Starting Baby On Solids. What Would You Do?

[AndreaB]

My 6 1/2 month old son Seth broke out with eczema on his face between 2 and 2 1/2 months. After undergoing allergy tests for myself in March and leaving off of soy (February) and most gluten (April) I saw improvement. I wasn't too concerned about oats initially as my allergy tests didn't indicate a problem with them and I didn't have anything with oats often. His face has cleared up with the exception of small flare ups. Those flare ups are red flags for me to analyze what I've eaten that he might be responding to. Oats and or cinnamon may be another one. Since we just got our enterolab results, and found out we are active with our gluten sensitivity and we all have at least one gene that tends towards celiac , we are cutting out oats. Lots more stuff to throw out. I buy bulk (25 pound bags) of stuff. Already had to throw out a whole bag of grain, now it will be the oats I have left.

Anyway, my question is this. Knowing that he is sensitive to soy and gluten through breastmilk would you try giving your child any gluten containing foods once he was started on solids or go with results from the elimination diet.

[sleepingbean]

My 6 1/2 month old son Seth broke out with eczema on his face between 2 and 2 1/2 months. After undergoing allergy tests for myself in March and leaving off of soy (February) and most gluten (April) I saw improvement. I wasn't too concerned about oats initially as my allergy tests didn't indicate a problem with them and I didn't have anything with oats often. His face has cleared up with the exception of small flare ups. Those flare ups are red flags for me to analyze what I've eaten that he might be responding to. Oats and or cinnamon may be another one. Since we just got our enterolab results, and found out we are active with our gluten sensitivity and we all have at least one gene that tends towards celiac , we are cutting out oats. Lots more stuff to throw out. I buy bulk (25 pound bags) of stuff. Already had to throw out a whole bag of grain, now it will be the oats I have left.

Anyway, my question is this. Knowing that he is sensitive to soy and gluten through breastmilk would you try giving your child any gluten containing foods once he was started on solids or go with results from the elimination diet.

There is no good reason to introduce gluten to a 6 month old. Breast milk (or formula if you don't breastfeed) is best for baby up to a year minimum. When you begin introducing foods, you can start with sweet potato, and avocado, and banana. Those are great starters for baby! I would avoid grains and dairy for any baby! They are such high allergens. You have to let their little systems get ready for those types of foods. Many children have dairy intollerance and they often outgrow it, but if you continue giving a child a food they are intollerant to, they are much more likely to develop a life time intollerance or allergey. If you wait until their systems have matured to allow them better ability to digest more complex food combinations you will find they do much better then starting them with wheat cereals, dairy, oats etc as very young babies.

Sweet potaot, Avocado, banana, work up to other purreed fruits and veggies or boiled veggies when your little one is ready to eat something with texture. Don't worry about those grains right away. I would wait for the 2 year mark before even thinking about introducing gluten or dairy to a child who has a family history or intollerance to those foods or who has shown reaction themselves.

[TCA]

I agree. A gluten challenge at this age would be for naught, especially if you have already seen the results through breast feeding. Testing is so inaccurate at his age. We've done avocado with my daughter with great success. We're working up to other foods.

[CarlaB]

I didn't really introduce food to my kids. When they were old enough to sit up on my lap, they'd just eat off my plate. Since your plate will be gluten-free, it shouldn't be a problem! I thought Enterolab could test infants?

I have a friend whose traditional first food for her kids has been birthday cake on their first birthday. I don't know why docs push for early introduction to food. I understand that introducing gluten is best between 6-9 months according to studies.

[AndreaB]

I thought Enterolab could test infants?

Carla,

Enterolab needs 1/2 cup sample. That's kind of hard with exclusively breastfeeding. Everything soaks into the diaper and even changing him immediatly and scaping what I could it would take awhile to get a sample. I do plan on testing him, just trying to figure out when.

I started my other two on solids at 6 months as recommended. My current doctor doesn't see a problem with starting him on rice cereal, I just wanted to wait.

[CarlaB]

Oh yea, I forgot about the mustard poop you find in a breastfed baby's diaper! Now, that's a good reason to not start solids!!!!

[KayJay]

My baby is 9 months old now and she had lots of GI problems at the beginning too. She can't tolerate Milk, soy, or rice cereal (we think the cereal) She has never had gluten before but I wanted to say her GI told us not to give her any gluten for at least a year. Also, no solids until her intestines had healed and sealed. This was VERY important for lowering the risk for future allergies. Since she got sick after eating milk and soy then she was just on breast milk for at least 4-6 weeks after a reaction so that she could heal properly. Let me tell you it is hard not giving an 8 month old solids but I saw drastic improvement! Now she can eat one new food a week. She has been able to tolerate everything still haven't given her milk or soy but everything else she has done fine with. She eats oat cereal now and seems to be doing fine with it.

[AndreaB]

My baby is 9 months old now and she had lots of GI problems at the beginning too. She can't tolerate Milk, soy, or rice cereal (we think the cereal) She has never had gluten before but I wanted to say her GI told us not to give her any gluten for at least a year. Also, no solids until her intestines had healed and sealed. This was VERY important for lowering the risk for future allergies. Since she got sick after eating milk and soy then she was just on breast milk for at least 4-6 weeks after a reaction so that she could heal properly. Let me tell you it is hard not giving an 8 month old solids but I saw drastic improvement! Now she can eat one new food a week. She has been able to tolerate everything still haven't given her milk or soy but everything else she has done fine with. She eats oat cereal now and seems to be doing fine with it.

Wow! I'll see if I can hold him off for another month or so. I think he was really messed up as I was eating lots of soy and gluten while pregnant. We were vegans. He is growing fine and has been gaining weight. Don't know what would have happened if I had stayed on soy and gluten.

[shan1523]

From what I have heard/read...in general popluation the into-ing of gluten from 6-9 months is best, but have also heard that waiting until a year is best for those prone to/ have genetics leaning to having celiac...I have yet to find a clear-cut answer, but wanted you to know I feel for you, Im about to have my 2nd child and dont want to see her go through what my son did....

Shannon

[shan1523]

From what I have heard/read...in general popluation the into-ing of gluten from 6-9 months is best, but have also heard that waiting until a year is best for those prone to/ have genetics leaning to having celiac...I have yet to find a clear-cut answer, but wanted you to know I feel for you, Im about to have my 2nd child and dont want to see her go through what my son did....

Shannon

OK now I have different information, Jenvan gave me these links, thought they might help here too

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

Open Original Shared Link

hope that helps

Shannon