No, breast milk or infant formula is sufficient for most babies as the sole source of nutrition for the first four to six months according to the American Academy of Pediatrics and current research. We have learned that by pushing food too soon, we make fat babies who in turn make fat adults.
Most babies are not started on solids such as cereal, strained juice or pureed fruit until four to six months of age. Pureed vegetables can be introduced at six to eight months and pureed meats and egg yolks at nine to 10 months. In addition, babies should be fed breast milk or formula for the first year of life. Your daughter can introduce cow’s milk when her infant starts to drink from a cup, around 12 months of age.
We have learned that babies develop allergies to foods introduced too soon. They have an immature ability to produce the necessary enzymes to break down some foods such as egg white, cow’s milk, berries or chocolate. These foods and others, which have skins or seeds, should not be fed to an infant up to twelve months of age.
