Posted on 10/10/2005 12:10:28 PM PDT by Graybeard58
Ditch the rice cereal and mashed peas, and make way for enchiladas, curry and -- gasp! -- hot peppers.
It's time to discard everything you think you know about feeding babies. It turns out most advice parents get about weaning infants onto solid foods -- even from pediatricians -- is more myth than science.
That's right, rice cereal may not be the best first food. Peanut butter doesn't have to wait until after the first birthday. Offering fruits before vegetables won't breed a sweet tooth. And strong spices? Bring 'em on.
"There's a bunch of mythology out there about this," says Dr. David Bergman, a Stanford University pediatrics professor. "There's not much evidence to support any particular way of doing things."
Word of that has been slow to reach parents and the stacks of baby books they rely on to navigate this often intimidating period of their children's lives. But that may be changing.
As research increasingly suggests a child's first food experiences shape later eating habits, doctors say battling obesity and improving the American diet may mean debunking the myths and broadening babies' palates.
It's easier -- and harder -- than it sounds. Easier because experts say 6-month-olds can eat many of the things their parents do. Harder because it's tough to find detailed guidance for nervous parents.
"Parents have lost touch with the notion that these charts are guides, not rules," says Rachel Brandeis, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. "Babies start with a very clean palate and it's your job to mold it."
It's easy to mistake that for a regimented process. Most parents are told to start rice cereal at 6 months, then slowly progress to simple vegetables, mild fruits and finally pasta and meat.
Ethnic foods and spices are mostly ignored by the guidelines -- cinnamon and avocados are about as exotic as it gets -- and parents are warned off potential allergens such as nuts and seafood for at least a year.
Yet experts say children over 6 months can handle most anything, with a few caveats (see the list on Page One).
Parents elsewhere in the world certainly take a more freewheeling approach, often starting babies on heartier, more flavorful fare -- from meats in Africa to fish and radishes in Japan and artichokes and tomatoes in France.
How to introduce healthy children to solid food has rarely been studied. Even the federal government has given it little attention; dietary guidelines apply only to children 2 and older.
In a review of the research, Nancy Butte, a pediatrics professor at Baylor College of Medicine, found that many strongly held assumptions -- such as the need to offer foods in a particular order or to delay allergenic foods -- have little scientific basis.
Take rice cereal, for example. Under conventional American wisdom, it's the best first food. But Butte says iron-rich meat -- often one of the last foods American parents introduce -- would be a better choice.
Food allergy fears get some of the blame for the bland approach. For decades doctors have said the best way to prevent allergies is to limit infants to bland foods, avoiding seasonings, citrus, nuts and certain seafood.
But Butte's review found no evidence that children without family histories of food allergies benefit from this. Others suspect avoiding certain foods or eating bland diets actually could make allergies more likely. Some exposure might be a good thing.
PETA will not be happy.
I have a very strict approach when it comes to feeding my baby; She can only eat what she manages to snatch off my plate.
Based on my (very) informal research, over 50% of the kids in Elementary School today will drop dead if a peanut comes within 100 yards. Nut allergies are everywhere!
But perhaps giving peanut butter to children when they are very young will reduce the number of allergic kids in Elementary School. But that would be irresponsible, morally reprehensible and despicable.
And a sensible approach it is! However, my adult sons think the same rule still applies when they come over and since they are bigger than I am now, I am starting to wonder if it was a good policy to begin with.
And while you're at it, let's give them Tonka trucks to throw at each other and Mattel Shootin' Shell pistols to play cowboys-and-Indians with....I love it....imagine your kid in his high chair cooing "Yo quiero Taco Bell"
Ha ha! Next time, try distracting them with a shiny rattle. ;-P
Lets make sure and show this article to our oldest. Our grandson can handle just about any food and you know how much he loves eating real foods. I can't wait to see him Wednesday. How about we forget about the jar food and lets cook up a good meal for him. We still have some of the cheesecake that he simply loved......
Recent research indicates that the way to help prevent cat and dog allergies in kids is to expose them to cats and dogs early on, in infancy (as opposed to keeping your house spotless and pet-free). I wouldn't be surprised if the same holds true for various foods.
Yeah, and it's fun to watch his face when he tries a new food! LOL
Our son was eating hot salsa at 8-9 months. Alot of italian spicy foods and he still eats alot of chilies, the hotter the better.
Anyone see that picture on Yahoo, young child ready to eat a hot yellow wax chili. It depends on the child and what you are use to. The peanut allergy was always a problem with other kids at school, specially since most kids love Peanut Butter.
How about we feed him his first beans and franks meal.
When one of my grand sons was about 18 months old I gave him some very hot slim jims. He gobbled them like they were candy. I had to make him stop because I thought they might hurt his little digestive system.
He's 5 years old now and won't eat anything even a little spicy.
He's fond of popcycles though as you can see by clicking my screen name.
it is possible to go too far though.
Man allegedly drops pants in restaurant, eats customers' food
Court TV | 10/6/5 | Samantha Murphy
Posted on 10/06/2005 4:37:08 PM PDT by SmithL
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1498012/posts
No way! Especially when he stays overnight...I sure don't wanna have to change the next mornings diaper!!! YUCK!!!!!
Ha Ha....He sure gives us some smelly gifts,
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