Food allergies may be triggered by giving solid foods too early. Many solid foods are poor sources of needed nutrients, particularly iron. Solid foods, especially table foods, often contain too much salt for babies. The extra calories may make your baby too fat. Even after your baby starts eating solid foods, breast milk or an infant formula should be the main part of the baby's diet throughout the first year.
Solid foods are mostly useful for the extra calories they offer to increasingly active babies.
Talk to your doctor before starting your baby on solid foods. In general, both breast milk and full-year infant formulas offer babies a generous supply of important vitamins and minerals. However, many doctors recommend vitamin and mineral supplements for special needs. If your baby is breast-fed, your doctor may suggest a daily supplement of vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for bone formation during your baby's rapid growth in the first year. If you're breastfeeding, your doctor may suggest iron supplement drops for your baby.