6 Month Old ~ Pediatrician Suggests Eating Only Vegetables and Meats

S., I think my question to him would be "Why". I know that most doctors suggest that you start with the veggies, then move on to the fruits so that the kiddo doesn't taste the sweeter fruit and not want the veggies. You are the mom, it is your choice.

M.

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boy, I bet you feel totally frustrated with your ped right now! His comments are something I've never heard & I've been with children....more than 20 years! Usually, it's the meat that's the last to try.

The spit-up issue could simply be from trying a new food. Try mixing the meat with other foods. & seriously, by 6 months, most children in my daycare are trying/rotating all 3 options....the fruit, vegie, & even the meat (in most cases)...with a full rotation by 7-8 months. Good Luck.

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Each peds is different, but in general the guidelines recommend cereal for 2 weeks or so then adding in veggies and fruits in whatever order you prefer...but just one new food every few days to check for allergies, etc. I started cereal and within a week or 2 started adding fruits like bananas and applesauce, veggies, etc. Some will recommend veggies first because they worry that introducing sweet fruits first will make the baby refuse veggies. We didn't have that problem and even now at 19 months, my daughter's favorite food is broccoli! We didn't start meats until she was 9 months, eating the same food as us, but softer or smaller pieces. My peds and I just agreed that the "jarred meats" were too "Alpo-like" and that she was getting all the protein she needed from her formula at that point.
I'm sure there are some basic guidelines on websites like Babyzone or Baby Center. It's it an adventure!? LOL

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If a child is refusing some veggies but likes all fruits then it's reasonable to feed more sweet potatoes and stay away from the fruits for a time.

Carrots could be mixed with applesauce which is a great flavor mix.

I have fed meats early to all my kids and daycare kids and they didn't have any problem with them. Spitting up food happens sometimes when it's a new texture or new food. That's why the rule of keeping to each food for a few days.

When my daughter was about 7/8 months I just made homemade soups with tons of veggies. I strained the broth off, made sure the veggies were cooked through and put them on her tray. She was able to taste and try every kind of veggie. Before that age smashing is no problem. I always felt and still feel that kids will learn to eat a variety of foods if a variety is set in front of them often.

My last daughter actually eats many foods I don't care for because I taught her early to love trying new foods so she'll try anything.

S.

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I just took my baby for his 4 month check up today. His doctor said to start him on cereal for a week and then move to fruit or veggies once a day. She said NOTHING about meat. I remember that being later down the road so I didnt even ask about meat. I did that with my daughter first the fruit, then veggies. Some people say that you should do veggies first because they wont like them because the fruit tastes so much better. I think thats weird, I have a good doctor if you want to switch ;)

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You can give fruit. My peditrician said to start off with I think the orange veggies and fruits. Every kid is different, what you can do is put the fruit on the spoon first then put some veggies on so atleast she will get the taste of the veggie first then the fruit will come after. Its what I did with my son when he wouldnt eat a certain veggie, I would then put the veggie on the spoon first then the fruit, so he would taste the fruit but would still get the veggies he needed, or you can always start on veggies and work your way to fruits. And do the 4 day rule, when introducing new foods, keep with the same food for 4 days to rule out any allergy they may have to it, it will help you know which food to stay clear of.

Peas, butternut squash,sweet potato & carrots are always good ones to start with. Good Luck

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He probably doesn't want her to eat fruits yet because then she will get used to eating "sweet" food and not want to eat the veggies and meat.

Wow, you have alot of advise here! I agree with alot of it. I would check with your pediatrician again and ask some questions. If he says veggies and fruit first, you should ask when to introduce the meat. He may have meant only veggies then meat later on because 6 months seems very early for meants. Do they even make meat in first stages of baby foods? I also agree that you shouldn't be in any hurry to introduce food. My pediatrician (who I love) didn't recommend with any of my three children a strict schedule of introduction of foods (like one a week, this one not that one) but recommended meats last and to wait until formula (or breast milk) wasn't filling them up and we were giving more then a 8 oz bottle every two hours instead of a specific age. Every child is different. Your pediatrician should be explaining why he is asking you to do things. You should be a team with you as a lead and if he is insisting on a feeding schedule, he needs to be telling you why. If you don't feel like a team with your doctor, you should look for one who you do.

