Is it ok to let my 6 month old suck on a cold piece of navel orange? He's teething?

Question

I already let him taste/suck on it, since he fussed for it. I was eating one while he was on my lap. I felt bad that he wanted it so badly so I let him suck on it. Now I'm worried. Will the citrus hurt him? When I was pregnant I ate them like crazy.

Answer 1

The fruit itself won't hurt him, but may pose a choking risk at his age. Instead go to Walmart or a store like that and look for this neat little thing that they have for situations such as yours. It looks like a pacifer, with a ring for a handle, but instead of having a plastic nipple for them to suck on, it has a mesh "basket" that you cna put pieces of fruit, etc...in. It allows them to chew and gum on the fruits and veggies without large pieces coming off and possibly choking them. Placing chilled (never frozen, as these can hurt your baby) fruits and veggies in them is a great solution to teething problems. The only other thing I would suggest is that you only add a new fruit or vegatable to your babies diet every so often....you want to be careful about food allergies, so avoid the big ones on the baby allergy hit list, like strawberries, and wait a couple of days after feeding your baby something new before adding anything else so that you can monitor how they react to the new food. Go to this link for an example of what is available.....

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2404768&cp=2255981.2256162.2256179&parentPage=family

Answer 2

I'm sorry, but he is too young for citrus as it is an allergy risk. Even if he did not develop an allergy yet, continued exposure to citrus can cause one. Don't feel bad, though, it happens. Just try not to let him have anymore until the doctor says it is okay (between 9 and 12 months depending on your family allergy history)
Here is an article about citrus as an allergen:
http://parenting.ivillage.com/tp/tpnutrition/0,,3vtv,00.html

Answer 3

No citrus until after 12 mos. It can cause a bad diaper rash because of the acidity.

If he's teething I'd suggest -
Hyland's Teething Tablets
metal spoon kept in the freezer
ice cube tied in a baby sock
ice cube or "boob cube" in a Baby Safe Feeder
cold, firm stalk of celery (can't bite anything off it and it will reach most anywhere in their mouths)
wet frozen washcloth

Answer 4

Besides the allergy risk (I suggest SUPER BABY FOOD by Ruth Yaron--gives a HUGE list of age approprite foods by month) The membrane (white part that seperates sections) can pose a choking hazard. I still remove the membrane from my 3 year olds orange sections.

Answer 5

I know it's tempting to give our babies things that we enjoy, but a six month old really shouldnt have anything that isnt baby food. He could easily choke on the orange. The acid isnt good for his little tummy, either.

The ONLY safe thing to give him are teething rings made especially for teething babies. They should be kept in the refrigerator (not the freezer).

Answer 6

If you want to use food sources to relieve teething, my doctor suggested cold carrots or celery. It is too hard for the child to actually bite a piece off, hence no choking hazzard, and the coldness helps.

Answer 7

Your baby is too young for citrus. It can cause allergies and make him ill, like the other answerers said.
Plus it IS a choking hazard.........

Answer 8

oranges tend to be a high allergen food so give them in moderation. Plus the citric acid can be rough on a little tummy.

Answer 9

I don't think its bad. My baby loves an orange especially if its cold. i think its quite fine to let him have some, only not everyday as the acid will give him rashes at the other end...

Answer 10

As long as you take the peel & rind off, it's fine.
Don't leave it on -- the white part of the rind can make you very sick. But the fruit is fine -- citrus won't hurt him one little bit.