Infant Feeding Information

The AAP has changed it’s policy on holding back “high allergen” foods such as peanuts, shellfish, etc. – this is the CURRENT information, not the old, wrong data: 

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;121/1/183

Although solid foods should not be introduced before 4 to 6 months of age, there is no current convincing evidence that delaying their introduction beyond this period has a significant protective effect on the development of atopic disease regardless of whether infants are fed cow milk protein formula or human milk. This includes delaying the introduction of foods that are considered to be highly allergic, such as fish, eggs, and foods containing peanut protein.

 

Debunking infant food myths:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9646449/

Ditch the rice cereal and mashed peas, and make way for enchiladas, curry and even — gasp! — hot peppers. It’s time to discard everything you think you know about feeding babies. It turns out most advice parents get about weaning infants onto solid foods — even from pediatricians — is more myth than science. 

That’s right, rice cereal may not be the best first food. Peanut butter doesn’t have to wait until after the first birthday. Offering fruits before vegetables won’t breed a sweet tooth. And strong spices? Bring ‘em on.

 

Pureed food isn’t natural for babies

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2007/jun/17/health.medicineandhealth

Feeding babies on pureed food is unnatural and unnecessary, according to one of Unicef’s leading child care experts, who says they should be fed exclusively with breast milk and formula milk for the first six months, then weaned immediately on to solids.

Gill Rapley, deputy director of Unicef’s Baby Friendly Initiative and a health visitor for 25 years, said spoon-feeding pureed food to children can cause health problems later in life.

 

Babyled Weaning/Self-Feeding Information

http://www.borstvoeding.com/voedselintroductie/blw/engels.html

Normal, healthy breastfed babies appear to be quite capable, with the right sort of support from their parents, of managing their own introduction to solid foods.

 

Won’t he choke?

Many parents worry about babies choking. However, there is good reason to believe that babies are at less risk of choking if they are in control of what goes into their mouth than if they are spoon fed. This is because babies are not capable of intentionally moving food to the back of their throats until after they have developed the ability to chew. And they do not develop the ability to chew until after they have developed the ability to reach out and grab things. The ability to pick up very small things develops later still. Thus, a very young baby cannot easily put himself at risk because he cannot get small pieces of food into his mouth. Spoon feeding, by contrast, encourages the baby to suck the food straight to the back of his mouth, potentially making choking more likely.

 

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http://www.rapleyweaning.com/

http://www.hannahledweaning.blogspot.com

http://www.myblwexperiences.blogspot.com
http://www.babyledweaning.com
http://www.babybanana.biz
http://babyledweaning.blogspot.com
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/6762795.stm
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,2104953,00.html

Hope this information helps you learn to feed your infant.  Our family has always believed in going straight to self-feeding and table foods, and we have enjoyed an easy, stress-free way to feed our family.  There’s virtually nothing that our 6-month olds can’t eat, short of a tough steak!