Moms all over the world only want the best for their kids. Whether a first time or a been-there-done-that mom, they certainly have a lot of questions. From picking the right nappies to when should solid food be introduced, these questions are often confusing as some may have different experiences. Luckily, experts are here to answer your questions, especially in regards to baby's first solid food.
When should infants start eating solid food?, is one of the questions most mothers ask. People have varying opinion regarding this topic. Study shows that almost five percent of children acquire food allergies at an early age. Opinions about when to start feeding babies solid can be confusing and making a mistake might cause food allergies and other problems.
Dr. Elissa Abrams of the University of Manitoba contends that giving an infant solid food as early as four months is not always harmful and could be a good thing. The New England Journal of Medicine released a study that supports this claim. The study was done by feeding 640 infants who are more likely prone to severe eczema, egg allergy or both at most 6 grams of peanut protein weekly, given in three or more meals, until they reach the age of five. Infants had to be at least four months but not older than eleven months when the study was conducted. Infants were divided into two groups, avoidance and consumption.
From 4 months to 60 months old (5 years), babies from the avoidance group would not be fed peanut protein while those in the consumption will. Results of the study show that administering peanuts to infants at an early age remarkably decreased the chance of babies having peanut allergy and regulated an infant's immune responses to peanuts.
Experts from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommended exclusive breastfeeding from four to six months. However, the decision whether to introduce solid food or not at an early age is highly dependent on the infant's developmental readiness. Parents may consider giving babies solid food once he can sit up and has enough control of neck. They should also consider timing of certain food. Introduce foods that are only age-appropriate and would not cause choking. Parents could start with softer food such as mashed fruits and vegetables like sweet potatoes, carrots, squash and bananas.