avoiding feeding baby starchy foods?
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Topic: avoiding feeding baby starchy foods?
Posted By: Bexee
Subject: avoiding feeding baby starchy foods?
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 3:47pm
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So I may be opening up a huge can of worms, but read a book today which said you should avoid starchy foods (kumara/potatoes/baby rices etc) until much later as baby doesn't have the enzymes to break down startch until they produce saliva, which is only when they have a full set of teeth.
Does anyone know about this/follow this? DS is just starting solids at 5.5 months and loves kumara etc... now I'm wondering if I should be holding off? |
Replies:
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 4:00pm
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if they only produce saliva when they get teeth how come babies dribble a lot before teeth?
i suppose tho the mantra everything in moderation would hold true. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: FreeSpirit
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 4:02pm
| That's really interesting, and the first time of heard of avoiding starchy foods. I always fed my girl kumara etc, she didn't get teeth until nearly a year old so would have had a really restricted diet if I didn't feed them to her. |
Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 4:05pm
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Sorry it says they don't produce the enzyme called ptyalin which breaks down those foods... It's the kiwi book "Oh Baby" that mentions it.
I'd never heard of it before, and like you flutterby, wondered what on earth to feed DS if not starchy foods! He loves kumara and baby rice etc. |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 4:12pm
| I had a friend who had read something simliar and she didn't feed her son anything like that - lots of fruit i think instead. in saying that, we had sons the same age, and despite me feeding my son starchy food and her not, they met development milestones the same and neither has had any major food problems. so i don't know. |
Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 8:11pm
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I have heard that. I think it is until they have molars.
Everything in moderation. ------------- 
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Posted By: Nikki
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 8:43pm
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I read the book too, and kinda started it with Jake (did not go well, he ended up with a sore tum from all the other veges/fruit producing gas, as he was such a guts) ... then I looked into it a bit more (I have a post grad nutrition qualification) and realised its crap - they do have the enzyme - so I went back to a "normal" weaning diet. And Morgan started with baby rice, kumera, potato and pumpkin.
I think most of that book is awesome, but there are a couple of things in there I really disagree with. I guess like most "experts" advice, you have to just take the bits you like and ignore the rest!!  ------------- DS (5yrs) and DD (3yrs) |
Posted By: Booski
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 8:46pm
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Yip I've done that with DD 11 months - but that was because she had an intolerance to something and I didn't know what! I read about the starchy thing and what they say the effects are (skin itchyness, eczema etc and upset tummy) and she had all of those so thought I'd give it a try. It worked, really well too, within the week her skin had cleared, so we've stuck with it. I've been a bit relaxed lately as shes now got 2 teeth (not enough to produce the enzyme I know) and its hard keeping up with her appetite - but I've noticed the same eczema/itchy skin is back so I'm thinking we'll be getting rid of the starchy foods again! ------------- 
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Posted By: Bexee
Date Posted: 26 January 2010 at 8:50pm
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Thanks for that Nikki, I was just keen to hear other ideas too. With DS being a reflux baby I'm loathe to try too many of the veges...
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