Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.
Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown. One study has shown that babies who were exclusively breastfed for 4+ months had 40% fewer ear infections than breastfed babies whose diets were supplemented with other foods. The probability of respiratory illness occurring at any time during childhood is significantly reduced if the child is fed exclusively breast milk for at least 15 weeks and no solid foods are introduced during this time. (Wilson, 1998) Many other studies have also linked the degree of exclusivity of breastfeeding to enhanced health benefits (see Immune factors in human milk).
This is also another good reason to delay solids even if baby seems to want them. <3
<blockquote><b>Quoting Penises 3:Vaginas 1:</b>" I delayed solids till my youngest was about... 9-10 months oldish and I was sooo pissed off when my MIL gave him a PB cookie when he was like 5 months old. I screamed at her. "</blockquote>
Why would you feed a PB cookie to a 5month old! How are they suppose to chew it? ... That's not really a great first food.. I see why you cracked it!
<blockquote><b>Quoting buggials:</b>" The results of a study are based on who is paying for them. very few studies are unbiased since they ... [snip!] ... be more supportive of other moms when it comes to things like this it isn't like she's flogging her child or starving him..."</blockquote>
Hahaha Thankyou! Yeah my baby started crying all through the night cause he would get hungry and then get overtired and it was a bad circle to be in. He's happy now and sleeps through the night :)