Letting babies taste food...???

Alicia - posted on 02/16/2013

You build his appetite for later on in life so all the foods you let him try will be stuck in his memory for later on in life. So all those foods he has tried already, he'll want to indulge in them when he gets older. Good job.

Charlotte - posted on 08/02/2009

I let my 11 week old suck on sliced veg like cucumber, peppers, lettuce and other stuff like tomatoes. I see no harm in it. I see it a just introducing her to the different tastes at an early age.

Alison - posted on 08/02/2009

My son will be 6 months and the only thing hes tried is a little bit of a cheeto puff. I was eating one and he was curious so i let him taste a little. other than that I have yet to let him try any food. I think I may start though since it seems everyone thats posted has had good experience with their children. I just dont want him to get started on a bunch of junk food and soda and I dont want people feeding him stuff without my permission. Oh my mom did give him a little bit of applesauce, the unsweetened kind. I say whatever you feel is best for your child is what you should do, after all he's your child and your the one raising him.

Tara - posted on 08/01/2009

Same here, I let my daughter try anything she seems to find interesting to eat (other than stuff like rocks, dirt, bugs LOL). I did hold off on eggs, fish and nuts until after she was a year because both my husband and I have allergies, but I just tried those in really small amounts a few times and she was fine - doesn't like peanut butter at all, but likes eggs and is okay with fish. Plus it seems like sometimes you have to try a kid with something a few times before they decide if they like it or not :)

Kate - posted on 08/01/2009

There are certain things we just don't eat in this house, like any processed or junk food. But out of the things we DO eat we allow the children to eat/taste any of it. We don't offer the things that we don't eat because we don't believe that children need to eat junk food or that if they don't, they will grow up to crave it or gorge on it. Adults only think this way because they have always had this food and then if they stop, they crave it. But a child who's never had it won't want it. We do offer our children healthy treats though because it is nice to have some sweet food or something else nice to eat sometimes.

Minnie - posted on 08/01/2009

Other cultures are much more laid back than western culture. There's no special magic in baby food cereals or purees. My nine month old tastes whatever I eat as long as it's safe (no honey).





http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9646449/

Charlie - posted on 08/01/2009

i let my son taste everything , well almost everything i dont give things like coke and junk , he loves tomatoes , all fruit , cheese , fish , lamb , his fave is spag bol he will eat pretty much anything .
Apparently the more foods you let your child taste the better their palate will be , and they will be less fussy with food as they grow up !

Joy - posted on 08/01/2009

My son was born in October '07. The following month, on Thanksgiving day, he was about 6 weeks old and got his first taste of something other than breast milk or formula. My key lime pie. By taste, I mean a dab on the tip of my finger. I've always let him taste things. Not make full meals or give giant portions, but a taste is different. Now, he's almost 2 and eats what we're eating. No nuts still and no small things like raisins....but if Mommy's having ice cream, he gets a few bites of it.

Rhonda - posted on 08/01/2009

He will be the only child that will love brussel sprouts in 2nd grade. lol WTG Mom...keep him interested in different taste and textures of foods. But if he get colic you on your own. lol

No, really..I think you are doing a great thing.

Jessica - posted on 08/01/2009

Thats funny, especially because i craved chinese and jalapeno poppers while i was pregnant, and he loves spicy food and chinese food

Cassi - posted on 08/01/2009

i never thought of that being my sons problem with meat... the smell of meat cooking made me so sick when i was pregnant with him... i was really sick with him anyways... i couldn't keep anything down and had to go in for fluids twice a week because water made me sick when i was pregnant with him... that was the first 5 months... after that i was fine, and then i ate all sorts of stuff... A LOT OF CHINESE FOOD! I had chinese food twice a day because all I could do when i was pregnant was waitress because i was on a 10 pound load limit. i loved working at the chinese restaurant. i still didn't eat much meat b/c the smell made me sick throughout the pregnancy, but i ate TONS of veggies and he hates veggies... LOL!

