Formula already is a "solid food." It's difficult to digest and encourages
the growth of adult-like bacteria in the gut. It has no immune provisions,
etc. etc. Without lactoferrin & all the other wonderful vehicles bm has to
deliver certain nutrients, formula-fed babies have a very difficult time
obtaining enough iron -- no matter how much is in the formula -- it binds
with calcium & the selenium,zinc etc. making the availability of each of
these precarious. FF babies are often also losing some blood in the
intestines in reaction to the bovine casein or to soy -- this causes them
to be even more likely to become anemic. Starting solids "early" is often
important in not only preventing anemia, but in enhancing their selenium &
zinc as well (in my opinion). Formula also has no good antioxidants or
fiber in it (BM has great fiber in form of oligosaccharides), and until
recently it had not DHA/ARA. I would want my formula-fed baby to have all
this good stuff as early as her little tummy would digest it (if the poops
look OK). No reason to feed empty calories tho -- like the dumb puddings I
see moms thinking of as important to give their babies so they can "learn
to eat."

Giving solids to a baby who's lucky enough to be exclusively breastfed only
serves to greatly reduce the opportunity for immune protections and reduce
the availability of lactoferrin's iron to them -- and the "solid foods" are
only inferior nutritionwise to bm, so there's no need to hurry. If they're
receiving supplemental formula though, they're often likely to need some
high-iron cereals or such to get the iron up.

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