If you search hard enough, you can probably find research to support almost any philosophy you might have. This is especially true when it comes to babies and what they eat.
As I get together with other young moms, I hear a wide variety of opinions when it comes to feeding babies solid foods.
The largest group of moms belongs to what I’ll call the “Typical Food” team. They begin introducing solids when their child is 6 months old. They start with diluted rice cereal, thicken it up over time, move on to mix it with fruits and vegetables, and eventually begin feeding their child table food. They probably follow the guidelines recommended by baby food companies.
Another group of moms is what I’ll call the “Exposure = Excellence” team. They are of the opinion that the more foods their child is exposed to, the stronger his digestive system will be. They may wait until their child is 6 months old to introduce solids, but they often begin when their child is closer to 4 months old. They might begin with rice cereal, but they quickly move on to other foods. They aren’t worried about allergies or “no-no” foods. These moms happily give their children sips of coffee, a bite of chocolate on Easter, and some ice cream cake, complete with crushed peanuts, at a family birthday party. Eggs, shellfish, honey, and dairy are of no concern to these mommas. “He’ll build up a tolerance to these foods if he’s exposed to them early,” they reason.
The third group I come into contact with is the “Patience = Perfection” team. They feel that the longer they wait to introduce solids, the healthier their child will be. They reason that if their child’s system is fully developed before solid foods are introduced, allergies and food sensitivities will be much less likely to occur. These parents might begin solids at 6 months of age, but they’re usually not in a big hurry. Some may wait as long as a year before solids play a major role in the life of their child. These parents typically make their own baby food and are very careful to avoid foods classified as likely allergens.
The mothers in these three food teams have a wide variety of thoughts on the best way to introduce solids to a baby. What’s interesting is that there’s seemingly credible research that supports each philosophy.
Which food team are you on?