To sit or not to sit? Solid food question! - Page 2

[PatioGardener]

Originally Posted by Hannah32 

The current AAP guide to young children's health recommends from 4-6 months as the time to start solids. 

I was referring to the AAP Breastfeeding and Human Milk Policy that states

"Pediatricians and parents should be aware that exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 months of life and provides continuing protection against diarrhea and respiratory tract infection.^{30,34,128,178–184} Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child.¹⁸⁵

• Complementary foods rich in iron should be introduced gradually beginning around 6 months of age.^186–187 Preterm and low birth weight infants and infants with hematologic disorders or infants who had inadequate iron stores at birth generally require iron supplementation before 6 months of age.^{148,188–192} Iron may be administered while continuing exclusive breastfeeding.
• Unique needs or feeding behaviors of individual infants may indicate a need for introduction of complementary foods as early as 4 months of age, whereas other infants may not be ready to accept other foods until approximately 8 months of age.¹⁹³
• Introduction of complementary feedings before 6 months of age generally does not increase total caloric intake or rate of growth and only substitutes foods that lack the protective components of human milk.¹⁹⁴"

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496#SEC6

While it does acknowledge that not all babies are the same and for some earlier food introduction may be necessary, the overall recommendation is exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months.

Interestingly the nutritionists at APP support the 4-6 month recommendation, so there is debate within AAP about it. The CPS (Canadian Ped Soc) and WHO support 6 months exclusively breastfed.

I'm sure there will be more research into this, which I am looking forward to reading! For now, I'm happy with the evidence to keep my guy EBF for 6 months.

[Hannah32]

I agree that it's not phrased particularly clearly. I've gone by what the AAP book says. Its title is: "Caring for your Baby and Young Child." I have the most current edition, purchased while I was pregnant. And yes, when you get to the "Four to Eight Months" Section, it starts discussing adding solid food. The book presents it as a range of readiness, between four and six months. The big sign they say to watch for is the loss of the tongue thrust. 

Interesting that nutritionists are saying four months. This is just my opinion, but I think the reason why allergies are on the rise so much is because waiting does more harm than good. There was one study on that, which agrees with me, but I don't have a link to it. 

[trumpcard]

I wonder about the allergy thing. 

If EBF infants are getting exposure to foods through mama's milk, why would delaying solids increase the risk of allergies?

[LadyCatherine185]

I would not say more people are waiting until 6 months to add foods.. most people IRL think I'm nuts to wait until 6 months and are offering cereal/jarred stuff at 4 months. so I don't think allergies are on the rise because of people waiting.

[ShanaV]

To the OP, you could sit him in a Bumbo seat or high chair and that would probably solve the sitting problem.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 

I would not say more people are waiting until 6 months to add foods.. most people IRL think I'm nuts to wait until 6 months and are offering cereal/jarred stuff at 4 months. so I don't think allergies are on the rise because of people waiting.

I agree.  I'm more inclined to think it's because of the allergens in vaccines that are triggering these responses.

[Hannah32]

Originally Posted by LadyCatherine185 

I would not say more people are waiting until 6 months to add foods.. most people IRL think I'm nuts to wait until 6 months and are offering cereal/jarred stuff at 4 months. so I don't think allergies are on the rise because of people waiting.

Yeah, but back in the 50s, babies got rice cereal at 3 weeks for goodness sakes, and allergies were not nearly as common. 

As for the vaccine theory, well vaccines aren't new either. 

[LadyCatherine185]

were they not as common, or just not realized? how many babies had "colic" etc and grew up to have asthma, IBS, etc? All could be from allergies that were never addressed. This is all JMO and speculation, of course ;)

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by Hannah32 

Yeah, but back in the 50s, babies got rice cereal at 3 weeks for goodness sakes, and allergies were not nearly as common. 

As for the vaccine theory, well vaccines aren't new either. 

The Hep B vaccine at birth is new, and the slew of vaccines at 2 months is new.

[WifeofAnt]

Well he's 4.5 months now (a week and a half to 5) and I've been occasionally testing him.  For Easter dinner I put two little soft pieces of green bean in front of him and he had fun... smashing them with his rattle.  No effort to pick them up or sign that he even knew they were food.  He was hungry at the time because he asked to nurse halfway through dinner and I fed him but his opinion on the green smooshable stuff didn't change. 

He does sit a little while on his own now.  Its hunched over and leaning forward but he's making progress.

.

[Bokonon]

Originally Posted by WifeofAnt 

Well he's 4.5 months now (a week and a half to 5) and I've been occasionally testing him.  For Easter dinner I put two little soft pieces of green bean in front of him and he had fun... smashing them with his rattle.  No effort to pick them up or sign that he even knew they were food.  He was hungry at the time because he asked to nurse halfway through dinner and I fed him but his opinion on the green smooshable stuff didn't change. 

He does sit a little while on his own now.  Its hunched over and leaning forward but he's making progress.

.

If he's not interested, why not just wait?  I just don't understand the hurry.