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23-11-2008 - solids or not?

My mood while writing this blog: happy

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Aneila's Dr said no solids before 6 months... everyone keeps questioning why, including myself. Just so i have the knowledge it was no big deal to me to continue breastfeeding but here are some helpful tips... its not for all babies some Dr's agree certain babies need solids before 6 months

taken from kellymom.com

Reasons for delaying solids

Although some of the reasons listed here assume that your baby is breastfed or fed breastmilk only, experts recommend that solids be delayed for formula fed babies also.

• Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.
  Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breast milk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time. (Wilson, 1998) Many other studies have also linked the degree of exclusivity of breastfeeding to enhanced health benefits (see Immune factors in human milk and Risks of Artificial Feeding).

• Delaying solids gives baby's digestive system time to mature.
  If solids are started before a baby's system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy. Gastric acid and pepsin are secreted at birth and increase toward adult values over the following 3 to 4 months. The pancreatic enzyme amylase does not reach adequate levels for digestion of starches until around 6 months, and carbohydrate enzymes such as maltase, isomaltase, and sucrase do not reach adult levels until around 7 months. Young infants also have low levels of lipase and bile salts, so fat digestion does not reach adult levels until 6-9 months.
  

• Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies.
  It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies (see Allergy References and Risks of Artificial Feeding). From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an "open gut." This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream.This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby's bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also. See How Breast Milk Protects Newborns and The Case for the Virgin Gut for more on this subject.
  

• Delaying solids helps to protect baby from iron-deficiency anemia.
  The introduction of iron supplements and iron-fortified foods, particularly during the first six months, reduces the efficiency of baby's iron absorption. Healthy, full-term infants who are breastfed exclusively for periods of 6-9 months have been shown to maintain normal hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. In one study (Pisacane, 1995), the researchers concluded that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 7 months (and were not give iron supplements or iron-fortified cereals) had significantly higher hemoglobin levels at one year than breastfed babies who received solid foods earlier than seven months. The researchers found no cases of anemia within the first year in babies breastfed exclusively for seven months and concluded that breastfeeding exclusively for seven months reduces the risk of anemia. See Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary? for more information.
  
  
• Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.
  The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood. (for example, see Wilson 1998, von Kries 1999, Kalies 2005)

• Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.
  Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby's diet - they do not add to baby's total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.

• Delaying solids helps to space babies.
  Breastfeeding is most effective in preventing pregnancy when your baby is exclusively breastfed and all of his nutritional and sucking needs are satisfied at the breast.

• Delaying solids makes starting solids easier.
  Babies who start solids later can feed themselves and are not as likely to have allergic reactions to foods.

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5 Comments on solids or not?


sexymama021 - Monday, 24 Nov
My daughter has had reflux from day 1. I tried feeding her rice cereal and it has totally upset her tummy. (5 mos) She is refluxing and spitting up constantly. I have just gone back to the formula. I think some babies just can't handle it that early. Tummies aren't ready! I also thought it would help her sleep through the night better but it did the complete opposite. She was up at 3 ready to eat (not normal!)....who knows?? lol

ggfirsttime - Monday, 24 Nov
My dr. said the same thing:absolutely no to solids until 6 months. I've given my son on couple occasions rice cereal (thru spoon) but he didn't seem to be interested in it. He doesn't sleep thru the night so I gave him rice cereal in a bottle of expressed milk; first night he slept 6 hrs and second night went back to his original schedule of 3 hrs...I don't think it has helped either..after reading this he'll be on 100% breastmilk until 6 months...

ihave6kids - Monday, 24 Nov
christopher was just a few weeks old when i started him on rice cereal.he did fine.he is six months old now and loves to eat

mommywonder - Monday, 24 Nov
My doctor actually yelled at me and told me that Angelo needs to be fed solids twice a day for 20 mins and that I'm giving him too much formula, what??? He just turned 4 mos, and I don't think he's ready for twice a day yet. I'm giving him rice cereal and one fruit every other day. I'm also letting him show me what he can handle. As of right now, every other day is working well.

bethk - Monday, 24 Nov
Still cant understand why the dr was a big definate no no against solids?? But then each to their own. Ive started Tiegan on cereal and rice pudding etc so she gets used to eating off a spoon but gona keep it to that til shes 6months so not going the full Solid thing til then! xx