Starting Solids

Well, there's nothing wrong with waiting. Any food is just for "practice" for that first year, baby's nutrition should come from formula or breastmilk (whichever one you are doing) anyway. A lot of babies constipated because of the introduction of solids (but you probably know that). Iron supplements are often another culprit for constipation, you might want to consult your dr. And if the baby's excema worsened after eating pears then doesn't it seem that there might be a connection?

I know quite a few moms, some bf, some formula, that are waiting until babies are closer to a year before starting for the same allergy reasons, and avoiding dairy, wheat and eggs specifically since those seem to be the worst ones. These are moms with kids who react to things. For example, one of my friends' 1 yr old dd is so allergic to dairy she had a little margarine with casein (whey protein) in it and had a serious reaction! Excema was one of her symptoms too, I should add. The other thing people seem to be finding is that babies who don't show interest in solids until later are often the ones with more food sensitivities, it's like a biological protection until their systems can handle it. I'm still looking for the research on that one.

Hi,

I also have an eczema baby who is 7.5months old. Our doctor/dermatologist/paediatricians advice was to exclusively breastfeed and wait until our boy was at least six months old before starting solids. Our doctors thought it was important to introduce solids, but to supplement with breastfeeding. Formula doesn't have the triglycerides and antibodies which breast milk has so I dont see how formula could be preferable to solids.

On starting solids we were asked to make sure we steer away from anything which may trigger eczema flare-ups and choose low alergenic food. The main reason for starting solids is that the baby's needs for iron increase and cant be sustained by BF (even if you take iron suppliments). Even though it is said the food before the age of one is 'practice' food, it does change the way the gut processes food and, it is said, also helps the baby later in childhood to enjoy a rang of tastes/flavours. By not starting before one year old a child may not be getting all of the nutrients needed, also may refuse solids and find the transition to solids much more difficult. If you chose not to start solids you may want to ask your doctor for regular blood tests of your child to check iron levels and other health indicators. (My child was low in iron at 5 months.)

We started solids with one teaspoon of food per day slowing building up from one meal a day to three meals. On the food front, we have only just started three meals a day and they are small meals - one to two tablespoons of food per meal. We found that he reacted slightly to apple as a first food and also to rice cereal (constipation), yet takes oat cereal really well, and loves potato, pumpkin, avocado, cucumber. By making sure he gets low allergy foods we know we are looking after him and I feel this is preferable to introducing formula. He still has 5 breast feeds a day and I mix his cereal with breastmilk as this helps digest it (enzymes) which assists his oun systems. We feed him homemade (and some homegrown) orgainic food as he is sensitive to chemicals

If your child is wanting food (solids play a role in development as a child learns so much through the mouth and exploring with food opens up a whole new sense!) and if their iron levels are low I would try to begin solids - just watch out for the trigger foods, keep a food diary (what was introduced when, and reactions) and be careful of some eczema trigger foods (including wheat, fish, acidic fruit, dairy, soy, eggs). It is a balance of waiing for the gut to mature, but also desensitizing the gut by introducing new foods...

goodluck with whatever you choose,
tamsin

i'm not aware of waiting a whole year to start solids but very likely could be. a good friend who is a pediatrician and allergist told me few years ago with my first child to avoid several things first whole year due to allergies-- citrus, tomatos, wheat, eggs, peanut/nut products. especially if you have a family history of food allergies, delay those foods as long as possible. also peds had me wait until my child was 3 years old to get peanuts or shellfish.

also for people with strong family history of food allergies there is the thought that kids can be sensitized during pregnancy and breastfeeding. so, all those books that talk about peanut butter a great staple for preg/breastfeeding is not necessairly true.