Infants often fed solid foods too early, reasoning differs

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1. 40.4% of mothers studied initiated feeding prior to 4 months of age (whereas the recommendation is to wait until 6 months).

2. The three most common reasons given for beginning solids early were: “My baby was old enough to begin eating solid food,” “My baby seemed hungry a lot of the time,” and “My baby wanted the food I ate or in other ways showed interest in solid food.”

Although there are proposed risks associated with the introduction of solid foods prior to 6 months of age, many families begin serving solids before this American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation. Research has suggested that earlier solid food introduction places infants at increased risk for the development of chronic medical conditions and for choking, if not physically ready. In addition, this also reduces breastfeeding, which confers important immunologic and other health benefits. Significant differences in socioeconomic status, education, and feeding type contributed to the timing and reasoning for early solids initiation. This large, well-structured longitudinal study revealed that additional education regarding when and why infants should have their diets advanced along with reasons as to why babies often exhibit specific behaviors around food might aid in eliminating the potential for harmful feeding patterns. However, without additional research examining the specific connections between types of previous milk feeding and the initiation of solids, it is difficult to extrapolate how best to target counseling.

Click to read the study in Pediatrics

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Image: PD

1. 40.4% of mothers studied initiated feeding prior to 4 months of age (whereas the recommendation is to wait until 6 months). 

2. The three most common reasons given for beginning solids early were: “My baby was old enough to begin eating solid food,” “My baby seemed hungry a lot of the time,” and “My baby wanted the food I ate or in other ways showed interest in solid food.”

This [longitudinal cohort] study asked 1,334 women who completed a mailed survey-based study throughout the US when and why they started their infants on solid foods. Initiating solids before 4 months of age was designated ‘early.’ Women were asked to rate their agreement with 12 potential reasons for initiating solids and to report their previous feeding choices (exclusive breast feeding, formula, or both).

40.4% of mothers started solids early; younger, unmarried, less educated, and mothers with lower incomes were the most likely to do so. Reasons for initiating solid feeds differed by prior milk feeding type. The three most commonly endorsed reasons were: “My baby was old enough to begin eating solid food,” “My baby seemed hungry a lot of the time,” and “My baby wanted the food I ate or in other ways showed interest in solid food.” Notably, 55% of mothers endorsed encouragement from a health care professional as a reason.

Further reading:

1. What influences the timing of the introduction of solid food to infants? [British Journal of Nutrition]

2. Systematic review of the relationship between early introduction of solid foods to infants and the development of allergic disease [JAMA Pediatrics]

In sum: Although there are proposed risks associated with the introduction of solid foods prior to 6 months of age, many families begin serving solids before this American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation. Research has suggested that earlier solid food introduction places infants at increased risk for the development of chronic medical conditions and for choking, if not physically ready. In addition, this also reduces breastfeeding, which confers important immunologic and other health benefits. Significant differences in socioeconomic status, education, and feeding type contributed to the timing and reasoning for early solids initiation. This large, well-structured longitudinal study revealed that additional education regarding when and why infants should have their diets advanced along with reasons as to why babies often exhibit specific behaviors around food might aid in eliminating the potential for harmful feeding patterns. However, without additional research examining the specific connections between types of previous milk feeding and the initiation of solids, it is difficult to extrapolate how best to target counseling.

Click to read the study in Pediatrics

By Leah H. Carr and Devika Bhushan

More from this author: Pertussis immunity decreases after 5 DTaP doses; New recommendations on genetic testing for children released; Television watching linked with antisocial behavior in children, supporting AAP recommendations; American Academy of Pediatrics releases updated vaccination schedule; Banning smoking in public places linked to reduction in asthma-related hospital admissions; Paternal distress predicts poor early childhood mental health

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