A Study of Timing of First Solid Foods: Comparison of Breast‐ and Bottlefeeding Mothers

A study of the timing of first solid foods in the infant diet reveals significant differences, with bottlefeeding mothers more likely to add solid foods prior to the infant's third month than breastfeeding mothers. In addition, the type of food used was related to the timing of its introduction, with bottlefeeding mothers more likely than breastfeeding women to use commercially prepared baby foods rather than home‐prepared foods. Although recommendations by established pediatric societies caution against the too‐early introduction of solid foods at the expense of the amount of milk received, these recommendations have not yet filtered down to a number of parents, especially those who bottlefeed their infants.