Is My Baby Ready For Solid Food?

by Susanne Myers

Do you think your baby is ready for solid food? Most physicians recommend starting solids between four to six months of age, but in reality, it depends on the baby. Don't be in a big rush to start your baby on solid foods... let the baby tell you when he is ready.

While it is true that some babies will be reaching for your plate at four months of age... others won't want to think about it until seven or eight months... sometimes later. Breastmilk or formula is just fine for a baby until they reach the age of one year, and they can still be given breastmilk or formula in addition to solids after that age.

Watch your baby for clues. Just because baby seems to be hungry all the time at four months is not an indication. Babies usually hit a growth spurt between the ages of three and four months, and just like when they were younger, they need to eat almost constantly during that spurt. Your baby may be ready to begin solid food when several of the following things occur:

• Can sit up and hold her head up all by herself.

• Can tell you he's full by turning away from the breast or bottle.

• Has lost the tongue-thrust reflex... this allows her to swallow food rather than 'drink' it.

• Has doubled his birth weight.

• She shows interest in your food (this one needs to be evaluated carefully, since baby likes to put almost anything in her mouth).

• He wakes up frequently at night after having established a good sleeping pattern (this one also needs careful evaluation... he could be waking due to illness, teething, or because he is having a growth spurt and needs to nurse).

There are some myths about starting solid foods that you need to know about. Putting your baby on solid food will not help him sleep through the night better. In fact, if he has a reaction to a certain food, it will probably keep him up. Even if you do start baby on solid food, when he hits a growth spurt, he will begin waking in the middle of the night again. So you see, solid food has nothing to do with how well your child sleeps.

If your friend's baby started solid food early and is fine, it doesn't mean that your baby is ready too. Again, watch your child for the signs she may be ready to start solids. If your friends or family insist that your child "needs real food"... tell them that the breastmilk/formula you give your child is real food... one that the baby can digest easily to get her full nutrition.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you feed your baby breastmilk or formula exclusively for the first six months, even though they have no set age for when solids should be introduced. Giving baby solid food too early can also trigger food allergies that will plague him all his life. These allergies are triggered because the baby's digestive system is not ready to handle the solid foods.

So, no matter what anyone tells you, follow your instincts and watch your baby for signs of readiness before beginning solid food.