Pros to starting food later?

merr818

I have heard that some doctors are now saying don't start food until six months while some still say four months. Can anyone tell me any pros to starting at 6 months.

Miss.Modular

i posted about this below, apparently babies digestive tracts are not developed until 6 months, so there really isnt any advantage to starting earlier.  I also have read that waiting can help reduce food allergies down the line. 

JessMil10

My biggest thing is the inconvenience, which sounds awful. Once you start solids it is a big commitment. There is a time line for waiting after each food and then introducing new foods. It is a lot of work, especially if you are going to be away from the house! Also, there is no real nutritional value of giving it to them early. DD has had trouble gaining weight and they didn't think starting solids would help much because BM has more calories than cereal.

merr818

Thanks mod

dawnzer

For one, babies are usually ready ("ready" meaning they have lost the?tongue?thrust reflex and start becoming interested) SOMETIME between 4 and 6 months. ?By waiting until 6 months, you will save yourself some frustration if your baby isn't ready earlier.

The other big thing is that there is some evidence to suggest that you reduce the?likelihood?of severe food allergies if you wait until the digestive system is fully developed (which could be 6 months).?

If you EBF, there is not really the threat of overeating so there really is no benefit to starting solids earlier than 6 months (unless you are doing it for reflux or something similar). ?If you use formula, sometimes they will recommend solids if the baby is taking in more than 35 oz per day so they can be satisfied without taking in too many calories.?

JARbaby

What is comes down to is the digestive enzymes are not fully developed until 6m. Before that food is absorbed through the digestive wall and not properly digested. The body sees this as a foreign object and can attack (allergies).

There is no nutritive value to food before 1 year. It is just for palate building and practice.

mrskadams

Okay, I'm just going to put this out there.  More than likely I'll sound like somebody's mother or worse, your MIL, and I haven't done the research so I'm speaking completely out of my arse.  But, I'm not so sure I buy the whole waiting until 6 months vs 4 months in the case of allergies.  I do believe there is something to starting too early as my mom has been pushing since 6 freakin' weeks.  I think you should wait until your baby is ready.  I also understand being cautious, especially if there is a history of food allergies in the family.

 I'm not exactly sure which foods are supposed to cause the allergies though, and I doubt it is the rice cereal with which most babies start.  Peanut allergies are one of the worst out there, but is anyone feeding peanut products to an infant?  With my boys, I waited until they were 18 months, and even that may have been too early 12 years ago.  I just find it strange that most of our mothers started solids early, really early, and I had never heard of severe peanut allergies until the last 5-10 years.

I'm sure you think I'm the crazy old lady parent who doesn't know any better.  Just for the record, DD is not starting solids until 4 months.  Flame if you must.