Wait until at least 4 months, and if you start then, don't give them more than a bite or two at a time.
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Actually the current recommendation is to wait until at least 6 months.
Reaching for and grabbing at food and screaming when he doesn't get it doesn't mean he's ready for solids. Right now my 9 month old tries to reach for our electrical outlets (all covered up) and when we move him away, he screams. But that doesn't mean he's ready to be an electrician.
Starting solids before a baby's digestive system is ready is a set up for allergies and digestive issues later on in life.
The signs to watch for: sitting up unassisted, loss of the tongue thrust reflex, the ability to pick up small items and move them to the mouth (ala pincer grasp), the ability to swallow food that has been chewed rather than food that has been sucked, and an interest in eating.
Try to wait until 6 months. IMO, a little before 6 months would be okay IF your child is exhbiting all the readiness signs--we started solids at 5 1/2 months because DS was doing all these things.
Originally Posted by mamakay  Wait until at least 4 months, and if you start then, don't give them more than a bite or two at a time. |
Reaching for and grabbing at food and screaming when he doesn't get it doesn't mean he's ready for solids. Right now my 9 month old tries to reach for our electrical outlets (all covered up) and when we move him away, he screams. But that doesn't mean he's ready to be an electrician.
Starting solids before a baby's digestive system is ready is a set up for allergies and digestive issues later on in life.
The signs to watch for: sitting up unassisted, loss of the tongue thrust reflex, the ability to pick up small items and move them to the mouth (ala pincer grasp), the ability to swallow food that has been chewed rather than food that has been sucked, and an interest in eating.
Try to wait until 6 months. IMO, a little before 6 months would be okay IF your child is exhbiting all the readiness signs--we started solids at 5 1/2 months because DS was doing all these things.
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Nope. Yours is a revision of a different policy. The one I posted still stands. They're on slightly different topics.
They each have at the top links to what they're an update to and if they've been revised, there's a link to the revised one. (go to the one you linked to, at the top it says "This policy is a revision of the policy posted on August 1, 2000." click that, then in the new one you'll see it says "This policy has been revised by the policy posted on January 1, 2008." ) The one I posted has not been revised.
-Angela
Originally Posted by mamakay The policy I posted is a revision of the 2005 policy you guys are posting. They changed it to 4-6 months because there wasn't any evidence to support the "no earlier than 6 months" rule. |
They each have at the top links to what they're an update to and if they've been revised, there's a link to the revised one. (go to the one you linked to, at the top it says "This policy is a revision of the policy posted on August 1, 2000." click that, then in the new one you'll see it says "This policy has been revised by the policy posted on January 1, 2008." ) The one I posted has not been revised.
-Angela
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Oops. You're right.
Ok, the 2005 policy says:
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And the 2008 policy (that's specifically about when to introduce solids) says that any time between 4 and 6 months is ok.
I sort of take it collectively to mean that nothing other than breastmilk should be given in a quantity that's a "significant" source of nutrition (like, replacing breastmilk) before 6 months, but it's not harmful to let them have very small amounts as early as 4 months if they seem really into it. There's nothing bad that will happen if you let your 5 mo have a sip of your vegetable soup, for example.
Originally Posted by alegna Nope. Yours is a revision of a different policy. The one I posted still stands. They're on slightly different topics. They each have at the top links to what they're an update to and if they've been revised, there's a link to the revised one. (go to the one you linked to, at the top it says "This policy is a revision of the policy posted on August 1, 2000." click that, then in the new one you'll see it says "This policy has been revised by the policy posted on January 1, 2008." ) The one I posted has not been revised. -Angela |
Ok, the 2005 policy says:
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| 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 |
I sort of take it collectively to mean that nothing other than breastmilk should be given in a quantity that's a "significant" source of nutrition (like, replacing breastmilk) before 6 months, but it's not harmful to let them have very small amounts as early as 4 months if they seem really into it. There's nothing bad that will happen if you let your 5 mo have a sip of your vegetable soup, for example.
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Well, it expounds pretty clearly on NOTHING but breastmilk being given. Also when I first googled it I found a number of other statements supporting this on different fronts (illness etc) I don't have time to go re-search right now, but I'll try to later.
The 4 months thing really is saying children with special needs of some sort...
-Angela
Originally Posted by mamakay I sort of take it collectively to mean that nothing other than breastmilk should be given in a quantity that's a "significant" source of nutrition (like, replacing breastmilk) before 6 months, but it's not harmful to let them have very small amounts as early as 4 months if they seem really into it. There's nothing bad that will happen if you let your 5 mo have a sip of your vegetable soup, for example. |
The 4 months thing really is saying children with special needs of some sort...
-Angela
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The one I linked is specifically about breastfeeding, instead of being about solids...
-Angela
Originally Posted by mamakay And the 2008 policy (that's specifically about when to introduce solids) says that any time between 4 and 6 months is ok. |
-Angela
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One says:
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That's not saying really small amounts that don't replace breastmilk are to be avoided.
And it's the later policy on the introduction of solids that says 4 months is fine. (although, we're talking about in terms of potential harm relating to atopic disorders, not nutrition, but I'm not advocating solids for nutrition before 6 months...just saying flavors and textures as a fun sensory experience for babies who are curious isn't bad.)
I think I know you well enough to guess that you're not really a big fan of policy over evidence (
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) so maybe we should break this down into a discussion of the evidence.
I'll start.
__________________
There is no evidence that small amounts of solids for fun, but not in quantities that reduce breastmilk consumption, are harmful between 4 and 6 months.
_________________
True or false?
Originally Posted by alegna Well, it expounds pretty clearly on NOTHING but breastmilk being given. Also when I first googled it I found a number of other statements supporting this on different fronts (illness etc) I don't have time to go re-search right now, but I'll try to later. The 4 months thing really is saying children with special needs of some sort... -Angela |
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| 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 it's the later policy on the introduction of solids that says 4 months is fine. (although, we're talking about in terms of potential harm relating to atopic disorders, not nutrition, but I'm not advocating solids for nutrition before 6 months...just saying flavors and textures as a fun sensory experience for babies who are curious isn't bad.)
I think I know you well enough to guess that you're not really a big fan of policy over evidence (
I'll start.
__________________
There is no evidence that small amounts of solids for fun, but not in quantities that reduce breastmilk consumption, are harmful between 4 and 6 months.
_________________
True or false?
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Not clear in research... research shows both it seems
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From my link:
"Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as an infant's consumption of human milk with no supplementation of any type (no water, no juice, no nonhuman milk, and no foods) except for vitamins, minerals, and medications.131 Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to provide improved protection against many diseases and to increase the likelihood of continued breastfeeding for at least the first year of life."
bolding mine.
When I get time later I'll find more links
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-Angela
Originally Posted by mamakay __________________ There is no evidence that small amounts of solids for fun, but not in quantities that reduce breastmilk consumption, are harmful between 4 and 6 months. _________________ True or false? |
Not clear in research... research shows both it seems
From my link:
"Exclusive breastfeeding is defined as an infant's consumption of human milk with no supplementation of any type (no water, no juice, no nonhuman milk, and no foods) except for vitamins, minerals, and medications.131 Exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to provide improved protection against many diseases and to increase the likelihood of continued breastfeeding for at least the first year of life."
bolding mine.
When I get time later I'll find more links
-Angela
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