Determinants of the introduction of solid food

Abstract

Factors determining the introduction of solid food into an infant's diet were studied in an urban sample of breastfeeding mothers. The time at which a mother intended to introduce solid food was found to be a reliable predictor of actual age of introduction, p < 0.01. However, infant birth weight also significantly improved the prediction of weaning age. When asked, 75 per cent of the mothers reported that they had introduced solid food as a response to an observed change in the infants' behaviour. Behavioural changes most frequently reported were those of too frequent feeding or a return of night waking. It was concluded that subcultural factors might place constraints upon the timing of the introduction of solids, but that infant behaviour which is perceived as signalling nutritional need could override cultural constraints.