More food for thought—For infants, can we pin down the timing of complementary feeding introduction even more?

Abstract

Pediatricians and child health and nutrition providers are important and trusted sources of information for feeding guidelines for young infants. Although WHO guidelines that recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months of age are the “gold standard” recommendations, the AAP and other guidelines have generally recommended introducing complementary foods “around” the age of 6 months. Of note, these guidelines are based on a wide range of concerns including optimal weight gain, food safety (the avoidance of enteropathogens), and the development of obesity. New research from Hollander et al in this volume of The Journal of Pediatrics provides more data to narrow down this window of opportunity. Compared with infants who received complementary foods at 6 months of age, those who received these at 4 months of age (still within the window of some recommendations), had a substantially higher BMI Z score as well as a higher incidence of obesity at age 10 years (Figure). Another point for closer to 6 months for ideal infant and child health! Article page 102 Timing of Introduction to Solid Food, Growth, and Nutrition Risk in Later ChildhoodThe Journal of PediatricsVol. 240PreviewTo evaluate the relationship between the timing of infant cereal introduction between 4 and 6 months of age and growth and dietary intake in later childhood. Full-Text PDF