well against infection until somewhere between 1 and 2 years of age. Here is what they say:

"By about 6 months, the antibodies your baby received from you in utero will be largely worn away. Your baby has started to make her own, but they don't reach a significant protective level until between age 1 and 2. This leaves a second window, between 6 and 24 months (the first was during the newborn period) when children are most susceptible to bacterial and viral infections, such as colds and ear infections."
http://netscape.americanbaby.com/ab/story.jhtml?storyid=/templatedata/ab/story/data/2180.xml&catref=cat1840028&page=3

This means that ideally the mother should continue breastfeeding the baby until his immune system becomes mature enough. And in many third-world countries this is exactly what most women do.

But in Western countries, antibiotics and medical care is widely available. And usually it's no big deal when the mother stops breastfeeding the baby early. She can always take the baby to the doctor or to the hospital for treatment of infections.

Not every baby gets serious infections. But stopping breastfeeding early increases the risk for such infections. And these infections can be life-threatening.

Answer 4

This all depends on your child.
You pediatrician would know best.
My children were all different.
My oldest was almost a year because she has stomach problems.
My second was about 4-5 months. He was drinking a lot and needed more.
My youngest was 5 months and she was just ready.
So really talk to your Dr and discuss all your feelings and even make note of how much your son or daughter is eating everyday and let them know.
My younger two were nursed.

By 6 months I would at least introduce rice cereal.
Unless they have a medical condition that would prevent you to.
It is nice to get them use to a spoon when they are younger.

And just for the record I have not heard of ear infection or respiratory problems from eating too soon.
If it is on the Internet please post where, I would like to read them too.

Answer 5

I definaltey wouldn't wait past six months. Especially if your baby has teeth. Just make sure everything is in tiny pieces and not too hard to chew. I started my daughter out on baby food at four months and introduced solids as time went. The only thing i've heard that can cause ear infections is letting baby bottle feed lying down. Besides they have vaccinations for ear infections now. Its call Prevnar i think.

Answer 6

the doctors tell you not to even introduce cereal to an infant until they are 4 months old or older. around 6 months they say to introduce food starting with veggies, then fruit, and then the meats. The reason they say to wait this long is because if you feed an infant food too soon they run the risk of developing food allergies. I don't know how true this is but that's what my doctor has told me about my 3 month old son.

Answer 7

at 6 months you want to start with 2 or 3 tablespoons of baby food just to introduce your baby new tastes and new textures.
Formula or breastmilk is the only your baby needs at this time until he is 12 months. However is better to show him different food so he can get use to it when the time for real solids comes.

Answer 8

I would say 6 months or as soon as there is a sign of a tooth. You want the baby to get use to solid because it will come a time when milk is not enough. But it does not have to be a source of nutrition right now, just add nutrition.

Answer 9

Trust me if you do everything that the doctor tells you to you would drive yourself nuts. I have a three year old daughter and when she was only three months I started giving her mashed potatoes are anything soft, but I waiting to give her meat until she had teeth to be able to chew it all up. But for the most part a parent knows better then the doctor when the child is ready for sold foods Just be careful and make sure they dont get a huge mouth full of food.

Answer 10

I had a friend whose pediatrician told her not to give her baby solid food for 1 year!!! I thought this was outrageous. She was not breastfeeding, either. She was using formula.

If your baby is satisfied with the breast milk, and isn't demanding more frequent feedings, then he probably doesn't need any solid food. Most mothers start their babies on solid food in order to get them to sleep better through the night. Take the cues from your baby, If he needs something more, you will know. You are his mother and you know your baby better than anyone else...even the Dr.