When should I introduce solids?

[faith4u]

Hi everyone!

My youngest is almost 7 months old. He has no teeth yet. This is my fourth child but first since going raw.

Now I wonder what is best as far as when to start food and what to start. I keep thinking just fruits like bananas, avocados etc... but do I need to start this soon or is it okay for me to wait awhile.

I keep thinking that if he doesn't have teeth than he shouldn't be eating.

He is always trying to grab our food when he is sitting on our lap and we are eating. BUT he is always trying to grab everything that we have. :o He does really watch our mouth when we eat but once again I don't know if he is just interested in more of what we are doing than anything else.

He is a big baby so I know he is growing just fine. He is at the 90th %tile for weight and 50% for height.

In my heart, I really want to wait for awhile but am kind of afraid to.

So what do you all think?

[Lay-Lay]

wanting to have raw babies in the near future myself I am interested in knowing this myself. I would love to hear what other raw mommies and babies are eating as atypical and how and when. I am sure it is much like us but much smaller amounts.

[NuttyRawMom]

According to the book, "Recipes for Life" by Rhonda Malkmus, you should wait until the baby's first teeth come in. If the baby starts showing signs of not being satisfied on breast milk alone, such as crying after feeding for no apparent reason, then maybe you could start earlier.

Sounds like you have a strong healthy baby. If he is content, then I think you should wait. I agree that grabbing at food and watching intently at you while eating are just signs of interest, not necessarily readiness for food. No more than interest in your phone conversations and grabbing at the phone means that he is ready to take it and be able to carry on a real conversation, try though they may! :)

For my 15 mo old girl, she had teeth at 5 months and was crawling, sitting, standing, all by 7 months. She has always been so active (and very thin) that I started her on solids at 6 months, but still one month after her first 2 teeth appeared. My 3 yr old daughter was not so fast in physical development, but still had teeth at 5 months. I tried feeding her at the usual 6 months, but she had no interest or ability to really swallow much until 7-8 months. We have been on/off high raw since my older daughter's pregnancy, so I was not so sure at first about holding off on feeding her. She let me know she wasn't ready, whereas my second daughter let me know right away she liked it and wanted more and there was no turning back!

Good first foods are simply fruit, freshly pureed. These are the easiest on the baby's digestive system as it adapts from breast milk alone to solid food. I use a hand blender for my baby food. Banana or pear or peach for example. I am sure that since this is number 4, you know to introduce each thing 1 at a time. Mine never liked plain avocado blended, but they all love it mixed with banana. I also like to add flax oil for a little extra 'umph' since they are thin. Later on you could add almond butter in banana, that is another favorite. Once he is a 'seasoned' eater, then you could give him smoothies. I always save some green smoothie for our little one before thinning it to drinking consistency.

[adrienne]

i would just like to back up what nuttyrawmom said! take your time with this and it will be fine.
i have a 2 yr old and she loved (and still does) fruits and veggies
she loved banana and avocado etc.
good luck!

[spicyfull]

Enjoy your Baby and he/she will let you know when the time is right. Plus you already know in your heart what to do............

[life-in-me]

I'm preparing to get pregnant soon and have been searching for info about nutrition for pregnant women and children. I came across this website with the text of Dr. Herbert Shelton's book Hygienic Care of Children. I haven't read it all yet but it looks interesting. http://www.soilandhealth.org/02/0201hyglibcat/020110shelton/020110shelton01.html

Also Hallelujah Acres has a book on the topic. I ordered it but I don't have it yet so I can't tell you what it says. Check it out. www.hacres.com Click on shop online and then books.

[cassidy]

spicyfull had the most perfect advice. you're baby will let you know when she is ready. mine let me know when she was ready to be done breadtfeeding, ready for solids, ready to be done with her bottle..... etc. it never fails. good luck, do what you're heart tells you to do.

[Helen Of Tennessee]

My naturopath told us to start solids for our grandson when he had 4-6 teeth. He got his first tooth at 4 months. At 5 months we would occasionally offer him some banana or mashed pears. He didn't want it. We would just occasionally offer him something and it wasn't until he was 11 months old before he ever ate anything. I would guess that your child will let you know when they are ready.