hi, i have a 2 year old daughter who is a super picky eater. Every pediatrician you will go to will tell you different things but I think that the main reason you shouldn't be giving your daughter fruits now is because they taste better than everything else. You need to start her on veggies and meats and get her very used to them before you give her fruit. once you start on fruit it will be hard to get her to eat anything else. Aren't you still giving her breast milk or formula? She should get all of the vitamins and minerals she needs from that right now and you don't have to worry nutritionally about the other food you are giving her now. I would trust your pediatrician on the fruit though.

Good Morning S., Congratulations!! Blessings indeed.
Forget the meats for now, and keep up with the cereal, fruits and veggies. You can even mix the fruit and veggies together if you wanted to. Not a thing wrong with that.

Our 14 month old gr son will only try a certian type of chicken nugget. they are softer then most. It's the textures of most meats and blandness YUCKPOO, that they don't like and the Smell is horrible. We did vienna sausages for a little while he did ok, for a bit. Then didn't want them anymore. It is trial and error S., most of the time.

As long as your little one is taking breast milk or formula she is doing well, cereal some fruits no meat....lol
Those Puffs dried fruits and veggies seem to disolve in their mouths they usually love those, and cheerios.

God Bless you and Get alot of REST you are going to need it

K. Nana of 5

I will tell you that personally I haven't found a single baby yet that will eat the baby food meats. they smell like dog food, have terrible texture and taste nasty. Have you even tasted them? When my first started eating and he wouldn't like some of those foods, I would take a little taste and definately didn't blame him for not eating those meats. They are awful so don't even waste your money on them. Some babies also have texture issues and usually the meats are the issue.
I got a cheap food chopper at the store and chopped up the meat we ate with it into very tiny pieces so the baby wouldn't choke. They ate about everything we did with using that chopper. The only babyfood with meats in it that my kids would eat were the chicken noodle dinners or beef and noodles. They were usually in the stage 2 or 3 section and usually a noodle type food would be the only ones they would eat.
As for not eating fruits until 9 months? I never heard of that. They want you to introduce the veggies and meats first because the fruits taste good and your baby may become a very picky eater if eating fruits first. But I gave my kids fruits. Like 2 tablespoons mixed with the cereal from the time they started eating infant cereal. I just couldn't stand the smell of the plain cereal as I was feeding them and the fruit made it look and smell better. None of my kids are picky eaters but would not eat any of the baby meats or peas but would eat the fresh frozen peas when we had them for dinner and smashed them up for them to eat. None of them will eat canned veggies. We buy frozen veggies and steam them in the microwave and they are healthier for you than canned veggies because the junk they put in canned to keep them preserved is definately not healthy and a lot of sodium in those.

My usual eating schedule for them was like this:

wake up: bottle

next feeding infant cereal, made the bottle and poured some of the milk into the cereal with a tsp of fruit to mix the cereal. Whatever was left in the bottle they usually drank after they ate the cereal. They also started using a sippy cup at meal time. Usually just put 1 ounce in it and they drank the rest of their bottle after they got out of the high chair.

lunch: 2 Tblspoons veggies,1 tbls fruit, 1 oz sippy cup, bottle

afternoon: bottle

dinner: 2 tbls veggies, 2 tbls noodle dinner, 4 oz bottle
or if we had foods they were able to eat, chopped up meat, smashed veggies(mix with a little water so they smash better).

bedtime: sometimes fed them cereal before bed but not all the time. Depends on how much they eat for dinner or how hungry they seem to be. Sometimes just got a bottle.

I didn't feed them out of the jar. I usually bought stage 2 foods and used them for 2-3 meals. They didn't eat more than a 6 ounce bottle. I guess because they ate enough other foods and never did need 8 ounce bottles. Sometimes they didn't drink the full 6 ounces either but were healthy growing babies so I guess they ate well. They slept through the night by 6-8 weeks. I would have a bottle of water in their crib if they got thirsty they would drink it instead of waking up crying. I used this food schedule when they were a year old too, just added more types of food and no longer had a bottle.

