It
is recommended that you not start solid foods until your child
is four to six months old.
Breast
milk or infant formula supplies all of your baby's nutritional
needs for at least the first 4 to 6 months of life, so don't
be in a rush to start solid foods. Starting solids too early
can cause your baby to develop food allergies. Your baby's intestinal
tract is not as fully developed during the first few months and
introducing solids at this time can be too much to handle
Another
reason
for not
giving
solid foods
earlier
than 4
to 6 months
is unintentional
overfeeding,
since younger
babies
can not
offer you
signals
when they
are full,
such as
turning away or
showing
disinterest.
A
third reason
for holding
off on
solids
is your
baby's
inability
to swallow
solids
correctly
before
4 to 6
months
of age
and this
can potentially
cause choking.
And contrary to the
popular
myth, starting
solids
early will
not help
your child
to sleep
through
the night.
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