REASONS TO START NO LATER THAN 7 MONTHS

1. Need for additional iron

A healthy full term baby is born with a supply of iron stored in his/her liver. By around the age of 6 months this iron supply is starting to deplete and the need for additional iron from solid food becomes more important. Although breast milk and formula are still the most important food for a baby over 6 months of age, they do not always provide have enough iron for the second 6 months. Babies who are not given solids until much later may miss out and not grow as well as they should.

2. Development and learning

Food and the feeding process are a new experience for babies and are an important stage for their development. The act of chewing helps a child develop the muscles necessary for speech development.

Some babies who are NOT given solids before 7 or 8 months (when they're reaching out and wanting to try things) may not be so willing to try new tastes and foods later on. After 9 or 10 months, babies who have not become comfortable with the process of eating solid foods may find it harder to learn these skills at this later age. So it's best not to wait too long.

3. Increased risk of diabetes

A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that cereals introduced into the diets of babies before the age of 4 months or after the age of 7 months increase the risk of insulin-dependent diabetes in susceptible children.