When to introduce foods to your babyThere is no clear-cut guideline for knowing what and when to first feed your child. There are always exceptions to every rule and everyone has somewhat different needs so our first recommendation is, instead of reading every bit of advice you can get your hands on, remember to use your heart and your intuition to decide what is best suited for your child. Sometimes the most effective way to parent is being the observer, rather than the teacher.
Having said that, we've put together some simplified guidelines (as we all need to start somewhere) comprised of various resources as well as some personal experience.
First Foods: Some Guidelines•There is no rush to introduce solid foods, breast milk is the best food for babies. If you are not breastfeeding there are healthy alternatives, as most formulas are inadequate for proper digestion and can be highly allergenic. That said, if you choose to go the formula route there are organic formulas on the market, which can be a viable alternative to non-organic infant formula. Also, look for infant formulas without syrups, such as corn syrup.
•When milk is introduced, organic + raw goat or cow milk is best (if available, ask us how), or organic + non-homogenized as a second choice (Avalon Dairy in Vancouver, BC, now has this available). Goat's Pride in BC also makes an excellent certified organic, whole goat milk that is pasturized at a lower temperature than larger dairies. Goat's Pride believes that the lower temperative kills the bad bacteria, while preserving the healthy bacteria/digestive enzymes found in goat's milk.
Probiotics and Essential Fatty Acids may need to be added if using any pasteurized milk as a primary food source. Health Canada does not support the sale of raw milk or introducing whole goat or cow milk to children that are less than one year old. They suggest introducing only a small amount of whole milk, 3 or 4 ounces, at 9 months.
•In the beginning, introduce a variety of foods, one at a time. When introducing allergenic foods such as egg yolks, yogurt, fish, wait 3-4 days before introducing next new food to note any potential reactions. Remember that you know your baby best. That said, we don't find it necessary to wait 3 to 4 days when introducing zucchini, for instance, though nitrate veggies such as carrots, beets, would be worth the wait.
•Avoid solids until 5-6 months, start with homemade pear and/or apple sauce, or perhaps mashed avocado, but not processed rice cereal.
•Avoid jarred baby foods, homemade is easy and healthier.
•No honey, strawberries, egg whites, grains or other potential allergens until 12 months.
•If any immediate family has specific food allergies, avoid those foods until after 2 years.
•If baby has had colic, eczema or other digestive issues consider delaying solids until at least 9 months. If this is not for you, an alternative is to avoid introducing allergenic foods to your baby and to focus instead on introducing simple, fresh, single foods that are easily digested until 9 months.
•No pasteurized milk, nuts or nut butters until 18-24mos
•If baby rejects a food, try again in a few days or weeks, their tastes and needs change faster than you'd think.
•Cook with virgin coconut oil or organic butter or ghee (devoid of milk solids and best for med-high heat), or cold-pressed olive or vegetable oil (these are recommended for low to medium heat only.
5-9 months(Avoid carrots, spinach, beets, turnips or collards until after 9 months, they are too rich in nitrates for baby)
•Organic bananas
•Organic, free-range egg yolks
•Stewed Fruit (apple, pear, prunes)
•Cooked and pureed veggies (limit orange veggies)
•Pureed Soups (using an organic bone stock base is a great way to deeply nourish and strengthen their immune systems)
•Avocados
•Coconut and hemp oils and butters, olive oil
•Simple garden herbs and spices (thyme, parsley, fennel, dill seeds, basil are ok but not necessary as their taste buds are very heightened and will notice more flavour in food than we will. Simple ingredients are perfectly adequate.
9-12 months•Organic, non-homogenised, full fat yogurt (cow or goat but goat is more likely to be tolerated)
•Organic Butter (the yellower the better!)