They have always been good eaters, like fresh veggies, fruits, about anything we eat. In fact if you watch them at a potluck dinner, they will pick out fruits and veggies over the chips and dip. Broccoli and baby carrots is their favorite veggie.

Hope these ideas help.

my kids never took to eating fruits when they were babies. They would only eat vegetables. my suggestion is to try the gerber's chicken noodle soup. i found my kids loved the pasta products in the jar and it has a little bit of meat and vegetables with the pasta.

The reason for not introducing babies to certain foods is because of potential allergies. My son was introduced to milk and broke out in a horrible rash. Yep, he was allergic to milk/milk products. We suspected an egg allergy as well and had him tested at 18 months with a food panel. Imagine my shock when i found out he was severely allergic to nuts! If I hadn't followed the guidelines on when to introduce those certain foods (nuts at 24 months) we may have been in the emergency room because someone gave my son a pb&j sandwich!

Wow, you have lots of advice - what are you going to do with it all???? :D I will just say, I have 5 children of my own from 13 yrs - 3 months. My first one, I didn't know any better and thought that I needed to listen to the "latest recommendations" for my child's best start. I still breastfed through 1st year (that was still recommended but so was: introducing foods, supplimenting the diet, blah, blah, blah.) He always stayed in the 50th percentile or so -so he was average, right?! Healthy. I was going to school for child devlpt while he was growing, learning lots. Didn't have near the pressure with the others. My younger 3 haven't had anything but breastmilk as their primary source of nutrition until they were a year old. I will say, I was unsure that it was OK with the first one that I tried this with but she was off the charts as far as size and never sick! I had a pediatritian who assured me this was fine - it is our society that decided we needed to move away from that - not nature! As long as they are thriving, I don't know why one feels the need to add to their diet. Mine have not only been nutritionally sound and 90th percentile (on up!) but healthier than any other children I know. I have a licensed daycare home (for the past 7 years +) so we see many children - and many of them still end up with ear infections, colds with complications and all sorts of YUK! Not mine. They often attribute food allergies to introduction to foods too early. If formula is supposed to be the next best thing to breastmilk - they shouldn't really need more than that and maybe cereal either for nutrition. The only reason they say to introduce these foods is to start getting them to like them when they're young not because it is so vital to their balanced diet. If you eat them (fruits,veggie, balanced diet)- they will, whenever you start them. I would not sweat it! When YOU determine your child is ready ready to share your food, blending / chopping it works beautifully.

Wow, this is really different from what my Pediatrician said. She recommended starting with rice cereal, then veggies, then fruits. She said babies actually don't need meats until they're almost a year old! I have considered now that my son is 8 1/2 months starting with meats to see if they stick with him longer, since he's such a hungry monster with high metabolism. Best of luck in your pregnancy and with your 6 month old!

C.

I myself have never heard that. Only that you should start baby food at 6 months. Ive heard to start them on meats and veggies before fruits so they dont acquire the sweet taste before they start enjoying the healthy foods. I always just fed meats and veggies and then after that gave some fruit. If you feed fruits first, thats all they will want to eat because its sweet. Make sense? Ive never heard anything about not introducing meats later than veggies or that you CANT feed them fruits at all til 9 months!! Weird!

I would get a second opinion on not having fruits. We started our son, now 18 mos old, on veggies THEN Fruits THEN meats last. I have not ever heard of this before. We are first time parents but my husband and I always go with our instincts first. By the time my son was 9 months old he was eating quite a bit of table food. We do a great deal of international travel so our schedule has never been "normal" but I still would question waiting that long. Our son is a very good eater and we credit it with the fact that he has always been given a huge variety of fruits and veggies. Each time we travel internationally we expose him to new and varied foods as well. We make every effort to give him a Healthy Variety. Good luck & Congrats on your pregnancy!