Jessica - posted on 08/01/2009

my oldest is more picky too, but he is getting better, both my kids love fish, i did wait to give them both fish til a year because my mom does have a fish allergy. but both my kids love it, especially shark, which is great because we have that at least 2 times a month! i say start it all when you want, my daughter NEVER ate jar food, she just didn't like it, so she was started on table foods by 5 months, and she loves everything except squash and green beans, which is funny because her dad doesn't like squash and i dont like green beans. other then that all food to her is good. my son at 3 still doesn't care to much for meat, but i didn't eat any when i was pregnant with him, so i kinda think that is my fault for being sick with the smell and taste of meat with him.

Cassi - posted on 08/01/2009

It is amazing to see how many people do let their child taste pretty much anything. And yah, raisins as a choking hazard? you have to be kidding me... by 6 months my 7 month old was eating cheerios. I think it's crazy that some people's doctors tell them to hold off on things for so long. I love my doctor! I think moreso because she has 2 kids as well her oldest is 6 months older than my oldest and her youngest is about 6 months older than my youngest. At our last check up she actually suggested giving him cheerios and diced fruit as opposed to pureed fruit. or veggies either way. i told her we had already started that stuff and she was like "that's great!" it's really nice to have a doctor that i agree with! my son loves diced peaches, fresh banana's, fresh baked sweet potato's, cheese, grapes(this is one of the fruits my doctor said was okay to give in small pieces)... i still don't think my 4 year old has ever had honey yet, but he LOVES peanuts! I just thought I'd try a different approach with my 7 month old because my 4 year old pretty much only likes hot dogs cooked in the microwave, peanut butter and jelly, ramen noodles(weird).. and he actually just started eating fish and chicken. he does like any kind of pizza too, so we got some veggies in there. the only veggie he'll eat plain is corn(out of a can) but he does love apples and banana's and eats them daily as snacks. but he does also get some sweets too. we don't keep sweets in the house on a regular basis... every once in a while i buy cookies or twinkies, but for me if it's there i eat it LOL!

Thanks to everyone who has responded.

Mel - posted on 08/01/2009

yeah id say let them taste anything. its only a taste and doesnt matter. the only thing i never let her taste was honey and obviously extremely spicy food as id seen someone give that to a baby some wasabi and it made the kid scream. so anything but that. then she started on solids at 3 months anyhow and before 5 months was eating everything anyway

Melissa - posted on 08/01/2009

I think when they are younger is the best time to let them try lots of different foods as it saves you from having a fussy kid when they get older, I have tried my daughter with lots of different foods and so far the only thing she doesn't seem to have liked is Fish,I just hope that she stays this way when she gets bigger, I see no problem with what you are doing.

Jodi - posted on 08/01/2009

I always let mine taste anything and everything once I had done the basic introduction to solids. They always showed interest in what was on my plate, so I'd let them have a taste. I personally believe that allowing them to try new tastes develops their taste buds and they are less fussy eaters as they get older. My kids (now 12 and 4), are really great eaters and will now eat almost anything put in front of them, right from a mild chilli sauce to a mild curry. There are some things they don't like, but they will always try something new without a struggle.

Gayla - posted on 08/01/2009

both of my boys were eating or tasting ,should i say, at 3 days old. my mother in law says what did they do before there was store bought baby food???

Shauna - posted on 08/01/2009

My son is a yr old now, but i never really gave him anythign aside from baby food up until he was like 6months old. But i don't think its bad to let them taste things when they are younger, as long as its in small amounts. But my son.. after he hit 6months he was trying everything, Llike you i just wanted to see how he reaccted to different things. I haven't found one thing he will not eat to this day!

Tricia - posted on 08/01/2009

I think it's fine to let them try new foods. Just give some time in between new foods when they are very young to make sure they are not allergic. I let my son try anything we were eating and now at 6 years old he loves veggies as much as sweets.

Stina - posted on 07/31/2009

LOL Judy- the raisins a 'choking hazard' Once my kids were of the age where they could have nuts, I'd let them eat them at church and a few of the older ladies would gawk and say "Oh won't she choke on that?" Same with the grapes I would bite in half before giving my toddler.

Jessica - posted on 07/31/2009

alisha it is botulism, and it is severe in infants.

