advice please?

Question

OK so my son had is 6 months check up Wednesday, and the doctor told me to start giving him finger food like noodles, and cheerios etc... but he has only two tiny stubs for teeth barley anything at all yet, so how could he chew it? how old were your babies when you started to give them finger food, and how many teeth did they have?

Answer 1

Here are some ideas. This web-site is great. www.kellymom.com

In what order should I introduce foods?
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition, the order in which other foods are added to your baby's diet is not that important as long as baby's breastmilk intake is adequate. Keep in mind that the recommendations here are aimed at babies starting solids at around 6 months or later - babies starting solids earlier are much more prone to food allergies.

Cereal is not at all necessary, particularly the baby cereals. Regular (whole grain) oatmeal is more nutritious for your baby. Many doctors recommend iron-fortified rice cereal as baby's first food because it is less likely to cause an allergic reaction and because most babies sometime after the 6th month require an additional iron source other than mother's milk. If your baby starts solids around 6 months or later, there is much less chance of allergic reaction to foods. It's debatable whether healthy breastfed babies need the extra iron (you can get baby's iron levels checked if you're worried about this). In addition, infants need lots of protein and cereal has a low protein-calorie ratio (even lower when mixed with water or fruit). Many experts (including LLL) suggest giving meat or other foods naturally rich in iron instead of foods with added iron. For more information on iron, see Is Iron-Supplementation Necessary?

Trivia: Ever wonder why cereal mixed with breastmilk doesn't stay thick? Breastmilk contains amylase, which is an enzyme that digests carbohydrates. The longer the mixture sits, the thinner it will get!
For breastfed babies, some nutrition experts suggest skipping the carbohydrates (cereal) as a first food, since breastmilk is already high in carbohydrates, and concentrating on meat or other protein sources. Here is some great info from LLL on meats as one of baby's first foods: Introducing Complementary Foods. This article also discusses starting solids early for a baby whose working mom is having problems pumping enough milk. This study also discusses meat as a first food.

Moms are often told that vegetables should be introduced before fruits "so baby doesn't develop a sweet tooth." Keep in mind that breastmilk is quite sweet! Some experts suggest that fruit may be a good first food for a breastfed baby since the taste is closer to that of breastmilk - baby may be more likely to enjoy this new and novel experience if the taste isn't so unfamiliar. Also, since birth baby has been tasting different flavors as they are passed through into mom's milk - many feel that this ever-changing flavor of breastmilk is likely to make breastfed babies more likely to enjoy the varying tastes of solids and less likely to be picky eaters in the long run.

LLL suggests this progression when introducing your baby (6 months or older) to solid foods:


Ripe banana, avocado, yam, or sweet potato (sweet like breastmilk)
Meats
Whole-grain breads and cereals (rather than baby cereals)
[wheat and corn are usually delayed until baby is 9-12 months old]
Fresh fruits
[citrus fruits are usually delayed until baby is 9-12 months old]
Vegetables
Dairy products after 9 months
[cow's milk is usually delayed until baby is 12-18 months old]
Another source (Marnie Ko in A Detailed Guide to Feeding Your Child: Uncovering the Myths of Infant Nutrition) suggests that bananas and meat are both hard to digest, and shouldn't be used as first foods. She recommends rice, potatoes, yams, pear and millet as a baby's first foods.

Recognizing and avoiding food allergies
Most experts recommend that you begin with single-ingredient foods and space the introduction of each new food at least one week apart, particularly if your baby is younger than 6 months (as introduction of solids is not recommended before 6 months) or if there is a history of food allergy in your family. If you introduce new foods in this manner, you will know which food is the problem if your baby has an allergic reaction. According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, approximately 2-4% of children experience allergic reactions to foods.

Following are some reactions that may help you recognize an allergy in your baby:

Bloating, gassiness
Skin rashes (for example, a sandpaper-like raised red rash on the face), eczema, hives
Runny nose, stuffiness, constant cold-type symptoms
Red itchy eyes, swollen eyelids, dark circles under the eyes, constant tearing
Diarrhea, mucousy stools, intestinal upset
A red rash around the anus
Generally cranky behavior, fussiness, irritability, colic
Vomiting or increased spitting-up
Asthma
Ear infections
Poor weight gain due to malabsorption of food
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, six foods account for 90% of food allergies in children: cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, wheat, soy and tree nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.). Other allergenic foods include: pork, fish and shellfish, oranges and other citrus fruits, berries, chocolate, tomatoes, corn, and food additives.



Suggested ages for introducing allergenic foods
Here are some recommended ages for introducing some of the more allergenic foods. If there is a strong family history of allergies or if your baby is known to have food allergies (see below), many of these foods should be introduced even later.

