We are fast approaching 6 months since the day our precious little girl was born! It is miraculous to me that 1/2 a year can pass so very quickly and that babies grow so very, very fast. It is time to start thinking about how and where to begin solids. I am of the opinion that waiting until 6 months was the right thing to do and the day has come.

This week i had a conversation with our paediatric chiropractor about where to  start. We first discussed the ‘norm’ for beginning solids which is iron fortified rice cereal. Besides the added iron, rice cereal is not really nutritionally beneficial. It is given as an introduction and to get your baby used to swallowing something other than milk. There is, however, no particular reason that your baby can’t get aquainted with swallowing through other foods.

It is important to note, our chiropractor informed me, that rice cereal can bind your baby’s intestines and make them constipated. This is a terrible thing for a baby to suffer with,  and there is very little that you can do to help them.

The solution that some people use is to dose their child up on lots and lots of fruit. The fibre in pears or apples may help them but it will also put loads of sugars into their system which do not help them develop the all important neural pathways in the best way possible.

So, where to begin you say? Well…. the first few foods I was recommended to introduce to our little girl were, pumpkin, sweet potato, zucchini and carrot (after at least 3 weeks of the other foods as carrots are quite high in sugar) Organic if possible. Pesticides on food affect your baby to a greater degree due to their small body mass. As previously mentioned, your baby is developing brain connections by the thousands all the time and they should be given the best to do that well, as they get only one chance. Organic produce can be expensive. Your baby, however, is only consuming very small quatities and half a butternut pumpkin will last many meals for a her. Even if you can’t afford organic for your whole family, make the choice for your baby.

A steamer is a great thing to have. A real steamer that is. The best way to cook your little ones food is with real steam on the stove or in a counter top steamer. Microwaving the food you prepare is robbing it of vital nutrients. I also purchased a small masher and small tongs. This way you do not have to handle the food with your hands which keeps it more germ free.

Steam the veggies well and mash then puree for the first week or two. Wach you baby and assess when you think she will be ready for more chunky foods. Do not leave this too long as it may lead to her rejecting lumps rather than learning to chew. Chewing is an essential skill for children as it helps develop their jaw and in turn aids their speach development.

One meal a day is enough to start out with and contrary to popular belief it is ok to give vegetables at breakfast. Your baby doesn’t know that pumpkin is not a breakfast food!  When you feel that your baby is consuming the food you are feeding her in the morning and may like another meal in the day then you can add another in the late afternoon.

Starting solids is a scary and daunting thing sometimes. Particularly if you have been breast feeding exclusively, the thought of preparation and how to and when to and what to can seem really dificult.  Once you start, a rythym will follow and you will find it all settles into place.

Make sure you are prepared before the day comes with your steamer (or just a metal strainer over a saucepan and a lid on top of that will work perfectly!) and some storage containers (small ones to put in the freezer and for going out and about) soft spoons and a lot of bibs!  If you have been bottle feeding you can use made up formula to thin the vegetable and give them more moisutre which will help you baby digest them and expressed breast milk can be used in the same way.

Most of all, enjoy your baby everyday and relish in their achievements. You are doing a good job.

An interesting thing happened to me a few weeks ago. I was at a routine chiropractic check up for our little bunny (there is nothing wrong with her and we are keeping it that way by having regular spinal checks to ensure she grows and develops well) and I was explaining how she was not having long restful sleeps and how she was often upset after feeds. I was wondering what it was and what i could do to help her as it was very distressing for both of us.

He asked me if I was eating any of the commonly known things that upset babies like cauliflower and onion, coffee/tea or peas. All no’s. And then he said what about chocolate? I looked down and said ‘a little’ thinking the problem would lie with the sugar…. This was when he explained something interesting. The caffeine in chocolate is processed without much to do in an adult body within 6 hours maximum. In an infant who receives caffeine via breastmilk, caffeine is not processed for up to 80 hours! This means it can upset their tummy, prevent them from sleeping, make them irritable, and over tired and also give them headaches as it leaves their bodies….. just like it does to an adult.

i was horrified and instatly stopped. Within three days she was a different baby. So relaxed at feeding time and sleeping much better. It was such a relief to find the cause and be able to do something.

So, I advise not eating chocolate - no matter how tired you are, which is why I was doing it :) -  while breastfeeding your little ones. A devastating blow, if, like me you just love the stuff, but worth the sacrifice when you see how calm and settled they can be.

There is an interesting article in the Washington Post about day care and unwanted infant weight gain:

Infants cared for by caregivers other than their parents tend to gain more weight than children cared for by their parents, a new study says.
And children receiving regular care from people other than their parents are also less likely to be breast-fed and more likely to be introduced to solid foods early, the researchers found.
Other studies have suggested that breast-feeding for up to the first 12 months of life may confer protection against obesity.
More and more evidence suggests that the threat of excess weight gain and obesity is taking hold in America’s nurseries, Dr. David Katz, director of the Yale University School of Medicine’s Prevention Research Center said. “Studies show obesity emerging as a problem even in the first year of life. This, in turn, results in a higher risk of diabetes in youth, and lifelong obesity and its many consequences.”

Given how we are following America’s lead in most things, I would suspect the same will hold true for our Day and Early Care here in Australia.

There was another related article I read the other day (to which I can’t find the link right now) that mentioned that there may be a tangible relationship between allergies and the introduction of foods at an early age (<6 months). The article stated that the baby’s digestive system is not developed enough at less than 6 months to handle solids and especially the chemicals and additives that are found in the food we eat.

So, if you can, breastfeeding gives your baby a fantastic start in life. I know that there is a lot of promotion about only breastfeeding for the first 3 months before cycling you baby onto pre-prepared foods, but I think it would be a great idea to stick with it a little longer.