Nutrition for the Breastfed Infant

When should I start solid foods?

I'm concerned about when I should start solid foods. I hear different opinions everywhere I go.  My pediatrician says immediately, since at 6 months his iron stores are depleted and he will need another source other than breastmilk.  I believe I should watch my child and determine from his signs when he might be ready.  Now at 6 1/2 months he is not showing me signs of being ready for solids, but I'm very worried about his iron.
 




You hear different opinions about when to introduce solid foods because different people focus on different issues.  Some people focus on reducing the likelihood of food allergies, others focus on a baby's iron status, and still others focus on developmental readiness.  The recommendations for introducing solids may be different for these three issues.  If there are no major allergies in your family, you should be trying to introduce solid foods to your 6 1/2 month old baby.  Your pediatrician wants to avoid anemia in your son, which results from severely depleted iron stores.  Anemia can affect a baby's central nervous system development, so this is important

 I suggest that you try putting your baby in your lap when you eat dinner, and see whether he tries to reach out and grab something.  If he does, this is an indication that he is interested in solid foods.  Or, place him in a highchair with small amounts of table food in front of him, and see whether he is interested.  You should not expect a baby at this age (6 1/2 months) to pick up food and eat like an older child or adult would. Instead, he will probably smell the food, play with it, mush it in his hands, then taste it.  This is normal. Developmentally, it is very unlikely that a baby of this age wouldn't be interested in picking up food and at least exploring it. Take advantage of his developmental stage! Don't push him to eat, but do offer foods.

I recommend that you begin by offering cooked meats and pieces of soft banana.  An easy way to introduce meat is to get 1/2 pound of lean ground beef and smash into an ice cube tray and freeze it.  Once it is frozen, you can pop a cube out and cook it half way in the microwave.  Cut it in half and then finish cooking it.  Then, cut into quarters, cool it, and give to your baby.  Or, try frozen strips of cooked liver that he can gum or chew.  Liver and other red meats are excellent sources of iron for your baby.



 

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