First of all, it is highly important to breastfeed, but if
your body simply cannot produce milk, formula is still good for your baby. I
will be putting my breastfeeding facts in the link titled, “Why Breast is the Best.”
Please read it and click in the links I will post to do a more in depth study.
Second, you don’t want to introduce anything other than
breast milk (or formula) to your baby before 6 months. I know a lot of books
say that you can start introducing baby food at 4 months, but new studies show
that the bacterial gut flora that babies get from their mother’s breast milk to
help with the digestion of other kinds of food hasn't built up enough to allow
the proper digestion of the food. This causes gastrointestinal issues,
constipation, food allergies, ear infections, gas, diabetes, slow brain
development, obesity, psychological disorders (such as; ADHD, schizophrenia,
dyslexia), even death. The reason why babies get milk right away is because
it’s easy to digest, so they can absorb all of the nutrients, and their
intestinal tract hasn't fully developed yet.
A lot of people start to introduce food too early in the
belief that their baby is “way too hungry.” Remember that milk is not only
their first food for the first 6 months of life, but also their only source of
drink and hydration. That’s right, even introducing juice and water before 6
months isn't a good thing. Nursing is also a comforting thing, it can help ease
the pain of teething, and some babies just have the constant urge to suckle (a
pacifier, when used correctly, can be a good thing…give those poor nipples a
break!)
There is also the belief that breastfed babies are at risk
for iron deficiency. That is only the case when iron fortified food and iron
supplements and other foods are introduced too early. There is a reason why God didn't allow iron to be easily absorbed into the mothers milk supply. It’s not
necessary. Starting iron fortified food before 6-7 months can actually hinder
the body’s ability to absorb iron. And babies that are strictly breastfed until
7 months actually have higher hemoglobin values and normal iron stores. Don’t
get mad at your doctor for not telling you that or for telling you something
different. There are always new things being found out about the human body and
it is nearly impossible to stay 100% on top of it. Show a little grace, do the
right thing for your baby. Maybe even inform your doctor of the things you are
learning.
Once your baby is old enough for food, what do you start
with and what do you avoid?
I recommend starting with fruits like pears and bananas
because they are sweet like breast milk and the texture isn't anything too
funky. And for veggies, also go with the sweet and flavor full, like sweet
potatoes and carrots. Most fruits and veggies, if you make them yourself,
(which I recommend for cost efficiency and health benefits. Plus it’s really
easy. You can read more in the “Why Homemade” link.) need to be steamed and
boiled first. (I’ll post a “how to” section in the “why homemade” link).
The things you’ll want to avoid or be very cautious with at
first are:
Meats- Wait until about 8-10 months as they can be hard to
digest. Make sure they are cooked thoroughly (no pink on baby meat!) and pureed.
Honey- Wait until one year to introduce honey due to
bacteria in the honey that can cause botulism in babies.
Peanut Butter- This one used to be strictly 2 years, but
recommendations have changed to 6 months. Please talk to your doctor before
introducing anything nut related into your baby’s diet, especially if nut
allergies run in your family.
Citrus or acid fruits- Oranges ,
lemons, limes, tomatoes, pineapple, etc, can be very hard on a young baby’s
tummy. At 6 months you can use it sparingly for little tastes, but don’t make a
meal out any of these items for about a year.
Strawberries, raspberries and blackberries and other berries
with tiny seeds- They must be boiled and pureed before given to the baby.
Berries can be introduced as early as 6 months, but, again, if allergies run in
your family, proceed with caution and maybe wait a little longer.
Whole Cow Milk- As a
drink, it should not be introduced until after one year. The longer you can
breastfeed your baby, the better, but supplementing cow’s milk after a year is
safe. The reason why they can have yogurt and cheese before they can have milk
is because the protein in milk is harder to digest.
Wheat- This also depends on the family’s history of food
allergies and intolerances. I have noticed a lot more people are developing
gluten intolerances. My husband and my mother-in-law both have gluten
intolerances, so I plan to wait longer than the recommended 8 months to
introduce it to my little guy.
Grapes- Grapes pose a choking hazard, so either peel and
mash the grapes, or wait 10 months to a year and have more teeth for chewing
them up good.
Fish- Depends on the level of mercury in the fish. Find a
fish that is low in mercury and start as early as 6 months. It must be cooked
thoroughly and pureed, just like any other meat.
Salt- Stay away from it! At least as long as you are feeding
your child baby food.
Sugar- Stay away from that too! Another good reason to make
your own baby food. A lot of baby foods have sugar in them. If you make baby
food at home and you need to sweeten it, use organic FDA approved Agave Nectar.
Sometimes agave nectar can have spores in it which can be harmful to the baby’s
health, but if it’s FDA approved, it should be safe. There are a lot of health
benefits to agave nectar as well. Plus, it can be used as a sweetener for diabetics.
Spices- As long as salt isn't one of the spices; most are
okay for the baby. He will probably love it. Before you use a spice, look it up
to make sure though.
Remember, pay attention to allergies that run in your
family, introduce new foods one at a time for at least 3 days in a row and
watch your baby closely. If you have specific questions regarding food and your
baby either ask your baby’s pediatrician or send me an email or a comment on
this post.
References:
Kellymom. "Why Delay Solids?" Kellymom. N.p., 2 Aug. 2011.
Web. 29 July 2013.
<http://kellymom.com/nutrition/starting-solids/delay-solids/References>.
Makanjuola RO., Abayomi IO, Abiona TC, and Onayade AA.
"The first six month growth and illness of exclusively and non-exclusively
breast-fed infants in Nigeria
Kakuma R, and Kramer MS. "The optimal duration of
exclusive breastfeeding: a systematic review.." N.p., 2004. Web. 29 July
2013. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15384567?dopt=Abstract>.
Todar, Kenneth. "The Normal
Bacterial Flora of Humans." N.p., 2008. Web. 29 July 2013.
<http://textbookofbacteriology.net/normalflora.html>.
momtastic. "Are there foods that should be delayed
when introducing solids to your baby?" momtastics wholesome
baby food. N.p., 17 Sep. 2012. Web. 29 July 2013.
<http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/forbiddenbabyfood.htm.UfajAo0sm8A>.
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