The intended audience of this FAQ is mothers who are successfully breastfeeding exclusively and are attempting to decide when to introduce solids. There are numerous factors to consider, including your baby’s developmental readiness (Is your baby ready for solids?), but parents of exclusively breastfed babies have other issues to weigh.From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an "open gut." This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream. This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby's bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. Once food molecules are in the blood, the immune system may produce antibodies to that food, creating a food allergy. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (IgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract like a protective layer of paint. This “coating” prevents foreign food molecules from getting into the baby’s bloodstream and reduces the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions. Babies start producing these antibodies on their own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also.
What does this mean for your breastfed baby? The introduction of solids compromises and breaks down the protective coating that breastmilk provides. Introducing solids prior to gut closure may increase your baby’s risk for food allergy because his digestive system isn’t able to block out foreign food molecules on its own yet. Because it’s impossible to determine exactly when gut closure occurs, more and more health professionals recommend delaying solids introduction until 6 months of age, when gut closure is much more likely to have occurred.
It is important to remember that many babies have successfully begun solids foods before 6 months of age and have no health issues. However, the above information has only come to light in the last few years as a result of research done to investigate the increase in allergies in the developed world. It is intended to help parents make an informed choice about when to introduce solids, but there may still be cases when it is in a baby’s best interest to begin solids prior to 6 months of age. In these circumstances, the decision should be discussed with a doctor or other health professional.
Please note that the websites mentioned above do not necessarily advocate all aspects of Baby Whisperer parenting, but are included because they provide factual information on infant nutrition.
