When should you introduce solids to your baby?
Making the transition from breastfeeding or formula to solid foods is a big step for baby and you! But before you pull out the highchair and bib, let’s talk about readiness.
The old guidelines advised parents to introduce solids to baby earlier, from four to six months. Now experts believe it’s better for both baby and mother’s health to wait a bit longer.
Here's why:
?Babies who are exclusively breastfed until six months have a reduced risk of gastrointestinal, respiratory and ear infections.
?Formula or breastfeeding covers all of a baby’s nutritional needs in the first six months.
?At six months, babies reach developmental readiness for solids.
?Mothers who breastfeed exclusively for longer will lose more weight.
?Exclusive breastfeeding to six months delays the return of a mother’s menstrual period, helping to prevent getting pregnant again too quickly and letting her body rebuild its iron stores. Plus, the absence of the menstrual cycle has been linked to preventing ovarian and uterine cancers.
Baby is ready when she…
*Holds her own head up and sits with help.
*Likes to put things in her mouth.
*Opens her mouth when you offer food with a spoon.
*Turns her head away when she's full.
*Keeps food in her mouth and swallows it instead of pushing it out.
*Breastfeeds or takes a bottle very eagerly, wants more and seems hungrier than usual.
