Over Exposing?

Personally I don't think that their digestive systems are ready until closer to 9 months old - and there is evidence to back that up. However, I also am a mom with a daughter with a lot of allergies so I'm very cautious about this. Also, at 9 months of age, they can handle finger foods and if you wait until then you can skip all that mushy baby stuff. But if she likes it and she's not showing signs of allergy, then go for it... but slowly. But please stay away from high allergy foods such as dairy, wheat, nuts, egg, strawberry, etc. Have fun!!

I did the same thing with one of my girls and no problem. The other girl broke out with rashes when I gave her something that didn't agree. So I think that is the warning sign to look for, also if the little one has a runny bowel, or shows signs of being gassy!

Hi J.,
Although my children are older now, 12,11&8, I started all three of them on solids at 3 months old. They did really well and we didn't have any problems. Blessings to you!
T.

unless you have a history of food allergies in your family i would not worry about it.
my son at 4.5 months grabbed a piece of broccoli and started chewing on it. that was my que to start food.
i also did not do the ONE THING PER WEEK. He was fine and now at 20 months, he eats almost anything.

J.,

I am a 53 yr old mom of 3. If your baby is going well then keep doing what your doing. We have to go with what works for our child there is no hard fast rule. What did they do in the old days? I fed mine at an early age also and they all where healthy and still are. Do what you think is right your baby will tell you if there is a problem.

Love that husband and baby and enjoy life.

God Bless you and your family.
R.

To read an excellent article about "Guidelines for implementing a baby-led approach to the introduction of solid food" please visit

http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/vast_voeds...

thanks and goodluck!

J.-
I think you are doing GREAT in exposing your daughter to many types of food at this age! I have a 10-month old son and also started him on solids at 5 months old. He hated rice cereal, so we moved him onto 'real' foods. He loved it! I make all of his food and he will eat anything that we put in front of him. Fruits, veggies, meats, bread, yogurt, etc. Last night he had corned beef with us. Loved it! I'm no expert, but my feeling is the earlier (and the more) you expose your daughter, the better! You're doing great. :)

"Should" is a terrible word. As first time parents we are constantly in "should" world. The best thing for you and your daughter is whatever you decide. I started my son, now a happy & healthy almost 3 year old, on solids around 5 mos and fed him little bits of everyting. He ate it all and is now a great and diverse eater. If you are really concerned, talk to your pediatrician. I say go for it!

J.,
I will not give any other food but rice cereal until your little one is 6 month. Although she loves it, I will wait a little more, until she is 6. I recommend you a great book so you know what to feed each month: SUPPER BABY FOOD by Ruth Yaron. The reice cereal is OK when she is 4 month on because of the iron, but the other stuff is better to give it to her when she is six. Also I would respect the 4 days to introduce something new. You never know what would the reaction of a new food be to your baby and better is you know what cause it.
All the best,

Victoria

Not at all. It sounds like you're doing just the right thing. Most babies start solids at 4-6 months. As long as you pay attention to the ingredient label and making sure that your baby has had all of the above then you should even be able to go ahead with the mixed fruits and veggies. Congratulations, not many moms can start off so successfully.

Well, I figure it doesn't hurt to be cautious during this first year. Allergies appear to be more common and a lot of the waiting til 6 months for solids (and later for things like peanuts or wheat, cow's milk) and spacing food is to help prevent and identify an allergy to food exposed too early. A lot of people say "well I fed my baby X at X months and she was just fine," but allergies might not have been as common, and they could have just been lucky.

It sounds like you're doing fine though, waiting a week to introduce new foods, as long as you are not starting things like peanut butter or honey... I like Ruth Yaron's Super Baby Food, which our pediatrician also thought was a good diet.

Hey J.,

No you are not starting too soon. If your child loves it and it is not causing her to be constipated then GO FOR IT!!! Your baby will be just fine. (My daughter is about to be 13 and I did the same thing as yourself and she is perfect!) Hope that helped!

I think you're doing fine :) I did the same thing as you are doing, because my daughter also loved all the new things! So far (she is one yo now), she has absolutely no allergies to anything, and loves many different and healthy foods. I've found that the recommended waiting periods for starting another new food range from 2-3 days to a week or 2, depending on who you ask. So, as long as you're both comfortable trying new things and you are keeping an eye on her for possible sensitivities, go for it!!
A.

I think you really have to worry about food allergies when you or your partner have food allergies. I also think eating lots of processed foods can probably increase the likelihood of allergies, since there are lots of different proteins that intermingle.

But eating a mushy meal of bananas, squash and pureed chicken with rice, for example, is not going to give a normal kid any problems.

I think you are doing fine! My kid came out for Indian food at 8 months and we couldn't get enough raita and spinach with cheese into that mouth...she was kind of a fiend for spicier stuff although nowadays she prefers the bland (and requires foods to be separated by little compartments in the dish.)

