Are You Starting Baby on Solids at the Right Time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends babies start on solid foods at about 6 months of age, and are fed only breast milk or formula before that time. A recent study in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics found that some parents may be starting other foods and drinks before this time.

Researchers examined the diets of nearly 1,500 babies ages 6 months to 3 years. They found that about 16 percent of parents introduced solid foods too early, before age 4 months. Another 38 percent of parents offered their babies food between ages 4 and 6 months.

Some studies have shown that starting solid foods early is linked to obesity and type 1 diabetes. “Talk with your pediatrician about the best feeding schedule for your baby,” says Erin McFeely, M.D., a pediatrician with K. Hovnanian Children’s Hospital.