SOLIDS?
WAIT A BIT...
Adding
anything to a thriving baby's diet in the early months
can
interfere with his normal breastfed health.
by Diane Wiessinger,
IBCLC
Even one exposure
to a formula or solid food causes changes in a young baby's body, and can
trigger allergies or intestinal disease that might have been avoided. Young
babies don't digest starch well, so early cereal may be filling, but it
isn't quality food. Early fruits or vegetables can interfere with iron
absorption. And studies indicate that babies sleep through the night when
they're ready, not when they start solids. Neither
the
American Academy of Pediatrics nor the World Health Organization recommends
adding to a healthy breastfed baby's diet before 6 months.
Is your baby gaining poorly? Supplementing can make your milk supply even
lower. If weight gain is a concern, call a breastfeeding specialist for
help in keeping your baby well-fed and nursing.
So
when is a baby ready for solids?
If your baby is about 6 months old and can sit up, reach for food, put it in
his mouth, chew and swallow it, and reach for more, he's ready, and
he can do it himself without help from the baby food industry. In contrast,
the old image of Mom patiently spooning commercial puréed food in and Baby
spitting it back out is a picture of a baby who is just not ready yet.
The old guidelines
that recommended starting solids "at 4 to 6 months" included formula-fed
babies and those few breastfed infants whose growth is truly faltering. For
the baby who is doing well on breastmilk alone, early solids may replace a
complete, well-digested food with an incomplete, poorly digested one, and
can lead to obesity, allergies, and a low iron count. There are good
reasons to wait until about 6 months, especially if there are allergies in
the family.
Some 4 and 5 month olds
are "mouth hungry", and seem eager to eat. They more likely want to teethe
or practice or socialize, and will probably be happy to sit at the table
with cups, spoons, plates, and company. They may also be seeking more
chances to nurse for food or comfort. On the other hand, the baby who
insists on solid food before 6 months knows his own body. He is a person,
not a calendar. Offer him age-appropriate finger foods and let him do it
himself. That will increase the entertainment value, decrease the mess and
expense, and eliminate worries about overdoing it.
Other babies
may not be interested in solids until well past the 6-month mark. No
problem, so long as they continue to thrive. Follow your baby's lead. He
will increase solids at his own pace, if you make them available to him at
the family table.
Breastmilk (or
formula if you cut back on breastfeeding) should be your baby's main
source of food until at least a year. Rest assured that your milk is a
fully nutritious food for as long as your baby enjoys it. Breastfed is best
fed. So relax and keep the food fun. No need to rush. La Leche League's
pamphlet, Your Baby's First Solid Food, is a good source of more
information on when and how to start solids. Call 1-800-LA LECHE or a local
LLL Leader for a copy.
©2005 Diane Wiessinger, MS, IBCLC 136 Ellis
Hollow Creek Road Ithaca, NY 14850
www.wiessinger.baka.com
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