b'BREASTFEEDING BASICSWhen to introduce solidsWORDS // RENEE KAMI f you feel confused about when to introduce solids toNutritional issues, risk of illness, risk of the baby getting too your baby, youre not alone. But where is all this confusionlittle breastmilk and developmental readiness are other coming from and what is the right time to introduceimportant factors that also need to be considered. Exclusive solids to your baby? breastfeeding for around the first 6 months helps protect Australias leading health organisation, the National Healthbabies from illness, even in high-resource societies.and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), recommendsDevelopmental readiness is a particularly important factor around 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding and then forto consider when it comes to deciding when to introduce solids to be introduced while breastfeeding continues. Thisfamily foods (solids) to your baby. This is because guidelines recommendation is still current. Unfortunately, many mothers continue to receive conflicting advice from various sources with regards to the timing of introducing solids to their babies. So, now you can relax Most of the confusion appears to stem from fears of allergy risk associated with the timing of solids introduction. In anknowing that the Australian attempt to clarify this, a Centre for Food and Allergy Researchrecommendation to Infant Feeding Summit was held in May 2016. At this summit, a consensus agreement was accepted and the followingintroduce solids at around 6 recommendations came from it:When your infant is ready, at around 6 months, but notmonths is current.before 4 months, start to introduce a variety of solid foods, starting with iron rich foods, while continuing breastfeeding.All infants should be given allergenic solid foods including peanut butter, cooked egg and dairy and wheat productscannot precisely predict when any individual baby may be in the first year of life. This includes infants at high risk ofdevelopmentally ready for solids. Babies are likely to be ready allergy. for solids when:Hydrolysed (partially and extensively) infant formulas arethey show a greater interest in what youre eating and may not recommended for prevention of allergic disease. try to grab food from youThese messages continue to support the NHMRCstheir tongue-thrust reflex that pushes food back out of their recommendation to introduce solids around 6 months. mouth isnt there anymoreIt is important to note that allergy is not the only factor tothey are able to sit upright.consider when it comes to the timing of beginning solids.For most babies, all the above signs of readiness tend to occur around 6 months of age. So, now you can relax knowing that the Australian recommendation to introduce solids at around 6 months is current.FOR MORE INFORMATIONSee ABAs booklet Breastfeeding: and family foodsAnd ABA website articles Breastfeeding and family foods and Confused about introducing solids?Beth enjoying food from her mothers plate. Photo courtesy Judy Gifford28| Essence | Australian Breastfeeding AssociationDecember 2019'