In regards to infants...Why is food introduced according to the baby's age and not

[Landen's Nana]

weight? My grandson is 8 weeks old and weighs 13lbs.4 oz and eats about 6 ounces every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. We checked the Gerber brand foods and they have stages based on milestones which are used instead of the age of the infant. I know milestones should coordinate with age but in some instances they do not.

 

[Preemie Mom]

The body has a "filtration system" that is designed to eliminate harmful substances and let healthy nutrients in. This filtering system develops over the course of the first 6 months. There is evidence to show that if you start feeding a child a variety of solids too soon, then potential allergens can "sneak through" basically and cause the baby to develop antibodies... this could lead to lifelong allergy issues.

Aside from that, infants have a "tongue thrust" reflex to prevent them from choking. Feeding them solids is nearly impossible until the tongue thrusting stops and the swallowing mechanism matures.

All of these things develop with age... not size, so it's best to wait a little longer. Your pediatrician will give your grandson the 'go ahead' when he feels that he's ready to start!

 

[Lisa]

It has to do with maturity level...most 6 month babies are around the same developmentally. While not every 13pound baby would be developmentally the same...some babies at that weight might be newborns while others might be 6 months old. You wouldn't be feeding a newborn the same as you would a 6 month old.

 

[G and D's Mommy]

It has to do with maturity of body systems.

 

[Pippin]

Because physiological readiness is based on time, not size. (It takes several months for baby's gut to develop to where it can digest anything but breastmilk.)

Actually, Gerber labels are designed to encourage EARLY solids -- they want parents to buy their products as soon as possible. The AAP specifically recommends waiting until 6 months to begin, even if baby can sit up with support a bit sooner than that.

Consider too that if baby is a big boy, then he's obviously THRIVING on milk alone. So why feel the need to add anything else to his diet? At best you'd replace a complete food with an incomplete one. At worst you'd add more food and more calories, and make him gain weight even faster. (A few bites of cereal aren't going to make him take less formula.)

 

[Andrea]

Weight has nothing to do with the maturity of a baby's digestive system. A newborn could weigh 12lbs, but that does not mean they are ready for solids!

Your grandson needs to wait until ATLEAST 4 months old to begin trying to eat solids. The baby will show you signs of being ready, do not start solids until he does so.