Ask any new parent: When it comes to infant care, everyone has an opinion, and they're not afraid to share it. One issue that often sparks heated debate among friends and family is when to add solid foods to a baby's diet.
About 30 years ago, parents tended to introduce solid foods in the first few months, or even in the first weeks. Today, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends beginning solid food much later. Although there are exceptions to the guidelines, starting solids early can increase the risk for obesity, and some studies suggest that it might be linked to type 1 diabetes.
Below, Dr. Lorraine Stern, a clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of California Los Angeles, discusses the rationale behind this recommendation and how best to gradually introduce solid food so that feeding is a healthy and fun experience for both baby and parent.
At what age do pediatricians generally recommend parents introduce solid foods?
For healthy, growing infants, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends starting solid foods at 6 months old.
Children are born with something called an extrusion reflex. This is a survival mechanism where they instinctively push out of their mouth anything that's semisolid, anything that isn't the consistency of breast milk or formula. They usually aren't even ready to accept pureed foods until they're at least 4 to 6 months old.
