Timing of Introduction of Complementary Foods — United States, 2016–2018

Abstract

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends introducing complementary foods (i.e., any solid or liquid other than breast milk or infant formula) to infants at approximately age 6 months (1). Although a consensus on ideal timing is lacking, most experts agree that introduction of complementary foods before age 4 months is too early because of infant gastrointestinal and motor immaturity (1,2). In addition, early introduction prevents exclusively breastfed infants from reaching the recommended 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding (1) and might be associated with increased risk for overweight and obesity (3). Nationally representative data on complementary feeding are limited; state-level estimates have been previously unavailable. CDC analyzed 2016-2018 data from the National Survey of Children's Health (NSCH) (N = 23,927) to describe timing of complementary feeding introduction and prevalence of early introduction of complementary foods before age 4 months (early introduction) among children aged 1-5 years. Prevalence of early introduction was 31.9% nationally and varied geographically and across sociodemographic and infant feeding characteristics. These estimates suggest that many infants are introduced to complementary foods before they are developmentally ready. Efforts by health care providers and others who might influence infant feeding practices could help decrease the number of infants who are introduced to complementary foods too early.