What age should you introduction a baby to solid food?

Answer 1

The World Health Organisation recommends exclusive breast/bottle feeding until 6 months of age when solids can be introduced. This is because of the link with starting solids early (even 4months is considered early) and the increased risk of allergies (gut not ready) and childhood obesity (not sure of the exact mechanism for this, but i know that exclusively breastfeeding for the the first 6months puts the baby at a lower risk of developing childhood obesity according to the lactation consultant at my local Child and Youth Health).

Answer 2

well solid foods now......from formula? it depends on their age... Nutritionists usally discourage solid food, (jar mush) til the age of 6months, (ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS!) I started my son out by adding rice cereal to his formula at a month old. At 2 months go ahead and start off with stage1 jars, the child may or may not finish the whole thing , so save it for the next feeding, in fact your baby doesn't need to have regular food at every feeding, maybe just every two. By 5 or 6 monts stage 2 jars are perfect and you can feed the child everytime he's hungry, keep in mind though your child should still be on breast milk or formula--(THe stages are designed to work w/ the childs digestive system and apetite, w/ different flavors and textures) Introducing juice at this time isn't a bad idea either. when you think your child is starting to teethe, go ahead and by the baby cookies or toasts (their just the right texture and melt easily in the baby's mouth) I used those and believe it or not but Beef Jerky- It works wonders and its tastier than that baby crap! By thie time you actually start seeing teeth, it might be time to switch to stage 3 jars or you can feed the baby what you eat as long as you thoroughly cut everything down and blend things into bits ( make sure everything is small enought so that if the food doesn't get chewed enough it can still be swallowed without choking) If you'd like professional advice check out the Beech Nut or Gerber site, www.beechnut.com

Answer 3

Your baby will answer that question for you. Look for certain signs and signals that your baby is ready, and then you will know. There is not right age to start a baby on solid foods, but moreso, there are developmental markers that will tell you he is ready.

Can he hold his head up on his own? Can he sit with support? Can he move his tongue in a way that would allow him to get food to the back of his throat? And is he AT LEAST 4 months old?

If your baby is NO less than 4 months, drinking more than 32oz of formula in a day.. and exibits the previous developmental capacities, then he is ready for solids.

Answer 4

make sure your baby has teeth and never give your baby any thing with bone's.i would wait until the baby is 8-10 months old,for solid food and your baby wants food more then often.always tell your doctor.if your baby is 1-4 month's,put more formula then water.let's say 3 scoops is 6 oz. put 5 oz. of water.if your baby is 4-8 months,you can give your baby apple sauce or mush potato's,broth,juice and things that will go down easy!i have three of my own.

Answer 5

Generally, when the baby has both incissors ( Front teeth ) and molars ( the teeth at the back ).
However you can slowly introduce semi-solid foods, like porridge like foods with soft vegetables, preferably boiled, once a couple of front teeth appear. In in doubt, consult your doctor or check baby food labels for age groups.

Answer 6

Pureed veggies etc. @ 6 months. Although some peds. recommend baby cereals berofe that depending on how the baby is growing.

There's all kinds of debate though about whether cereal before 6 months is good for baby. (Lots of people do it to get them to sleep longer and most books say this doesn't actually work.)

I had a good sleeper though so we started with cereal 5 days before her 6-month birthday for a month and then started on the new foods every 3 days (to rule out allergies) after that.

Answer 7

My daughter started on the rice cereal at about 4 months, then we moved on to the jarred baby fruits and veggies a few weeks later. The doctors recommend introducing only one new food a week to check for allergies.

Answer 8

Feeding Solid Foods to Babies
Baby's digestive system needs time to mature.

When your baby begins to eat solid foods, try to make feeding time a relaxing time. Don't try to feed other hungry children at the same time

Although many parents are eager for their babies to start eating solid foods, most doctors advise parents not to start feeding their babies solid foods until they are at least three months old. Some doctors want parents to wait until six months to start babies on solids.

Don't start too early…

Feeding babies solid foods before three months may result in problems like allergic reactions or too much weight gain. When babies start eating solid foods too early, they may fill up on food and not drink enough milk. This could mean they will grow slowly because they aren't getting enough protein. Breast milk or formula provides all of the nutrients in the proper form, and it's all most infants need for the first few months.

Nutritious cereal first…

Baby's first food is usually cereal—rice cereal, barley or oatmeal. Start by feeding one or two tablespoons of cereal mixed with formula. Feed this mixture with a spoon, not from a bottle or infant feeder. Babies need to learn to eat from a spoon. Boxed cereals are more nutritious and less expensive than those packaged in jars, so start your baby on boxed cereal.

Next, vegetables and fruits…

Vegetables and fruits will probably be the next foods your baby will eat, and you can use those you prepare at home or you can buy commercial products. Offer only one new food to baby at a time. Try it for three or four days at a time so you can see if an allergic reaction develops. Allergic reactions include hives, vomiting or diarrhea. Fruit juices may be started with fruits, but many doctors advise your waiting until your baby is about a year old to start orange juice or other citrus products.

Meats are usually started after vegetables and fruits, and these, too, may be prepared at home or bought. Choose single ingredient commercial meats, not combinations, for your baby's first meats. Items like chicken and noodles or vegetables and beef have less protein than single meat products .

When your baby begins to eat solid foods, try to make feeding time a relaxing time. Don't try to feed other hungry children at the same time. You might want to give baby a little formula or breast milk so he'll be hungry, but not starving. After the other children are fed, feed the baby solids and finish with more milk.

Answer 9

I think the going age was 6 months but now is 4 months. I start with oatmeal cereal as this seems to be easiest on their little tummies. Rice can be constipating. I would check with your pediatrician to be sure about the age as general health can change this as well. Reflux babies are given cereal at an earlier age to help keep the formula/breastmilk down.

Answer 10

I have read as early as four months. However, most doctors that I have talke with recommend that you wait until the child is at least six months and starting to be intrested in what you are eating. When your baby is ready and showing intrest, start with rice cearal mixed with milk / formula. From there gradually add one food at a time.

Ask your pediatrician to be sure.