Introducing your baby to solid foods is exciting but it can also feel like a gamble when you consider the possibility of lurking food allergies. Awareness and preventative measures will help make this transition seem less like a game of Russian Roulette and more like a positive change.
Timing of Solids
Is it true that introducing solids before 6 months of age will increase the likelihood that my baby will develop an allergy?
Dr. Wesley Burks, Professor and Chief of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology at Duke University Medical Center, notes that breastfeeding exclusively for more than 4 months -- and waiting to introduce solids until 4 to 6 months of age -- are two of the best ways to help prevent the onset of allergies. In addition to immune system strength, your baby's gastrointestinal and motor strength will increase month by month. While a 4-month-old might be able to digest solid foods well, she might be more physically adept and attentive at 6 months, making the transition to new foods faster, easier, and less messy.
