Breastfeeding FAQs: Solids and Supplementing

Whether you're a new mom or a seasoned parenting pro, solids at 4 months, the AAP now recommends waiting until your baby is 6 months old before introducing any solid foods at all. Why? Because feeding solids earlier than this can increase the chances of your baby developing food allergies and also can prematurely reduce the amount of breast milk (the most nourishing "food" you can offer) that your baby consumes.

Water, juice, and other foods are usually unnecessary during a baby's first 6 months. Breast milk usually provides everything babies need nutritionally until they start eating solid foods.

Watch for signs of solid-food readiness, such as your baby's tongue-thrusting reflex subsiding and your baby beginning to reach for other people's food. Always start with baby cereal (rice cereal is usually the best one to introduce first) on a spoon before advancing to fruits and vegetables. But do not add cereal to your baby's bottle unless your child's doctor instructs you to do so. Adding cereal to bottles can make babies overweight and can make it difficult for newborns and young infants to digest their milk.

Also, fruit juices should not be given to babies younger than 6 months. Even when your baby is older, keep fruit juices to a minimum (no more than 8 ounces per day). Too much juice can fill a baby up (leaving little room for more nutritious foods), promote obesity, and can put a baby at an increased risk for cavities when teeth start coming in. When you do give your baby juice, make sure it's pasteurized and try diluting it with water.

And remember to never put your baby to bed with a bottle or capped cup of juice, formula, or breast milk because the sugar in them can cause dental cavities.

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