[What the pediatrician should know about introducing infants to solid foods]

Since World War II, the introduction of solid foods to infants has been practiced at early ages. At the same time, knowledge about the physiology of the intestinal tract during the first year of life has been increasing: now the developmental immaturity of the intestine and the clinical consequences produced by the introduction of some foods at an early age are known. In this report this information is reviewed in order to rationalize the introduction of solid foods in babies.