Generally, you should wait to introduce meats until later; 8 to 12 months, depending on the source.
Many pediatricians and other experts recommend not starting fruit for a while because fruit is sweet; therefore, kids may not get a taste for vegetables and meat if they get fruit first. It may be that your pediatrician thinks that. I am not sure how valid that concern is, but it is widely held.
Talk to your pediatrician and ask him why he recommended that. Also, during your next visit, tell him your concerns about how you feel rushed, that he doesn't listen to you, etc. Many times people don't know how they are coming across and they need to know so they can change.
Good luck!

You have lots of advice I did not read through - just wanted to offer my own experience as I'm a mommy of a 6-month old as well.

My Ped. said that some kids do better if given veggies first, then fruit, then meat (around 8 months of age), cracker/cheerios when the pincer grasp develops, and milk products at 9 months of age. Those were her loose guidelines.

We ended up alternating veggies and fruits on the 3-day plan (one kind of food for 3 days in a row to see if there's a reaction) and now have a handful of fruits and veggies to feed and alternate.

Their main nutrition at this stage, though, is still breastmilk/formula. Do what you think is right with your little girl - if meat is not her thing now and she's spitting it up, it may be best to wait a few months.

Good luck and have fun!

J

The reason that Drs discourage fruits is because they are trying to let the baby get used to the new flavors/and textures before giving them something sweet.

S.,

Congratulations on baby number two! You are going to be a very busy lady!

I have three grown daughters of my own and one granddaughter and I can tell you the one thing that has stayed consistant is that the rules ALWAYS CHANGE! We had a wonderful pediatrician when the girls were little - as far as feeding goes, he started them on veggies, if you give fruit first they won't like the veggies as the fruits always taste better. Their schedule was veggies at 2 months and then introduce fruit later. I can't remember him setting a specific time for meat, but it is harder for a baby to digest meat then fruits and veggies.

When my Granddaughter was born (she's 4), they told my daughter (different Dr.) nothing but milk for a year! How crazy is that?!

The one thing I know after all these years, is all Dr.s have their own opinions - as do mom's, grandmas, and every other person in the world. BUT the only one that knows your baby is YOU! Doctor Marshall always told me to trust my instinct because no one knows your baby like you do! It was advice that I took to heart and it has actually saved the life of one of my children!

Listen to all the advice that is given to you, and then make what you feel is the best decision for your baby. Advice is wonderful to have, but again, no one knows your baby like you do!

Good luck!

N.

I have a 10-mo-old so have just gone through the introducing of foods. I was told by my Ped to do fruits and veggies first. They take meats as they get older and have established a taste for the fruits and veggies. I have never heard that either. Maybe you should call the Ped/Dr back and just clarify that you heard right or that they told you right?
I also agree about the meats smelling and probably not tasting the greatest. I mix in fruits to make it taste better if I'm giving a meat by itself. So again, meats 1st don't make sense.

I would say trust your instincts. I was told differently with each the kids in my care. Just as an fyi though, my daughter and younger niece are better eaters (I think) because I did veggies first, while my son and older niece got fruits first.
Trust your instincts.

I am no expert, but my first thought is you might consider a differnt ped. You want one that takes their time, talks to you etc. Passion about kids is important to me at least.
Second - at 6 mon our ped said jar food. Start with the dark color vegetables, move to med color ones then finally fruits. try only one item for 3-4 days before intrducing a different one. To make sure they have no reactions. he also said do vegetables 1st because many kids once they have fruit wont go to back to vegetable cause they don't taste as good and sweet. He never talked to us about meats as these are usually 2-3 on the baby food scale and we started at 6 months with the 1s. I don't think it hurts to do meats, but we didn't get the hey try meats until 9 mo.
It a personal choice - but trust your gut. You know your child and what you believe is acceptable. Make sure you are 100% happy with your ped. That makes all the difference. Ours we ask what ever question we like and it doesn't matter is it is silly. He explains to us why he feels as he does. You need trust. Good luck!

