Posted by: ben

In my opinion, a child should be breastfed for the first two years of its life. This will ensure a strong, sturdy tongue which can guide and support both jaws throughout development (and hopefully, life). There are also numerous nutritional and emotional benefits to extended breastfeeding—far too many to list in a single post. 

Solid foods should be introduced at around one year after birth, or when the baby teeth begin to erupt. Make sure to give your child's jaw a workout! After all, the even, developed musculature of both jaw and tongue are crucial in the formation of a healthy, functional face and body!

Hope this helps!

There can be a large difference from baby-to-baby when the teeth begin to erupt. Rarely, babies can be born with teeth! Here's a graphic below showing general teeth eruption dates:

I started offering solids once a day, at least 1/2 hour after nursing, at 6 months pursuant to the guidelines (by the government, or the same info is here). I was told by the public health nurse that the food they now recommend beginning with is iron-rich foods, because the iron in the milk starts to drop at this time, yet it's still important for the baby.

Despite these guidelines being available, many moms will choose to feed foodstuffs like "baby cereal" or formula as a compliment to the nursing sessions at around 3 months because this is when the baby becomes quite hungry with a growth spurt, so the mom becomes concerned about low milk supply and engages in the very noxious practices which further lowers it! Then, as a result of the lack of nursing, the mom's menstrual period resumes again which further decreases her milk supply. Better to reach for a galactagogue such as oats.

If I could offer a few tips on solids, it would be to let the baby feed itself from the get-go (a practice called "baby-led weaning"), and prioritize teaching how to chew over using the utensils.

Mew recommends 3-4 years. Official guidelines will say "until at least 2 years of age or longer" and then some others believe all the teeth should be in before stopping. Sometimes the baby will wean at an earlier age, though.

It is recommended to feed the baby with ееру breast not less than six months. But how long to continue breastfeeding, everyone decides for himself. Anyway, the longer you practice it, is better for the baby. For example, both of my children were breastfed until 2 years. Frankly speaking, if there wouldn't appear some problems with my health I would continue to breastfeed them and more. Also, be very careful with the first baby foods and products that you give to your child. It is very important that the meal had organic formula of kendamil for babies, no sugar, all necessary micro and macro elements, just natural components and healthy products.

@greensmoothies 

Hi Ben

I agree with a lot of what you wrote a few years back.

But new evidence suggests that iron is determined by type of birth (reserves from leaving the cord to go white, length of gestation etc) and babies with a healthy weight that is exclusively breastfed does not have depleted iron levels and supplements cause more issues. 

My question is, WHAT solids should we start babies on to reduce jaw/teeth/swallow issues? Chewy foods? Nutrient dense? Pulp? 

I would be grateful of your opinion.