Now, doctors recommend 6 months, but not too long ago they were saying 4 months. There are big changes that happen to a babies digestive system and because of that there are important reasons to avoid solids until 6 months:
Baby will have greater protection from illness (if exclusively breastfed)
Baby's digestive system will have time to mature
Baby will be developmentally ready for solids
Baby will have a lower risk of obesity in the future
Starting solids will be easier
Baby may have more protection from iron deficiency anaemia
Breastfeeding mums will more easily maintain milk supply
Breastfeeding mums will be less likely to become pregnant
Breastfeeding mums may loose the baby weight more quickly
For more information and referencing on the above, see this site: http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/
So how do you know when your baby is ready?
Here are some developmentally ready signs, as found in Kellymom
- Baby can sit up well without support.
- Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
- Baby is ready and willing to chew.
- Baby is developing a “pincer” grasp, where he picks up food or other objects between thumb and forefinger. Using the fingers and scraping the food into the palm of the hand (palmar grasp) does not substitute for pincer grasp development.
- Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.
Looks like, for Pi, it is still a while off. While he seems eager, he can't yet sit up by himself. We are super eager to start the fun of solids (I am sure the after about a week of cleaning pumpkin off the floor, we no longer will be) but will wait until it is best for Pi.
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