Suggested ages for introducing allergenic foods
(for babies who are not at increased risk for food allergies)
NO solids (this includes cereal) or juices 0-6 months
Wheat
Oranges and other citrus
Cheese
Yogurt
Soy
Peas and other legumes (except peanuts)
Egg yolk
Corn 9-12 months
Cow's milk (including cottage cheese, ice cream)
Pork
Tomatoes 12 - 18 months
Egg whites
Berries 18 - 24 months
Chocolate 2 years
Fish & seafood
Nuts (except peanuts) 2 - 3 years
Peanuts 3 years
Sources:
Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Food Reactions from the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology
Preventing or Delaying the Onset of Food Allergies in Infants by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network
Preventing Allergies in Infancy and Childhood from Allergy New Zealand



What if baby has an increased risk for food allergy?
If your baby is known to have food allergies or eczema, or if there is a strong family history of food allergies, then you will want to introduce certain foods later than you would if your baby were not at risk for food allergy. Following are a few resources:

Sequence of Adding Solid Foods for the Allergic Infant, from Dietary Management of Food Allergies & Intolerances, A Comprehensive Guide by Janice Vickerstaff Joneja, PhD

AAP Policy Statement on Hypoallergenic Infant Formulas "Solid foods should not be introduced into the diet of high-risk infants until 6 months of age, with dairy products delayed until 1 year, eggs until 2 years, and peanuts, nuts, and fish until 3 years of age."

Preventing Allergies in Infancy and Childhood from Allergy New Zealand

Dairy and other Food Sensitivities in Breastfed Babies @

Answer 2

I would start him with some of the Gerber Graduate Finger Food fruit puffs. They dissolve in the baby's mouth. My son is almost 10 months old and I started giving him these when he was about 6 months old. He really likes the banana flavored ones! He's now eating cheerios (he's got 5 teeth now and had only two when he started with the fruit puffs). Just make sure if you give him noodles and such that they are cut up very small so he doesn't choke on them. Good luck!

Answer 3

My son just had his 6 month appointment today. He's been eating baby food for 3 months, but the DR said nothing about eating those kinds of foods...he did say he could have other cereal besides rice cereal. So I don't know why your DR would have you give your son Cheerios at 6 months with barely any teeth...

Answer 4

My son is 8 months old and he just started eating the Gerber puffs, little TINY pieces of banana, tiny pieces of whole wheat pasta anda few other things up that alley. He has 4 teeth and I do see him chewing. However, one of my girlfriends has a 10 month old with no teeth who eats all the same things as my son. Her daughter just gums everything. It's really cute!

Answer 5

I'd say the cheerios would be fine-they dissolve in your baby's mouth. If I were you, I'd try mashing foods against the roof of your mouth with your tongue, just like your baby would do. If you are able to do so, so can your baby. I would recommend the Gerber fruit and veggie puffs-they dissolve quickly. Another option would be Biter Biscuits--they're incredibly disgusting (turn slimy and mushy) but babies love them. If your doctor thinks he's ready, then he probably is. You'd be amazed at what a baby can mash. Just make sure that you're watching him closely to make sure he isn't putting in too many things at once. Welcome to this exciting stage! It's so much fun!!!

Answer 6

6 months is a very reasonable age to give finger foods. I know it is scary, but I always felt confident because I was certified previously in CPR. I have had to use it on one of my children too!

It might help you if you could take a course (if you have time) so you would know what to do if he started choking. OTHERWISE, here are a few things to know-when a child chokes, don't panic, just perform the manuever to get the item unstuck and do it repeatedly. It doesn't usually work the first or second time you do it (it took 6 times to get my oldest son to dislodge the item).

Here's a link to the manuever. :D

Answer 7

i was so scared to give my sons finger foods. i thought he might choke. so wat i did first was try those gerber finger foods. they disolve in there mouths. i broke them in pieces so that he wont choke. then my hubby tried the whole thing. that was when he was 7 months. as long as they are sitting on there chair, its safe. and my son was growing teeth at that time. they mash wit there gums, and thats how they learn how to chew. hes 8 months now, and eats stage 3 gerber foods. they have pieces of foods in them. and he eats much better. now he eats everything. try the gerber finger foods. they got different flavors. if you feel like hes not ready, wait another month. only you know wats right for your son. oh, now at 8 months, he only got 2 teeth on the bottom. good luck.

Answer 8

One thing babies know how to use is their gums. Any good starter foods are foods that get very soft or tend to sort of dissolve (break down if you will). My son is almost six months and he eat crackers, he loves them because he can feed himself. Also, they are big enough for him to easily grip. One rule I always follow is to stay with in arms reach when he has food. So I can constantly monitor him.

Answer 9

if you give him solids, make sure it is soft so he can mash it with his gums. for example, if you give him cheerios, soak them in some milk first. noodles are good if they are small, they mash up easily without having to use teeth. if you dont feel safe doing it, then dont. trust your instinct.