Introducing solids

Thanks for a great website. I have read your articles about breastfeeding/weaning. I would like to know what is the Torah's view on the introduction of solids. When? What? etc. I am getting conflicting vies from health professionals (there are a lot of allergies in the family) and would like an halachic opinion (but not an actual psak). Thank you.

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your question.

Thank you for the compliment. To the best of my knowledge, there are no specific guidelines in halacha as to the timing of the introduction of solid food. In general, halacha recommends following the best current medical knowledge. The World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics both recommend gradual introduction of complementary foods (in addition to breastfeeding, not instead of it) at six months of age. A slight delay (to 7-8 months) is unlikely to have serious health consequences. For those with a family history of allergies, I would recommend gradual addition of solids - trying one new food at a time and waiting as long as a week before introducing the next new food to check for any reactions.

This internet service does not preclude, override or replace the psak of any rabbinical authority. It is the responsibility of the questioner to inform us of any previous consultation or ruling. As even slight variation in circumstances may have Halachic consequences, views expressed concerning one case may not be applied to other, seemingly similar cases.

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