The ever-popular question, "When is my baby ready for solid foods?" can have some confusing answers as breastfeeding by stage becomes more complex. Thirty-five years ago, mothers were giving their babies rice cereal at the age of 2 months. Since then, studies have shown that babies bodies aren't ready to handle solids until 6 months of age. Here is the breakdown of the baby's needs from birth to 12 months. Don't worry if the baby doesn't take to a particular food right away. They shouldn't feel that it's a stressful situation and if the idea is put off for a few days, that's fine. Try again a few days later. This is a learning process and they will learn at their own pace!
Birth to 6 Months
All of the nutrients the baby requires during the first few months of life are provided by exclusive breastfeeding. As babies get older, they need more calories and nutrients than breast milk can give them. Everything starts to change in their digestive tract and their mouth because the baby's body is preparing to eat solid foods. You should wait until at least the 6-month mark to introduce solids (but still continue to breastfeed) because it's essential to their development, and decreases the incidence and role of allergy. Many studies show that delay of solid foods may prevent the development of eczema in high-risk babies, but do not seem to have a role in respiratory allergies. However, your pediatrician will be a significant guide as to when he or she thinks the baby is ready.
6 to 12 Months
Introduce solid foods slowly and have patience. Solids have such a variety of textures and tastes and the baby will need time to get accustomed to them. Remember to continue to breastfeed normally and with as few distractions as possible during this stage. In the very beginning, when first introducing cereal, it is recommended that a mother breastfeed first, then offer the cereal. It is prudent to keep the breastfeeding schedule the same for a while. This way, milk supply will remain stable. In general, the following foods can be introduced. Wait 3 to 4 days in between new foods so if the baby has an allergic reaction to one of them, it's easier to detect.
- Birth to 6 Months: Breast milk only.
- 6 to 7 Months: Baby cereal (iron-fortified) and breast milk. This type of cereal is important because the baby begins to lose his iron stores around 6 months of age. Start with grains like rice, oatmeal, and barley because they are the least likely to be allergenic, then continue with other grains as your baby becomes accustomed to those. Remember to never give cereal (or any other foods, for that matter) through a bottle. Also, when first introducing the cereal, keep it fairly runny. As your baby becomes accustomed to the food, add thickness or more texture.
- 6 to 8 Months: Now we can add strained/mashed vegetables (yellow or non-bean green vegetables are best), fruits; juice -- only about 2 ounces a day (a cup should be introduced at this stage, as well); breast milk. Always feed food from a bowl, not the jar (if using prepared baby food) -- the saliva from the baby will cause the food to spoil. Remember that you can also add variety to the baby's meals by combining different foods...Here is a wonderful recipe for Banana Puree with Breast Milk.
- 7 to 9 Months: Meats (start with 1 teaspoon)-- However, there should be no introduction, or at least delayed, of beef in children with severe cow's milk allergy because there can be a similar allergic response; finger foods (dry cereal, crackers, bagels, cooked vegetables, soft fruits); breast milk
- 8 to 12 Months: Mashed or finely chopped food that the rest of the family is eating (meat, fish, poultry); cottage cheese; breast milk. This is the perfect stage for the baby to join the family at the table. Seeing other family members eat different foods will entice him to try new things.
- After one year: Eggs; fish; peanut butter.
Do NOT Feed a Baby
- Soda
- Hot dogs
- Candy
- Chips
- Popcorn
- French Fries
- Raisins
- Nuts
- Cow's milk (the pediatrician will guide the mothers as to when the baby is ready for this, usually after 1 year of age)
- Salt, spices, or sugar added to any table foods
- Whole grapes (feel free to peel or cut in half)
- Any foods that a family member is allergic to
Allergenic Foods
- Peanuts and other nuts
- Cow's milk
- Eggs, especially whites
- Fish
- Wheat
- Soy
Common Misconceptions
1. "If a baby eats more often than every 3 hours, they are ready for solid foods." Babies are all different, as we know, but that includes their eating habits and sizes of their stomachs. Some babies that need to eat every 5 hours and others need to eat as little as every 2 hours. Hours in between feeds tells nothing about whether or not the baby is ready for solids.
2. "If you don't start solids early, the baby will be a picky eater and might refuse solids later." As stated earlier, babies do not need any solids before the age of 6 months. There is no research to back this statement. It's actually quite the opposite: Breastfed babies are more likely to have a sophisticated palate than formula-fed babies because breast milk carries many different flavors of foods the mother has eaten.
3. "A baby will sleep through the night if you feed cereal before they go to bed." Cereal is a solid. It is not healthy to give a baby solid food before he is ready. In addition, the baby's stomach is about the size of a ping-pong ball -- it can't accept that much food. Breastfed babies must be fed frequently for this reason. As babies get older, they sleep for longer periods of time, and as much as mothers crave sleep again, they should not rush this.
As usual, if there are any questions or concerns, call your pediatrician or a Board Certified Lactation Consultant.
