Here in Northern Ireland, we’re often a bit too keen to get babies onto solid food as soon as possible. A breastfed baby doesn’t need any other food or drink until around six months old.
There are major advantages to breastfed babies of delaying solids until six months of age. These include:
- fewer stomach and chest infections
- digestive system and kidneys are more mature
- less risk of allergies like asthma and eczema
Some mothers also say that weaning around six months is easier as the baby can sit up and take an active part in feeding. Also the tongue thrust reflex will have gone (young babies will automatically push solids out of their mouths with their tongue).