How careful were you when introducing new foods to your baby? With the first two, I was by the book, but have been a little more relaxed with my youngest. (Okay, a lot more relaxed, but only because I was hyper-vigilant with the others.) None of us have any food allergies, so I feel pretty confident that he won't either, but I'm still trying not to introduce too much at once.
ETA: He still nurses before he eats any food, and has a bedtime "snack" of just breast milk. I'm not trying to end that, or replace that. He's just so eager to try everything, much more so than the older two, and I wondered how lax or strict other mommies were about introducing foods.
We went by the book and waited the alloted time between introducing new foods. Allergies are scary.
I grew into food allergies, and since my late 20s, in addition to seasonal allergies, react to soy, almonds, cherries, and chocolate. After having DS, icecream and I are no longer friends, can't manage large amounts of milk or soft cheese any more either.
Do what you think best.
F. B.
I just went according to our Pediatrician and I also went according to the cues of my kids, and their physiological cues, and their age.
ie: if they still had their gag reflex, if they could swallow and not choke, if they were interested in "foods" or rejected it, etc. and spinach baby food for example, is not supposed to be given to a baby until after 9 months old. Due to certain enzymes in it.
Each baby is different, and their age also matters when/if you give them certain solids.
Just because I may not have any food allergies, it does not mean my kids won't. It varies in each individual. My daughter for example, is allergic to a food in which NO ONE in my family, is.
For me, I saw no point in rushing solids or rushing in giving my kids certain foods. I did not rush it.
My pediatrician said they have revamped guidlines in the last few years considerably when it comes to introducing new foods, and no there are *no* restrictions unless there is a serious immediate family allergy already known. There are still restrictions on foods for choking issues (popcorn, hot dogs and grapes are the worst offenders) but I was told for my son (now 2 years old) even peanut butter was OK at a year as long as it was spread on something so it couldn't be a choking hazard.
Very different info from what they said for my 5 year old daughter!
I was pretty lax. I never followed the rule about feeding the same food for a few days to see if the baby has an allergic reaction. I even gave my daughter peanut butter even though the rule at that time was to wait until the kid is 3 years old before introducing peanut butter. I would give your son whatever he wants to try to let him experience different tastes and textures.
When she started reaching for my plate, I let her taste everything she wanted, seasonings, spices, and all. The only food allergy she ever had was to berries when she was little, and she outgrew it.
I got more lax with each kid. I introduced 2 or three new foods in the same da and honey before a year.
I really really really have a strong opinion about giving a baby food too early. Your little guy is about 6 months old now so now you think you should start feeding him baby food and cutting down of formula. It's what a lot of mom's do.
Baby food has about zero nutrition. It has vitamins and stuff added because there's nothing else to it and those additives fad away as the food sits there in the jar.
Formula and breastmilk is complete food. A baby needs that nutrition.
Of course the gobble down baby food. Of course they act like they're starving when they eat. Because their body IS starving. They get fat from all the baby food because their body isn't able to use that flavored goo for anything. They starve for nutritious.
Please just always offer him a bottle first. He needs the complete nutrition of that first.
It's like offering a starving man who's been out digging ditches all day a couple of potato chips instead of a nutrition drink like Ensure to give him nutrition.
