How long should babies be breast fed?

About 25 years ago, it was commonly recommended that babies be given "solid" food beginning at 6 weeks of age or sometimes younger. But a generation of experience has led pediatric experts to conclude that 6 weeks is too early for even cereal mixed with milk, the first traditional solid food. Today the common recommendation is that babies should receive only breast milk or infant formula until they are at least 4 to 6 months old.

Reasons for this are several. Contrary to previous theory, experts now advise that solid food does not make a baby anymore likely to sleep through the night than a diet of only formula or breast milk. Such a liquid diet can appease the hunger of an infant under 4 to 6 months of age. The nervous system also needs to mature so the baby can recognize a spoon, coordinate swallowing, and signal if hungry or full. Feeding solids before the baby has these skills is really a kind of force-feeding. Introducing solids too early may contribute to overfeeding and result in food allergies, which can cause gastrointestinal and other problems.