I breastfed all four of my children for at least a year. When I was a working Mother, I pumped my milk. Whether you use formula or Breastmilk, babies get what they need from that. If it was up to me, I wouldn't give any of my babies anything but breastmilk until they were a year old. But since it's not up to me, I go as long as I can and the baby tells you when he/she is ready for more. Sometimes, they ask by pointing at your plate or wanting a cracker to play with or those cute puffs for babies to pick up. Sometimes they just can't sleep through the night as well as you hope so adding a little cereal to the bottle or spoon feeding cereal is fine but probably not until 6 months old. I changed Pediatricians once (with my first) because he wanted me to give him jar food at 3 months and meat at 4 months. Those poor little tummys just can't handle that. I went as long as I could not giving them anything but a puff or two or crackers. My children didn't have any jar food until they were 7 to 8 months old and I start them with cereal and worked as 'slowly' as I could through the veggies and fruits. Plus, I don't want to spend all that money on all those jars when it wasn't THAT necessary. I probably didn't introduce meats until around 10 months and then you only have a month or two of jars left to do. Jars are good because you can slowly introduce foods to your baby and make sure there are no allergic reactions. Take it slow. They have tiny sensitive tummys. Moms know best - if you are uncomfortable with anything, don't do it. I've gone against my doctor's instructions before (I pierced my daughter's ears as a baby) and he didn't give me any grief about it. See how your Peditrician reacts to you not taking his advise or maybe shop for a new Ped. Word of mouth and recoommendations from friends is best. Good Luck. Remember YOU are the Mom and YOU know what's best and this site is a great tool for you. Also Consider joining a MOPS group because they will have all been there and done that. MOPS (Mothers Of Preschoolers - Moms of children from pregnancy to Kindergarten) Just get on-line at www.mops.org and find one near you. God Bless!

Hi S.,

I agree with another mother that replied about maybe looking for another pediatrician. You need a doctor for your child that takes their time and is passionate for your child. My daughter goes to Esse Health Care in Crestwood and the doctors there are GREAT!!!

As far as food, I've been told that every pediatrician is different when it comes to introducing children to food. I started my daughter on cereal at 6 months. Then we did fruit, then green veggies, then yellow veggies and then meat. So she was on meat when she was almost 9 months. My daughter had no problems going from fruit to veggies.

I hope this helps!

J.

I know that the ped has told me that you should "start" with veggies, and only introduce one new food a week, but I have 3 of my own kids, and have watched tons of other little ones and I have never heard of Not giving fruits at 6 months. Maybe you misunderstood him, maybe he spoke wrong because he was in a rush ( LOL) or maybe...he is a quack, we put doctors on a pedestal at times and expect them to be infallible, but they are people just like us = )
If I were you I would hold off on meats and try re-interducing them later, and for heavens sake let the baby have some fruits with her veggies = )
Lots of luck
B.

The pediatrician I go to said to introduce solids at 4 months. (meaning cereal, rice, oatmeal, fruits, and veggies) I did wait till later to introduce meats. I introduced the cereals in his bottle first, then in bowls, then I introduced, fruits and veggies shortly aftre that. Your pedi sounds a little old school, and also too busy. You should consider getting a new pedi because you should feel like your pedi is there for YOU, not like he's squeezing you in. So I guess what Im saying is maybe hold off on the meats for a little longer and re-introduce them later. Its harder to digest them so maybe that's why she threw up.? And also I would get fruits in her diet asap. Hope this helps!

I have been feeding my baby fruits since he was 4 1/2 months old, he is also eating veggies (he will be 6 months Jan 11) My doctor (who was referred from St. Johns NICU) gave me a chart on when to introduce foods at what age...meats were at 7 months...and you can find charts like this on websites - if you google you can find them or even look on webmd.com. Good luck to you!

