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Amy Trendel MPH, RD, CLE
Parents get advice about feeding their babies from many different sources including family, friends, physicians, WIC (Women, Infants & Children Supplemental Nutrition Program) staff, baby food companies, and the internet. Unfortunately, much of the information they receive is conflicting, anecdotal, and does not meet current recommendations. Sorting out that information to make informed decisions about how, when, and what to feed their babies poses challenges to parents who simply want to do what is best for their child.
The American Academy of Pediatrics advises that healthy, full-term breastfed babies need nothing (no supplemental formula, water, juice, cereal, other solid foods) other than mother's milk during the first 6 months of life. Furthermore, the AAP encourages breastfeeding for "at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by infant and mother" (1).
Why not introduce solids before 6 months?
Exclusive breastfeeding is sufficient to meet the nutritional needs of most babies until they reach 6 months of age as well as to support optimal growth and development. Many parents and providers are unaware of the risks of introducing other foods (and drinks) to breastfed babies before 6 months, which include:
Increased risk of developing allergies, eczema, asthma (2), and heart disease (3)
Babies receive less breastmilk which means that:
- Overall nutrient intake is lowered because the foods given are less nutritious than breastmilk.
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Babies receive less of the protective factors unique to mothers' milk.
Breastmilk production will be reduced.
Increased risk and severity of diarrhea and other infections because of greater exposure to pathogens and decreased protection from breastmilk (4,5)
Because a young baby's digestive system is immature, he may not be able to digest other foods as well, which may result in spitting up, constipation, or diarrhea.
At 6 months of age babies need other foods in addition to breastmilk to meet their nutritional needs. They begin to require more iron and zinc than breastmilk alone can provide. Around this same time, babies also become developmentally able to eat soft and semi-solid food when they can sit up, hold their heads steady, and move food around in their mouths.
How to "Feed Lovingly" (6)
Starting older babies on other foods to complement breastmilk provides opportunities for the development of hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and communication skills. To "feed lovingly" parents should respond to their child's signs of hunger and feeding abilities. Parents and care givers can make feeding a time for learning and love by feeding slowly and patiently, helping and encouraging children to eat without force feeding, experimenting with different foods, and minimizing distractions.
The consistency and texture of the foods, how they are fed, and the amounts offered need to change as children grow and learn how to move food around in their mouths, to chew, to hold foods and a spoon and eventually to feed themselves. In the
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Published by: SDCBC
Editors:
Kelly Barger, RD, CLE, CDE
Diana Lee, RD, CNSD, IBCLC
Angela Tenenini, BS
Eve Moeran, RN, IBCLC
Nancy Wight, MD, IBCLC
Designed by:
Jennifer Neal
Inquiries can be sent to:
San Diego County Breastfeeding Coalition
Children's Hospital
3020 Children's Way, MC 5073
San Diego, CA 92123-4282
sdcbc@breastfeeding.org
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