Stina - posted on 07/31/2009

With children, I don't worry so much about them indulging in foods that aren't as good for them when they are older if I don't let them have them when they are younger. I figure- if I teach them young to enjoy good for you foods thier grownup diet will be more likely to consist mainly of those foods.



That said- I don't let my kids have sweets before the first birthday (of course a well intending lady at church gave my dd a tast of chocolate cake when she was only 9 months and afterward asked if that was ok.) and I delayed french fries for quite a while- even now when we get burgers, they get the apple dippers or whatever the alternate side is. When we do have french fries- usually daddies- they have to eat bites of burger in order to get a fry or two... And every now and then, they even get chips and soda- it's just an occasional thing not a regular thing they get to eat.

basically, when they are first learning to eat solids, I limit their choices to healthy things... including items off my plate if they want and then from there, they eat the same diet I do- wich is overall pretty healthy with some indulgences.

Alisha - posted on 07/31/2009

yes, when my son was a baby I wouldnt let him eat anything lol, that was 13 years ago! My second who is now 8 tried lots of things. My only suggestion, no honey and no peanuts. Those two foods cause something in infants but I dont know how to spell it sorry, it starts with a B, and it is something like botulism, anything else should be fine. Olives really??? My 8 year old loves olives lol, that is so funny!!!

Christina - posted on 07/31/2009

I was also picky with what I gave my oldest son being that I was a first time mom and I thought I was gonna kill him letting him try things without talking to the doc first. It was so aweful now that I think about it. With my second son and third I let them taste everything they wanted taste within reason. If its given in small amounts so we can watch for allergys than there is nothing wrong with it. My kids all survived.

Jude - posted on 07/31/2009

I was only super-careful about foods that are common allergy foods, b/c allergies run in both sides of our family.

Both my kids are lactose intolerant, but they still get dairy occasionally, because their reactions aren't bad, if it's just a little dairy. They get ice cream on special occasions, that sort of thing.

I don't think it's wrong at all to let them try foods; I think that a lot of foods that are "condemned" are for other reasons. Take raisins, for instance. I had a nurse really lambast me for giving my toddler raisins, because they're a choking hazard. Well, I was right there with the boy the whole time, and I wasn't letting him stuff his mouth full of them. Just be cautious when they're trying new foods or small foods, and you'll be fine.

Jessica - posted on 07/31/2009

My kids were completely on table foods by a year each. I teach them portion control but I dont tell them they cant have food, unless they want an oreo at bedtime! My one year old loves all food, she had her first ice cream cone at 6 months, it was summer time and it was hot. I feel you should give your kids what you want to give them and not care about what anyone else thinks about the food. Especially when they are probably eating the same foods you are giving your child.

Jessica - posted on 07/31/2009

My son is lactose intolerant so he is limited to what he can eat. B/C of his lactose intolerance my son will eat veggies and fruits sometimes he will even ask for them at snack time). There are times he'd rather have strawberries or blueberries as a snack over junk food. I let my son try everything that will not upset his belly or upset his bowels. I find that it helps to know what they do and don't like. As long as your child is getting the nutrients he needs to be healthy I don't see the problem with it. I feel it's okay to let our kids enjoy junk food but in proportions and as long as you teach them not to go overboard with them.

Rebecca - posted on 07/31/2009

I let mine try anything - I just control the amount they consume, as you seem to too. And now they are older we talk about "healthy" foods and "sometimes" foods, and they know some foods help them grow and be healthy, and others aren't so good for us but we eat little bits coz it tastes nice. My kids are fabulous eaters - just as likely to beg for strawberries or mandarines at the supermarket as they are chocolate or toys.



I agree - if we make too big a deal of some foods, then kids "rebel" later and it can create exactly the problem we want to avoid.



The only things I did hold back on when they were really little were the things recommended to avoid for health reasons - like nuts and honey. They had these later and were fine.

Dawn - posted on 07/31/2009

Yup same here. Love the looks when they try something new. Its the only time I can get my kids to eat green beans as if they are going out of style.

Sharon - posted on 07/31/2009

I did that too. Let them try virtually anything they were curious in.