Starting your small baby on solids is one of the major milestones in their life. However, knowing when to do it can be tricky for new parents.
New research shows that around 40% of mums may be giving their babies food too soon. The advice from experts is to introduce infants to solids between four and six months.
But a US study has found that four in every 10 mothers are giving them to their children before four months. And babies who were formula-fed were twice as likely to be given
solids too early, according to researchers at the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention.
Nearly 53% of babies on formula were given solids before reaching four months, compared to 24% of breast-fed babies. It was also discovered that younger, poorer, less well-educated mothers were more likely to offer solids to very young babies.
Baby and mother. PhotoThinkstock
PARENTAL REASONS FOR GIVING SOLIDS EARLY:
• My baby is old enough.
• My baby seemed hungry.
• I wanted to feed my baby something in addition to breast milk or formula.
• A doctor or healthcare professional said my baby should begin eating solid food.
• It would help my baby to sleep longer at night.
But starting a baby on solids sooner than advised is risky because a very young child’s digestive system is not fully developed. According to Plunket, babies cannot co-ordinate their swallowing to cope with solid food until they are four to six months old. Other problems associated with early introduction of solids include:
• Babies not getting the amount of breast milk they still need, which can cause problems with nutrition and growth.
• The possibility of choking if they haven’t mastered using their tongue to control food in their mouth.
• An increased risk of eczema, asthma, food allergies or respiratory infections.
• Becoming iron deficient when breast milk dwindles.
There is also some research that suggests early feeding is linked to an increased risk of obesity later in life, because a baby learns to take in calories they don’t need.
As bad as it can be to start solids too early, parents also need to be aware of not starting them too late. By the time babies get to six months, they require vitamins and minerals which can only be found in solid foods (especially iron) to help with physical and neurological development.
PhotoThinkstock
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR BABY IS READY TO START ON SOLIDS? SIGNS INCLUDE:
• Being able to sit and hold their head steady.
• Showing an interest in food and watching when others are eating.
• Showing signs of hunger, even if they are being fed six to eight times a day.
• Being able to signal when they are full, such as turning their head away from the breast or bottle when they have had enough. This is vital – when you start them on solids they need to be able to let you know when they have had enough.
• Using their tongue and mouth properly. They need to be able to move food to the back of their mouth to swallow it.However, putting their hands or toys in their mouth isn’t a signal that they’re ready for food, it’s just a normal part of development. Once they start on solids, babies still need breast milk or formula for important vitamins and minerals (like iron) in a form your baby is used to digesting. If your baby doesn’t get adequate amounts, they risk becoming malnourished. Breast milk or formula should be a big part of your baby’s diet until they are at least 12 months old.
WHEN IS THE RIGHT TIME TO INTRODUCE SOLIDS?
• Be patient. It’s a tricky new skill – it could take them some time to master it.
• Be prepared for the mess – there will be plenty of it. Invest in bibs that are easy to clean and put newspaper or plastic matting on the floor under the high chair.
• Let your baby see you sitting at the table eating a meal, so they get what it is all about.
• Don’t force them to eat if they really don’t want to. If they seem full yet haven’t eaten much, let them have a break and come back to their food later. If they continually refuse one type of food, remove it from the menu for a while and try introducing it again later.
• Make feeding times fun and not stressful. Try to be laid-back and calm in front of them, so they don’t grow up automatically thinking mealtimes are full of stress and tension.
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