The food debate

Lately every man and his dog is telling me to start Audrey on solids, yet I don’t feel she is ready; Audrey is only 5 months old, is happily full from milk feeds and has no interest in food – YES it has been offered and due to having to give her medicine for 28 days via a spoon she knows how to eat from one.

There have been people telling me that at 4 weeks they had started their children on baby food, others started at 3 months and some at 4 months, I seem to be the only one of the parents group that hasn’t started feeding with purees yet and have come across all sorts of articles online saying to start feeding babies earlier than the recommended 6 months (starting solids prior to 4 months or after 6 months increases your baby’s risk of developing food allergies) and some say to just wait for the 6 months; when I have asked the pediatrician and health nurses they have agreed with me that Audrey can wait till 6 months as she isn’t ready yet.

Recently an article was sent to me showing that babies who are fed at night (this is against all health professionals advise as babies should start foods in the mornings when they firs start solids due to potential allergic reactions) apparently sleep better and I was told that maybe I should start Audrey with solids that night to help her with her sleep and hope she may not wake as often during the night. Why would I care if I had an extra 16 minutes sleep if it meant my babies digestive system may not yet be ready for the food? Another study released in the past few days counteracts this “feed babes earlier and in the evening” study stating that babies will not learn that they are full if we start them early, they will put on excess weight too soon and it may lead to obesity later on.

So how do we as parents know what to make from all the conflicting information out there? I believe the key is in your hands, literally, that little baby will let you know when they are ready for solids; some may be readier earlier than others.

Signs that indicate baby is developmentally ready to start solids:

• Baby has good head and neck conrol; and can sit up well without support.
• Baby has lost the tongue-thrust reflex and does not automatically push solids out of his mouth with his tongue.
• Baby is ready and willing to chew.
• Baby opens his/her mouth when you offer him food on a spoon.
• Baby is eager to participate in mealtime and may try to grab food and put it in his mouth.

For more information on introducing solids to your baby go to the Raising Children Network website via https://ift.tt/2sask88

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