The best piece of advice I got about being a mother came from my own mother. She said "don't listen to what everyone tells you, follow your instincts." That doesn't mean ignore what everyone else says... absolutely consider it all, take what you need, leave the rest and follow your instincts. Every generation, the "advice" about when to start infants on solid foods changes. When my kids (13 & 15) were babies, it was "when they double their birth weight/4 months." When I was a baby, it was 1 month which I believe was too soon. If you feel like your baby is thriving with what you're doing and you're not having problems then there's no reason to stop.

I will leave you with one piece of my experience that you can take or leave. With my oldest, when he started eating solids (baby food in the jars) I went through all the veggies before I started any fruits and now at 15 there isn't a vegetable the boy won't eat. With my daughter, I alternated veggies and fruits and she has always been picky about veggies and doesn't like most of them. Maybe my methods didn't make a difference, but maybe they did.

Best of luck to you!
P. H

Dear J.,
I have raised 4 children and raising a grandson. I started them on solid even sooner than 5 months. If your baby is not vomiting or has unusual loose bowels, but is happy, you are not hurting anything by feeding her solid baby foods. And just so you know; sweet potatoes seems to be a baby's favorite.
You are so blessed to be able to be a stay home mom. Enjoy it.
T. C.

Every baby reacts differently. Most babies tummies can't handle the differnt types of food. But you will be able to know if yours can. As long as she can sit up well enough not to choke on it. But I would not try too many foods at one time. Try one every few days, it will make it easier just in case one doesn't sit well with her tummy.

Just my opinion. ;)

If neither you or your husband have a family history of any allergies (not just food) and your baby is doing fine with it, then I'd say go for it. However, watch out for any fussiness, and don't assume it's "just teathing".

Both our second and third children have food allergies. Both were fussy as newborns, got less fussy for a few months, then got much fussier as solids were introduced. The first time it took us a long time to realize it was food allergies. Rashes and frequent loose stools are other signs to look for.

-D.

I have a six month old son and he also started solids at 4 months!! At 6 months he already eats 3 solid meals a day. I make my own baby food so he has had a ton of different fruits and veggies!! Just make sure you are starting with stage one foods and 1 new food every 4 days. That is so if there are any allergies you know what food caused them! He had his 6 month Dr appointment last week and she told me to start meats, beans and yogurt!! He is just a hungry little boy and my dr said "if he is hungry, feed him"! She just said make sure he still gets 24 oz of formula a day. He is also my first so I was not sure either. Good luck and happy feeding! A.

I think giving her just one new food/ week is okay. My pediatrician recommended we wait for any solids until 6 months, because there are some foods that his digestive system may not be prepared for, so take it slow with one new food/ week, rememebr that breast milk or formula is still her main source of calories and fills all her needs until age 1. A great book that I found helpful with tons of info is The Super Baby Food Book, it has a great list of foods appropriate for each month of development. Also use your intuition- if she seems happy that is a good sign
take care

J.- I think that you are doing the right thing. You really have to go with your mother's instinct on this one. Both of my boys started out really young as well with eating foods. I started them both out on rice cereal and applesauce at about 3 1/2 months and then moved on to baby foods at about 4 months. They are both wonderful pretty much non picky eaters at their respective almost 3 and 16 months. You are the one who knows your baby. Good luck!

Hi J.! My oldest son was one before I really had him eating anything but formula. He had a sensitive tummy and it was far better to go directly to solid foods at age one (for him). Now my younger boy was a lot like your daughter. I too wondered if I was rushing it, but went with my gut and let him have whatever he would take. He became an awesome eater and liked just about everything I gave him. I think you're doing fine as long as she is still getting formula/breast milk which is where most of her nutrition is coming from. Trust your instincts as a mom and know that you can always stop the baby food if things change with her.

My only caution would be if food allergies do run in the family that you maybe should take it easy. If they don't, I say let her guide you!

Take Care,
Taunia

I started my daughter on solids at 4 months, and by 6 months she was eating a variety of pureed foods. She's now 13 months old and is still a great eater.
It sounds like your baby is doing great with solids, so why not continue??

It's so funny how we turned out to be fine and our parents gave us any and everything. You know your baby and you know if you're giving your baby too much of something. I breast fed my daughter and she went from breast to table food at the same age of 5mos. I tried all kinds of baby foods and different stages, and she wouldn't take it. I made sure I didn't give her spicey or overseasoned food. You're giving your baby baby food, how hurtful can it be. I love it when a baby has a good apetite. Now you know it will probably be easier for your baby to want to try new foods when they get older. I never told my doctor, because they don't need to know everything, and they don't know everything. They are there for advice and it's up to us to take it or not. Happy feeding! :)

I moved fast with both of my 2 boys and never had a problem.
I think you also have to consider if you have a history of food allergies in your family.
Neither one of my boys enjoyed the rice cereal, so I moved quickly beyond that and they were fine.

No, as long as she is doing well, you're doing fine.