•Organic or free-range non-medicated poultry and red meat
•zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, kale, tomatoes, spinach, beets, turnips, carrots, collard greens
•Blueberries, papaya, mango, peaches, nectarines
•Beans
12+ months•Oats, wheat, spelt, kamut, rice and other wholegrains
•Spinach, strawberries
•Whole organic or free-range, non-medicated eggs
•Cheese (raw is best, try goat first)
•Raw (unprocessed) honey, melons, corn, oranges
+Nuts, Seeds such as almonds, pecans, cashews and pumpkin seeds (raw and pre-soaked only)
24+ months*Potential allergenic foods that run in the family
*sugar or other 'foods to avoid', on special occasions only (over restricting can lead to food bingeing and addictive tendencies later in life)
In summary, choose an Organic, Whole Food, Seasonal Diet including…
•Seasonal fruits, vegetables
•Homemade soups, stews
•Whole grains
•Beans/legumes, nuts/seeds *be sure to buy all raw and pre-soak before eating
•Fish oil, butter, avocado, unrefined, cold-pressed vegetable oils in moderation
•Organic or free-range, non-medicated meats and eggs
Foods to AVOID:•Corn syrup, sugar in just about any form (except the few truly un-refined ones)
*Fruit juices (ALL, except fresh- pressed)
•Anything hydrogenated modified (partially or otherwise), fried foods.
•Processed grains, white flour, included puffed, flaked, or other shaped grains/cereals.
•Dairy products, most soy products (unless sprouted or fermented and only in moderation)
•Artificial sweeteners, preservatives, colours
•Reduced fat foods
*Refined/iodized salt (choose unrefined salt only, after at least 12 months.)
What about supplements?We do not believe that breastfed babies need Vitamin D supplements or iron-fortified foods as long as the nursing mother has a healthy, iron rich diet and the baby is exposed to at least 5 minutes of sun per day. After 10 months add flaxseed oil (1 tsp per day) or cod liver oil (1/4 tsp per day). After 12 months you may want to add beneficial bacteria to your child’s diet.
Last, but certainly not least, it's helpful to know that a baby's digestive system is far less mature than ours so even though they may be ready to begin some solid foods, such as certain simple fruits and veggies they may still be a long way off from being ready for grains or meat (which employ a more sophisticated and longer digestive process.
A baby’s system is designed for maximum absorption of breast milk. From the mouth to the colon, their system is designed to digest and absorb the nutrients found in breast milk alone. They do not produce sufficient enzymes to digest a wide variety of foods and their stomachs produce minimum amounts of gastric acid to ensure the survival of the live immune cells and beneficial bacteria found in breast milk. Another vital consideration is that their small intestines are relatively permeable and absorb foods with much less discretion than that of an adult.
This enhanced absorption can and will allow undigested proteins from food to pass into the bloodstream and this is where allergies can be triggered. When an undigested protein enters the bloodstream the body recognizes the substance as a foreign invader (or antigen) and produces an immune response to fight it. This immune response is what we know as an allergic response. The allergy can be permanent or the baby may outgrow it at a later date. Either way it is a stress that you and your baby would probably rather avoid.
Common signs of food allergies: Respiratory Passages:
Runny nose, sneezing, wheezing, stuffy nose, watery eyes, bronchitis, recurring ear infections, persistent cough, congestion, rattling chest
Skin:
Red sand paper like facial rash, hives, swelling in hands and feet, dry, scaly, itchy skin (mostly on face), dark circles under eyes, puffy eyelids, lip swelling, tongue soreness and cracks.
Intestines:
Mucousy diarrhea, constipation, bloating, gassiness, excessive spitting up, vomiting, intestinal bleeding, poor weight gain, burn like rash around anus, abdominal discomfort.
Specific to Infants: •Redness around mouth usually within 1-2 hours or around the anus within 12-24 hours,
•Abdominal bloating, gas and distension
•Constipation, diarrheaa or foul odour to stools
•Vomiting or frequent spitting-up
•Nasal and/or chest congestion and runny nose, chronic middle ear infections, asthma
•Red, chapped eczema-like skin on face, groin, bottom or anywhere on the body.
•Colic, fussiness, difficult sleeping
•Failure to thrive, loss of appetite
*Allergic symptoms can occur within minutes or within days after the food is ingested.
