Attitudes and practices regarding the introduction of solid foods to infants

Abstract

Current recommendation regarding the introduction of solid foods is that it should be between four and six months of age. These recommendations are due to concern over infant food sensitivities, growth and development. Observational studies support the finding that early introduction of solid foods may result in a heavier child, but these results have not been duplicated by other researchers.1The incidence of allergy is on the rise. This increase has highlighted the need for primary prevention and an interest in the role of early nutrition. Elimination of certain foods in the diet during pregnancy and lactation has been beneficial in cases of infants from atopic families.2,,3 In at risk infants, maternal avoidance of allergenic foods during lactation, exclusive breast feeding for six months, use of extensive hydrolysate formula, if required and introduction to solids after four and preferably six months of age reduces the incidence of atopic syndromes.2The issue over early introduction to solids and infant growth has been raised. In a study conducted by Mehta et al. no differences were found in body composition or growth between early and late introduction of solid foods. Early introduction of solids was between three and four months and late introduction of solids was at 6 months. Anthropometric measurements were obtained at three, six, or twelve months of age and showed no significant differences.1 Another study related early vigorous suckling with the possibility of long-term obesity in an infant at high risk.4This article looks at current feeding practices of low income and middle/upper income mothers. Successful educational strategies to overcome pressure from multigenerational households to follow the current guidelines is discussed. An early work by Skinner and colleagues looks at feeding practices compared to the 1970s and 1980s in middle/upper income mothers with a higher educational level. Black and colleagues are mainly interested in the educational strategies that could effect change in the area of infant feeding using a videotape and mentorship model with low income families. Kannan, Carruth and Skinner investigated middle/upper socio-economic mothers of Anglo-American and Asian-Indian American populations and infant feeding practices. Despite change in socio-economic status of this population, family influence was overwhelming and was at opposition to current feeding practices. Anderson et al. reported on attitudes and beliefs which influence when solids are introduced. They found that most mothers felt that they were responding to cues from their infant and that current guidelines were not individualized.