Starting formula-fed babies on solid foods early may increase risk of obesity.

Formula-fed infants introduced to solid food before 4 months of age had 6.3 times higher risk of obesity by the age of 3 compared to breastfed infants. Breastfed infants showed no impact based on the age of introducing solid food (P<0.0001). This research confirms the long-term benefits of breast feeding during the first six months of baby's life.

PositiveTip: Breast-feeding young infants continues to be the healthiest choice for them!

Early solid food and television viewing linked to shorter infant sleep duration.

Many parents believe that solid food before bedtime enhances the sleep duration of their infants. However, researchers have highlighted that the early introduction of solid food and television viewing are significant risk factors for shorter sleep through two years old. At age one year the impact of solid food introduced before 4 months of age was greater than maternal prenatal depression. Amazingly, each hour of television viewing per week shortened sleep by .11 hours per day!

PositiveTip: Babies need to be breast fed if at all possible until they are really ready for solid foods. Keep the TV off too!