Baby-Led Solids

[boy wrangler]

So Oliver is now almost 6 months (oh how the time flies!) and we've re-entered the world of baby-led solids. It seems like forever ago that we were introducing food with Archie!

So far O has had rice cereal for breaky and fingers of steamed zucchini, carrot, sweet potato and some cauliflower florets (sp) for lunches or dinners.

What did you give your wee ones when they started to move onto solid foods?

[Merlion]

OMG time does fly. Liam has been on solids for about a week and loves it. I make all his food mashes. He loves carrot, pumpkin, zucchinni and has tried banana and loves them.

[marmee]

With my last - nothing special :rofl Slack-o me. He just ate what we ate, in small pieces. Ohh the clean up joy! No mash - just never got around to it.

[boy wrangler]

We're not mashing or pureeing - F* that shit! :2lol Maybe I'll stew up some apple so he can have rice cereal and apple for breaky, but even then I'm thinking that after this packet of baby cereal is finished I'll just give him porridge made with oats or brown rice. It's what we normally have and it'll save buying that ridiculous baby cereal!

What are people's thoughts on the timing of introducing new foods? I remember with E (which was 4 years ago mind) they said to hold off on wheat, eggs, dairy etc for a while (I can't remember ages though). A dietitian friend of mine thinks that the way childhood allergies are going that in the future they're just going to suggest babies can have all foods, beginning between 4 and 6 months or when your child shows signs they are ready. Does anyone know what the current guidelines are?

Yes Marmee, DH is NOT loving the cleanup! :2lol Food everywhere!!!!

[Rinelle]

I know that a while after Ezri was past all that stage, they came out with a study that showed that kids developed less allergies (to wheat this was) when it was introduced at 4-6 months, so that could be why the changes have come in. I wonder if this is because most people are still breastfeeding at this age, and the risk is lower if the foods are introduced while still breastfeeding? But that's a totally wild stab in the dark on my part. No idea if it's likely or not.

[marmee]

I think if there is a history of food allergy just be aware as you introduce foods and if history of anaphylaxis...proceed with caution. Otherwise - go for it! Lovely stage :)

[cherish]

I have a good chart at work.. though it is produced by nestle.. however, it's very helpful...

funny how you forget.. I think with Matt I just picked bits and pieces off our plates- whatever was appropriate- didnt really do any mash unless it was part of our dinner... much easier..

[Astra]

Yep that's why the change, I wasn't convinced when the first Aussie study came out a couple of years ago because from what I read the conclusion was it doesn't cause more allergies if you start from four months but apparantly a large review has come out since then which has confirmed that starting before six months does reduce the risk of allergies, still didn't though, just didn't feel right and we don't have a family history of food allergies. The idea is that the earlier they are exposed the less likely they will develop an allergy, start with fruit and vegies, then quickly move on to meat and other stuff.

With DS2 (our eating baby, as opposed to DS1, our mouth clampy not eating baby) we have just fed him whatever we're eating and not worried about waiting for dairy or wheat. I do spoon feed liquid foods though like yoghurt, sometimes he grabs the spoon on the way which I really like but I just can't face cleaning yoghurt off the carpet every time he eats it.

[boy wrangler]

Yes, Astra, we're doing cereal with a spoon, which he grabs, and other foods that just can't be done without a spoon (yoghurt, porridge, fried rice! :) ) I suppose we'll do with a spoon but he's turning into Mr Independent so he'll just do it himself!

Thanks for that info :)

[Bron]

Only 2 children had to suffer the revoltingness that is rice cereal. Justin was 6 months old and burst into tears when we offered it. I don't blame him, it is so bloody awful!

So mine started when they were ready (I don't believe that watching etc is a sign of being ready, and I don't really believe the baby led way is right, if they waste so much, it is a play thing not an eating thing). Justin was 36 weeks (and still needed sloppy mush so still not ready), Xanthia was 11.5m (but she had a very strong gag reflex so vomited out everything offered) and Josie was 10m. Mind you, in our case, it was a very good thing as their growth slowed right down to almost nothing once they started wheat :( They were likely protecting themselves.

Other than Justin, they just ate what was on our plates.

[Bron]

Kylie, is that chart viewable by mothers? If so, perhaps the logo needs to be removed?

[cherish]

I couldn't find it online.. I have it at work- it's something that we order- can't remove the logo- it's quite a good chart though...

with the twins- I think they were nearly 6 months when I started.. but then Cam got sick.. Matt was also close to 6 mths- but also got sick when introduced to rice cereal- so I removed solid food until he was better- I think he was closer to 7.5 mths when food was truely introduced..

I agree Bron- watching and grabbing a fork isn't indiciative that they are ready for solids.. my motto was 'food for fun until they're one' I probably learnt that here.. but reinforced to me that their milk was their primary food source= and eating was more about textures and swallowing stuff.. not actually about nutrients.. though I am ready now to let go of the milk.. and let him get nutrients from food..

[boy wrangler]

oh yep, food here is totally fun til they're one (and older)! I've heard that too, I think at ABA?

[cherish]

I must have heard it here, Ive never been to an ABA meeting-which is a bit sad..

[boy wrangler]

I've been meaning to talk to you about that, will pm you now!

[Bron]

If that chart is viewable by parents, it is very sad they can see the logo as it reinforces the very message Nestle puts it out for -they're the experts on nutrition :(

[cherish]

Im sure its online somewhere- I just couldnt find it- regardless- its one of the better charts I have seen- if its going to save clueless parents from feeding honey to their 4 mth old (as one of the familiys I see were thinking about) I feel its worth providing them information..