Can I Feed Baby?

It is fine as long as you are with her and she can't "gum" off a piece. I used to freeze bananas for my son when he was six moths old and teething. I also used to give him little tastes of fruits at that age. Nice to start introducing yummy flavors to them.

It sounds like she is getting ready to eat food. I fed both my children small amounts of banana's and rice cereal at that age. Just make sure it is very ripe and mashed well. Also only introduce one food at a time to watch for any reactions.

Most peditricians recommend waiting until 6 months until introducing foods. Since you've already allowed her the bananas no harm done. Just make sure it's mashed really well so she won't choke. Also when ever introducing any new food, be sure to watch for allergies.

Ask your Pediatrician.

Is there a reason you want to give her "solids" already?

at 4 months old, their digestive system is not even fully developed.

Here is a good link about solids:
http://www.babycenter.com/0_age-by-age-guide-to-feeding-y...

I think it is too much too soon. Solids, for the 1st year, are only an "introduction" to foods... NOT about having a banquet or buffet of stuff given to them.
For the 1st year of life, breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition, NOT solids and NOT other liquids.
If you concentrate on giving solids, especially before nursing, you baby will drink less from you... and the baby will 'wean' off of you, and your breasts will then produce less milk. That is not what you want... it is not beneficial for a baby. Especially at only 4 months old.

As a side note: Kiwi fruit is highly allergenic, dangerously so in some cases. My daughter, is allergic to it. It can cause pain/tingling/swelling of the mouth and throat and tongue. Thus asphyxiating the person.

For us and our Pediatrician, we introduced foods one at a time starting solids at 6 month... then introducing a new food, after 1 month for each 'new' food. "Meat" was NOT given until after 1 year old. Per our Pediatrician.

Also, "spinach" baby foods/foods, should NOT be given until AFTER 9 months old... there is an enzyme in it that a younger baby cannot digest nor tolerate.

all the best,
Susan

You've already gotten some excellent advice, but I want to stick in my 2 cents...
I started my girl with a small bowl of rice cereal once a day when she was 4.5 months old. She was downing the breastmilk like it was going out of style, and the cereal helped keep her satisfied a little longer (especially at night). So, I don't really believe the whole "allergy" thing. But, I would start with more bland and fortified foods (rice, barley, oat baby cereal). I also started with veggies before fruit so she wouldn't have too much of a preference for the "sweets."
Finally, watch the bananas. Not so much for "allergy" stuff, but it can cause constipation!! ACK! Nobody told me that and it was one of my girl's favorites (although it makes sense when you think that when we have an upset stomach we should follow the BRAT diet). It took us a while to figure out that almost every night that she was up crying and fussing (tight crampy tummy)--she had eaten bananas sometime that day (at home or daycare)! We stopped all bananas for a few weeks and viola--no more upset tummy! I slowly (like, only one or two bites every 3rd or 4th day) started re-introducing them and now she eats them with no problem! We had a similiar issue when she turned 1 and we started transitioning from breastmilk to cow's milk--had to stop all dairy foods and introduce very slowly. Now she LOVES milk!
I think sometimes there is TOO much information out there and it's easy to get overwhelmed. So, just follow your "mama gut" and do what you feel is right for YOUR baby! Good luck!

One of the reasons that we do not introduce foods to babies before 6 months and even later for some is the possibility of developing food allergies. Their digestive system before that time has not matured enough to be able to handle food other than breast milk or formula. If you have any allergies in your family I suggest holding off even on the small stuff like suckling a banana.

Letting her suck on the banana is not wrong. You just need to put it in perspective and in relation to the larger issue of the maturity of her digestive system. It did not harm her at the time. The question to ask is will it harm her later? Frequently a person, baby, child, or adult will not have an allergic reaction to a food until after they've consumed that food several times.

Because allergies run in my family and because I have food allergies which get worse each year I would not give my baby any food until they were closer to a year. The decision is up to each parent. I advise talking with your doctor and reading to get information before continuing to give her food.

Of course, check with your doctor, but at 4 months and with an older brother to imitate :), my little girl definitely got to "taste" (read: suck on) bananas and mashed potatoes -- "soft" foods -- and, of course, only when I was there. She loved it. And since she was low on the weight scale, our doc didn't have any problems with it. In fact, even though I'd planned to exclusively breastfeed until at least six months, she had me start my little one on jarred food around this time, too. I think the key is to make sure the food is "safe" for her (soft, mushy), since chewing is a new concept. :) Have fun!

Hi Priestess,

I am in total agreement with Pat S. and Marda. Babies digestive systems are not fully developed until 6 mths. My youngest is now 6 but even when he was a baby I still met people who started earlier and earlier even 3 months! I also remember Peds. not really having a problem with it and sometimes you will find they will encourage it.

I recommend educated yourself about it. I bought a awesome book that ended up being my Baby Food Bible! It's called "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron. I understand that she has a second book now that is just as good. She explains everything on how and when to start feeding your baby and the part I loved "how to make your own baby food". The book is chalked "full" of great things that will take you through to toddlers and beyond. I still have my book and reference it often just on info. on vegetables and some recipes I still use. In fact I just remember she had a great play dough recipe that I need right now..................

Enjoy!
A.

It should be fine as long as your daughter is not showing signs of an allergic reaction. I started my older daughter on stage 1 sweet potatoes at about that age.

My understanding is that their digestive system isn't mature enough to handle regular food, which is why they are on a baby diet. Check with your pediatrician and see what they think.

If you are interested in starting her on solids, I would do it in order. Rice/Oats/barley cereal first, then greens (peas/broccoli), then oranges (yams/pumpkin), then fruits. Then you can introduce meats. I made all my baby food....I am not too sure about the digestive system, but I know it is important to feed your baby in order so they learn to eat everything.

If the banana is soft she can eat small bites of it mashed. A couple of my kids went to solids at 4-5 months and did just fine, with or without teeth. Just make sure there aren't any choking hazards in what you feed her. I have five children, the oldest is 21 and the youngest 13. All are healthy and of average weight although very tall. One of my 3 boys I had to quit nursing for health reasons at exactly 5 months. He wouldn't take a bottle or formula....we had quite the dilemma at the time. However he's no worse for the wear. The new "old wives tales" about kids not being able to digest stuff is just more for you to worry about. I've never heard of a banana allergy anyhow! Don't sweat this one. You'll have enough to deal with in the life of your kids.

There really is no reason to feed your baby this early. Though I wouldn't do it, giving her a taste is probably OK. You can learn more about the introduction of food and varying philosophies at the Make Your Own Babyfood class later this month held here:
http://www.inspiredabq.com

Finally, there doesn't seem to be a reason why you're introducing solids so early. So maybe just give some thought to that and then follow your instincts as a mom!

Hi there

I think that is just fine, if she didn't want it she would refuse and have nothing to do with it. It was common practise to start feeding babies from 3- 4 months of age until the "food allergy" evidence came up. Interestingly, there is much research now looking into what effect holding off food till six months of age has as the lowest rate of peanut allergy in the world is in Africa where they feed the babies (from 3 months a protein drink primarily made up of peanuts) The new research emerging is that we may be more likely to be causing allergies by holding off food for too long than the opposite. In any case do what you feel is right for your daughter (and it sounds like she is enjoying the little bit of banana rather than changing your life to suit the current scientific evidence) Of course always introduce new foods one at a time and watch out for any signs of allergies just to be on the safe side

Cheers
L.