Is it really necessary to introduce food to your baby before they are 1?

Question

I always thought it wasnt but im seeing alot of questions today about how much is your baby eating. and these 6 month olds are eating more food than my 8 month old. i hardly give her any food, just a few bites of what Im eating. should i be sitting her down and feeding her meals? what would happen if she only got breastmilk until she was 1?

Answer 1

As a babies digestive system develops, it can handle more complex foods. It's not completely nessesary to introduce foods before one year of age, but at that time, you'll still need to follow the same steps when introducing foods. The pureed and chunky foods are used to help the baby learn to use it's tongue and lips to swallow food.

Eventually, milk won't hold a baby over and you'll find yourself nursing or formula feeding quite a lot more...and that's ok! But that's a good indication that it may be time to indroduce solid foods.

Answer 2

She is eating solids, just not much.  And that's fine to start with.  Breastmilk should be her primary source of nutrition for the first year, with solids gradually becoming more central to her diet.

Trust me, she'll let you know when she wants more!

Answer 3

A baby needs more food than just a bite here and a nibble there. Plus some of the foods you eat, may not be safe for her. I would definitely start introducing her to snacks and meals. It should help from creating a picky eater later.

Answer 4

Well don't the professionals say to START weaning at 6 months therefore they may not be having proper 'meals' until they are 1. I know that a baby NEEDS 20fl oz of breast or formula milk until they are 1 so that is probably about 3-4 feeds of milk per day plus a about the same of small meals.

Just as babies under 6 months may be ready, babies over 6 months may not be ready. At eight months as long as your baby is eating something as well as the milk feeds and is gaining weight healthily there is no need to worry - go with your gut!

Answer 5

Why he already want a dble stack with fries and coke?

Answer 6

She MIGHT begin to lose weight or be deficient in some nutrients.  Some women can meet baby's complete needs for a year; others cannot.

Go by baby's cues.  If she's interested in solids, let her eat.  If she isn't interested, or just wants a taste, that's fine too.  IMO, it's just as wrong to deny solids to an older baby who wants them as to force them on a young baby who isn't ready. If baby is eating few solids at 9 months, it may make sense to get her iron levels checked. She's probably fine, but best to be sure.  [It's just a heel or finger stick blood draw.]

(Historically, for many years babies were exclusively BF for a year or more.  Eventually it was found that such babies often became anemic or undernourished, leading to the introduction of earlier solids -- at around 9-12 months, and then to the conclusion that babies must be weaned from the breast at that same time. The idea of combining breast and solids didn't seem to have occured to anyone.  You breastfed exclusively for about 9 months,  then you weaned rapidly and completely to a solids based diet. [Or, more accurately, to a diet based on animal milks, gruel, and soups ...] One book I read noted that in medieval "Madonna and Child' paintings, the baby Jesus was often fat and pasty looking -- a sign of an older baby who had been exclusively BF for too many months, and was anemic.

Answer 7

I don't know if it's "necessary," but i think it's food is a great source of joy and fun for babies, especially when they're over 6 months!  My baby is a week shy of 8 months, and, has really just started to eat solids as a source of food. i started her at 6 months but she really just played and tasted.  your baby obviously wont be deprived nutritionally if you don't do solids, but, she will be deprived of a fun experience.  also, it's great for your baby to have all sorts of flavors and textures.  

Answer 8

6 to 8 months is typical.  In fact, waiting too late to introduce food can make the baby less interested in eating later.  At 8 months your baby should definitely be eating baby food and not just sampling your grownup food.  Her digestive system needs to get used to solids and 'build up' to more complex foods, and its why baby food is made the way it is.  That is not to say you still can't supplement with nursing but she really needs more than just the breast milk at this point.

My sister in law waited until my niece was a year old before giving her solids, and today she is the pickiest eater you've ever seen.  She learned her lesson and started my nephew a little sooner and he's always ready to try new things.

Answer 9

if your breastfeeding full time, it's ok to delay full meals until 1, but if she is hungry all the time than give her more solids, otherwise she'll be fine. What does the doctor say? is she in a healthy weight/height percentile?  

Answer 10

umm not sure what will or will not happen, but you should start feeding her some food.

my kids were off formula at or before 8 months and on real food.

PS. thanks for the thumbs down :)

Answer 11

i start at 6 months, and I always think that people start way sooner than 6 months even.