The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies be breastfed exclusively for the first six months of their lives. Your pediatrician says it’s okay to start cereal at four months. Grandma says babies need “real food” because they’re hungry-- after all, her babies had cereal in their bottles when they were two weeks old and they turned out just fine.
So who do you listen to, and how do you know exactly when to start your precious bundle on solids? The answer is … well, there is no correct answer. Each infant is unique, and there is no magical age. Pediatricians generally recommend waiting until the baby is at least four months old. Their digestive systems simply are not ready for solids until then.
Catching the Cues
Dr. Richard Charette, Cradle Thru College Care of KCMO, suggests parents introduce rice cereal when their baby is anywhere between four and six months. “If the baby doesn’t respond well, wait a week or so and try it again,” he suggests.
Dr. Stephanie Bays, Pediatric Care North of KCMO, agrees with this approach and also suggests parents look for cues the baby is ready for solids. Certain developmental milestones coincide with a physical readiness for solids. Here are a few signs your baby may be ready:
- Head control: Babies need to be able to keep their heads steady and upright in order to effectively swallow solids.
- Sits well: when supported Your little one might not be ready for a high chair yet, but she needs to be able to stay upright when supported. Babies who slump cannot swallow well and could get choked.
- Loss of the tongue thrusting reflex: Dr. Bays says, “If the tongue comes out every time you put the spoon in the mouth, the baby is probably not ready.” Babies need to be able to push food to the back of the mouth to swallow.
- Interested in your food: Does junior eye your pasta primavera and follow your fork from plate to mouth? If so, visions of solids may be dancing in his head.
Belton mom Cara Kelley started her daughter on rice cereal at four months. “Natalie was never a fan of the cereals, so we moved on to jarred baby foods and by eight months she was eating table foods. Plain pasta and ground hamburger were favorites,” Kelley says. “She had all her teeth by her first birthday, so chewing was not a problem!”
Amber Hartenbower of Belton waited until her son was six months old before she introduced cereal. She waited because her son had reflux problems when he was younger.
Myths vs. facts
We’ve all heard myths regarding babies and eating. Sometimes it’s hard to sort out the information and know what has medical basis and what is an old wives’ tale. Below are some questions based on common myths.
If I give my baby fruits before vegetables will she develop a sweet tooth?
Dr. Charette says there is no medical evidence of this, although he recommends not giving babies juice during their first year – and very sparingly afterwards – as they may prefer the sweet juice over milk or water. And because orange and yellow veggies like sweet potatoes, squash and carrots are naturally sweet and are usually introduced before fruits, this myth can be debunked.
Will starting my baby on solids help him sleep through the night?
Not at all, says Dr. Bays. “Babies should not be started on cereal or other foods before four months or with the goal of sleeping through the night,” she says. “Most breastfed babies will sleep through the night at around six or seven months and formula fed babies between four and six months.” When babies reach 14 -16 pounds, they have a good reserve of body fat, which helps them sleep through the night.
Does my baby need to reach a “magic weight” before I start her on solids?
Dr. Bays says there is no magic weight, although babies tend to double their birth weight around four or five months anyway. The most important thing is to look for the developmental cues described above that indicate your little one is ready for something beyond breast milk or formula.
Remember that every baby is unique and these are merely guidelines. Check with your pediatrician before beginning solids and listen to your instincts and your baby’s cues.
Tisha Foley lives in Belton with her husband and two children.