Weaning Breastfed Babies - Foods to Avoid on the 6th Month of Life
Whether you like it or not, your baby is eventually meant to wean. Breastfeeding may have given him the time of his life - literally, since breast milk has given him life for the past 6 months. It has given him the ability to ward off sickness and infections almost easily. But the time comes when weaning is not an option anymore but a necessity, especially if he reaches his half year without any hitches.
Most babies can eat anything. But there are some foods which should definitely be avoided, especially if you or your partner (or the baby's dad) has a aricha family history of allergies and respiratory problems. Unfortunately for baby, allergies can be inherited and may be attributed to a lineage of itches and sniffles.
Here then, is a compiled list of foods that your baby should definitely avoid in his first 12 months of life:
- Honey, corn and maple syrup. These may contain bacterial spores which may lead to infant botulism - a very rare but extremely debilitating disease that attacks the body's defenses, leaving a baby paralyzed from the neck down, sometimes even leading to infant death. The disease is so serious that it is highly recommended not to give your baby these products until he reaches 1 year of age.
- Nuts. Whole nuts should always be avoided for two specific reasons: one, babies may develop allergies to it (especially peanuts), and two, it may become a choking hazard, especially since babies are just starting to develop teeth and can't really chew too hard substances yet.
- Cow's milk. At about 9 months, babies can be given small amounts of dairy products, but never cow's milk, especially skimmed and low-fat milk products. Your baby needs fat to grow some muscle and helps stimulate brain development, and skimmed milk loses most of baby's needed nutrients in the processing stage, especially calories which babies need for him to grow better. Also, these supply too much potassium, milk protein (which most babies find difficult to digest and absorb), and sodium - something your baby needs for proper nutrition. Cow's milk lacks the necessary vitamin E, iron and essential fatty acids. It can even give your baby a tummy ache or too much gas.
The list ends here but there are a lot of foods that should be avoided before he reaches the first year. It will be up to you and (sometimes) your doctor to have a keen eye in observing and preparing what you think may be right for your child.
Frequently Asked Questions
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QUESTION:
What foods are good for weaning babies?
My son is nearly 4mths old but very big and well developed for his age. The health visitor has advised me to start weaning him early. I have started giving him a selection of baby rice/ creamed porrige etc once a day at lunchtime but do any other mums or dads have any recipes for pureed fruits, recipes etc that are pureeable suitable from first weaning or within the first few months??Also, is there anything in particular that they are not supposed to have until a certain age. I know of some things but like fromage frais, can he have this straight away or do i need to wait a while??
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ANSWER:
You will have to check with your Health Visitor but some fish is bad and some cheeses should not be given. Your Health Visitor should have a list of foods you should give.I used to wean my kids with simple foods. Mashed potato, carrot, turnip, broccoli, chicken. These would all be pureed until they can manage them a bit lumpier. Just go with your own instinct, you know what foods are good for you and will be good for him aswell. Try and give him as much variety as possible so that he does not become fussy.
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QUESTION:
recipes for weaning my baby?
After seeing my babies dietitian today she has recommended that i now start to increase her solids (at the moment she has a few spoons full 3 times a day of baby rice and some ready made pouches of fruit ect...)
My Baby is 4 months old and was 2 months premature and has reflux which is why she is being weaned already. Because of her being prem she needs to be on a high fat diet with lots of cheese, creams, yogurts ect.. but to stay away from wheat until she is 6 months old.
I am planning on cooking all her food myself now that she is being weaned as apposed to "trying some solids"
Recipes i have already:
mince and potatoes with veg
Shepard's pie
cauliflower and cheese
broccoli and cheese
mix root veg
apple crumble
mixed fruit
chicken or beef with veg
tuna and rice
chicken or beef with rice
veg and riceI am asking if there is anymore recipes that are high in fat because i cant think of much to add cheese to!
i will NOT be getting a second opinion as i do not agree with the 6 month age for weaning for any baby and i have done my research when it comes to weaning a prem babies and EVERY health pro states 17 weeks for a prem baby.
my daughter has been having some solids since 12 weeks and is coping extremly well with it which is why the dietician today has said what she has. - as somebody said watch the baby not the calender!
My Daughters poop is very normal for her and she is very much ready for solids.
she did not say to take her off of milk and only give solids only to increase from a few spoon fulls and gradually decrease her milk intake.
I was weaned at 7 weeks because of severe reflux and i am absoulitly fine and FAR FROM obese (which is what they say weaning early causes!)
I have spoken to many prem parents who have also been guided the same way i have so i do not need to have advice about her age ect.. just recipes.
as for breastfeeding - i didnt have the oppertunity to breastfeed my baby like i wanted to as she was fed through a tube! I expressed my milk for her until she came home and found giving her a bottle which took an hour and then expressing for an hour, sleeping for an hour and preparing her meds and bottle for another hour i was done in and had to stop and put her on special prem milk.
Being a parent of a prem baby is extremly hard at the best of times knowing what to do, what they should be doing, what their weight should be ect... you have to take into account their actual age, corrected age and all the time you yourself are grieving for the lost pregnancy time, all the things you didnt get to do for them and the first month of bonding you didnt get because you can only hold your baby twice a day and they are not at home with you. I HAVE to listen to the professionals because i honestly do not know how to timeline a prem baby!-
ANSWER:
Wtf? Your ped. is very ill-informed. The current recommendation is that babies don't start solids until 6 months, and even then they shouldn't replace formula or breast feeds..What you're doing is FINE. Her corrected age is 2 months, in which case she really shouldn't have anything other than formula/breast milk and the cereal for her reflux.
