Feeding the 2 to 3 month old (1008)

By now someone has probably told you that feeding your baby solid foods, like cereal, will help him sleep through the night. While you may want to try anything to get a whole night's sleep, solid foods probably aren't the answer.

Babies don't need solids until 4 to 6 months of age. Breast milk has all the nutrients babies need. For babies who are not breast-fed, iron-fortified infant formulas provide complete nutrition for babies.

Sometimes solids given too early can cause food allergies. The foods may not be digested properly by young infants, so the baby's body may treat them as "foreign bodies" by producing an allergic reaction.

Giving solids too early might also cause choking. Babies aren't yet ready to swallow anything but liquids. If you try, his tongue will push the food out of his mouth.

You'll know when baby is old enough for solid foods when she can sit well with support, has good head and neck control, and can turn her head away on purpose if she doesn't like the food or has had enough to eat. This usually happens around 4 to 6 months of age.

For more information on this subject, Please visit the College of Agricultural Sciences Publications Web site.

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