Good Morning S.,

All I can say to you, is your pediatrition is nuts! Find a new one. First off, the only fruit a child needs to stay away from are strawberries until they are one year. All the other fruits are fair game. It has something to do with food allergies. My little guy didn't have a full set of teeth at 6 months, so he wasn't eating meats very well. My pediatrion told us to wait until he was 8 to 9 months old begore introducing meats wheather it was processed or the real deal. He told me to try the real deal instead of processed. It's important that your child eats fruits and vegtables well. If your child is breast fed or on formula, she is getting all the protien she needs that way. The meats can wait. We fed our child all the fruits and vegtables we could and he eats them well to this day. FOR other nutritional harms you need to know if this is yor first child, no nuts of any kind until she is 1 year. No raw honey until she is 2 years due to botchalism. peanuts are an allergy thing as well. No eggs until one year also. OTHER than that, everything else is ok. If fruits were not ok for an infant to eat, why do all the baby food companies put fruit in most all of them? I am a VETerinary Nurse and let me tell you, it's even important for dogs to get fruits and vergtables. That's why it's in their food or their owners give them fresh friuts and veggies. I would look into getting another pediatrition for your daughter. I wonder what else he might tell you that is nuts further down the line. I Hope this has been of some help to you. Good luck and I HOpe you get the awnsers you are looking for.

A. H.

You are fine. It is recommended to wait until 6 months before introducing solids, but not all babies want to wait that long. My first born was breastfed every two hours and was still starving so we had to introduce cereal at 3 1/2 months and veggies at four! He is fine by the way (almost 13). Usually, it is recommended to start cereal first (rice, barley, then mixed), veggies (because if they learn to like fruit first, some babies reject the "bland" taste of veggies, then veggies, then meat. Meat isn't even necessary unless the child is low in iron. Best of luck! Trust your instincts! K.

The AAP recommends now that you should wait until 6 months old to even feed you child any food. However, 3 -4 months seem good. The only reason you give your child table food at this age is that he/she would develop the tools when the only source of nutrition is table food....learning to move food back and swallow.

I started off with rice cereal with my 3 kids and they hated it. Then I started off with a veggie, because of the blander taste, then switched to a fruit, back to veggies until I had figured out what she liked and tolerated. With my 3rd she would eat the rice cereal ONLY if I mixed it in with a fruit or veggie. She hated the soupy-ness of stage 1 food but mixed in with rice...provided her a good texture.

Meats are usually last to give because they are a thicker texture and if the child can't completely swallow, it gets caught in the throat and comes back up.

You know your child best. And if you don't do things how your doctor would or any other mother would, it doesn't matter. No kid is the same. I did things differently for each of my kids (I have three).

As for your pediatricion, you said you feel he is in a hurry. He may just be, that he books his schedule too full and that means he can't spend enough time with each patient. He should be asking if you have any questions, how you are doing also during his time with your daughter, before he runs off. If he doesn't seem to have time to explain stuff for you, then I think it's time to find someone else.

What I like in a doctor is 1) short waiting room times 2) short patient room times (like before the doctor comes) 3) good communication between me and the nurses and doctor 4) they ask me questions 5) they tell me whats going on, what they are going to do.

I was told, veggies first, then fruit (both around six months) and meat when they started crawling (for the extra protien for the muscles) or eight months, which ever came first. I wouldn't worry if she won't eat fruit, but maybe if you mix it in her cereal? Most of her nutrition is still coming from BMilk or formula anyway.

I have a wonderful Ped., she's been my dr for both my children. For my first (now 5 1/2 yrs old), she told me to do veggies first, then fruit, then meats. But for my second (now 2 yrs old), she told me veggies, then meat, then fruit last. I guess recommendations changed during the 3 1/2 years between my kids. I do remember that either of my kids would eat the baby meats. I also got a cheap food grinder and would grind regular meat up for my kids. My son loved Vienna Sausages, soft & easy to eat and hold. My daughter never would eat any baby food (cereal, baby jar food, formula, etc). She would only eat what everyone else was eating, just grinded up.

Good Luck.

S.- I have 3 children, and have never heard of starting with veggies. Even if you check parenting books, you should start with applesauce or bananas because they are the most mild and easy to digest in a small baby. I learned very quickly with our 1st pediatrician (a female) not to tell her everything, as I discovered where my children's nutrition was concerned, mother knew best. If I had done things her way, my oldest would not have had any kinds of fruits or veggies until he was a year old. Our current ped is a male, and he has a saying that mother knows best. Trust your instincts as a mother, and try things a little at a time with your child. Remember-there have mothers in this world a lot longer than pediatricians!