I honestly would NOT listen to your ped...... she's talking bullsh.it
http://wholesomebabyfood.com/solids.htm >> good recipes.
"When thinking about starting baby on solid foods and introducing solids to baby, a good rule of thumb is to "Watch the Baby - Not the Calendar". This is true when introducing solid foods (complementary foods) for both breastfed and formula fed infants. Just because baby has turned 4 months old does not mean she must be introduced to solid foods."
http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/solidfood4to6montholdbaby.htm
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QUESTION:
For those who are doing baby led weaning - what are good recipes?
I have been doing baby led weaning with my 10 month old girl since she was 6 months old, and it has been working brilliantly. We all sit to eat together and she has tried loads of things and enjoys eating.However, I think I've lost my way with it a bit recently as she has become less experimental, and I have drifted into doing things just for her to eat, rather than stay with the pure theory of everyone eating the same things, together. Her dad and I tend to eat our man meal after he's gone to bed.
So, I would really like to know what oher baby led weaners (sounds a bit rude!) are cooking up, and what their babies like.
I am definitely going to start making one main meal a day to see how it goes, so he dad and I eat our dinner with her (so early for us!). I am going to start with beef meatballs and rice (as the health visitor told me that 10 month olds can handle rice) and tomorrow do toad in the hole. Any other suggestions please?
Thanks!
I meant to say, we eat our MAIN meal after SHES gone to bed..!-
ANSWER:
my son is the same age and we have been doing BLW since about 7 months. he will eat anything we eat. some of his faves are:ravioli with tomato and red wine sauce
chicken kiev (the more garlic the better lol)
sausages and vegies
creamy broccoli pasta (with big chinky broccoli peieces)
hamburgers (just the pattie) and veggies
very mild coconut curry (you can use any meat and veggies just cooked with a bit of curry powder and coconut cream)
chicken nuggets and sweet potato chipshe also really loves olives stuffed with feta cheese, salami sticks and stuffed vine leaves, any sort of anti-pasto
basically we just have dinner earlier and give him whatever we have. its so much fun to watch him explore the food, and yo can see that he really enjoys being part of the fun
good luck with BLW and just keep enjoying it, thats what its all about!!
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QUESTION:
Can you suggest good recipes for baby that is nearly 6 months who i have just started weaning??-
ANSWER:
i have always made my sons food from fresh ingredients,im not against jars of baby foods,i just preferred to make my own;
Baby Cereal and Vegetables;
1 oz onion
teaspoon olive oil
1 medium courgette(trimmed and sliced)
2oz broccoli
2 medium carrots
3 tablespoons baby rice
saute onion in oil,add all vegetables,just cover with boiling water,bring back to boil and simmer for 20 mins.Puree vegetables,add cooking water to get right thickness and stir in baby rice(freezeable)Avocado and Banana ;
1/2 avocado
1/2 small banana
mash both together until smoothButternut Squash and Pear;
1 medium butternut squash
1 ripe pearsteam squash,peel and chop pear and add to steamer and cook for another 5 mins,puree(freezable)
Tomatoes and potatoes;
skin 2 tomatoes,melt knob of butter in pan and saute tom until mushy,boil potato and when cooked combine and puree,could also add courgette or cauliflower
Mixed Veg
carrot
potato
swede
parsnip,boil in either water or cows milk(full fat) and puree once cooked(freezable)
you just need to use your imagination,and mix different foods together in the hope that your baby will get used to different flavours and will be less of a fussy eater later on,good luck
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QUESTION:
Weaning recipes for freezing.?
I am new to weaning and so far have done single veg purees and fruit purees and was wondering what tastes went well together. what you found your baby really liked (or didn't) and also what do you make as puddings. my daughter loves the heinz fruit custard pots BUT i prefer to make my own food and freeze them but i don't know how to make them. Im a brilliant cook when it comes to grown up food like pasta sauces, chicken dishes (stuffed chicken, bbq chicken), spag bol, fry up, fancy foods for parties..BUT traditional home cooking that you can give babies...IM stuck. NOT a clue what im doing. Help me please!Thank you in advance
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ANSWER:
I've got 5 children and believe me no 2 are the same!
The best thing you can do is give your little girl what you eat.I have 1 that is a fussy eater and he is three years old but he was always difficult.My 16 year old eats anything,the 12 old old will not eat peas or beans.The 8 year old refuses to eat mushrooms,the three year old eats meat,chips,junk,but adores apples and the baby,now 17 months,is selective.
It wasn't until baby number 2 that I actually did their food myself.It's cheaper plus you know exactly what your baby is having,no hidden additives,etc!If you've ever tried baby food,shop bought,it's so bland.Also when you are cooking for yourselves you just put a little extra in and when serving up do a small portion for baby.Use cooled boiled what to make the consistency right.The more flavours you introduce your daughter to the better.
Don't be shy,be adventurous.If you have a curry let baby join you.My 17 month old loves chicken tikka masala and has done since she was 1!She wasn't weaned until she was 6 months old so she was able to have protein as well as vegetables and it made a big difference.Her second week of solids was a full christmas dinner.the puree consisted of turkey,sausage,bacon,roast potaoes,roast parsnips,baked onion,peas,carrots,cabbage,brussels,cauliflower,broccoli and even cranberry sauce.She wolfed it!
Veggie purees I used to do in the past included carrot and swede,the carrot is naturally sweet.Parsnip,also sweet,potato and peas.Experiment,baby will soon let you know what she particulary likes.But don't give up right away keep trying!
Variety is the spice of life after all!
Enjoy the experience.
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