MYTH: Feeding your baby solid food early will help them sleep longer through the night.

Many parents have heard that offering solid food (or even adding cereal to their baby’s bottle) will help their child sleep through the night.  This has prompted some parents to start their baby on solid food earlier then the recommended age in hopes that they will improve sleep habits. This is another parenting myth, and there is no evidence to support it. In fact, research suggests waiting until your baby is right around 6 months old before introducing solid food. The reason is to ensure your baby’s digestive systems are mature enough to handle solids and that your baby has the necessary oral-motor skills to successfully transition to solid foods.

When your baby is around 6 months old, some signs of readiness for solids include:

• Can hold their head up steadily

• Sit up unsupported

• Opens their mouth wide when you offer food

• Can turn head away (communicate when they are full)

• Able to pick up pieces of food on their own and put in mouth

If you are looking for more information on when to start offering solid food, how to start, what foods to offer first, and information on allergies, visit http://www.beststart.org/resources/nutrition/pdf/BSRC_FeedingYourBaby_2015.pdf

If you have concerns about your baby’s weight gain or feeding patterns, talk to your health care provider, and follow the advice of your doctor.

Written by Ashley Colvin, POP UP Programmer & Parent Support Educator