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For baby, 'bland' no longer the final word

Ditch the rice cereal and mashed peas, and make way for enchiladas, curry and even - gasp! - hot peppers.

It's time to discard everything you know about feeding babies. It turns out most advice parents get about weaning infants onto solid foods, even from pediatricians, is more myth than science.

That's right, rice cereal may not be the best first food. Peanut butter doesn't have to wait until after the first birthday. Offering fruits before vegetables won't breed a sweet tooth. And strong spices? Bring 'em on.

"There's a bunch of mythology out there about this," says Dr. David Bergman, a Stanford University pediatrics professor. "There's not much evidence to support any particular way of doing things."

Most parents are told to start rice cereal at 6 months, then slowly progress to simple vegetables, mild fruits and pasta and meat. Ethnic foods and spices are mostly ignored by the guidelines.

Parents elsewhere in the world certainly take a more freewheeling approach, often starting babies on heartier, more flavorful fare - from meats in African countries to fish and radishes in Japan and artichokes and tomatoes in France.

The difference is cultural, not scientific, says Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, member of the American Academy of Pediatrics' nutrition committee.

In a review of the research, Nancy Butte, a pediatrics professor at Baylor College of Medicine, found many strongly held assumptions have little scientific basis.

Take rice cereal, for example. Under conventional American wisdom, it's the best first food. But Butte says iron-rich meat - often one of the last foods American parents introduce - would be a better choice.

Dr. David Ludwig of Children's Hospital Boston, a specialist in pediatric nutrition, says some studies suggest rice and other highly processed grain cereals actually could be among the worst foods.

"These foods are in a certain sense no different from adding sugar to formula. They digest very rapidly in the body into sugar, raising blood sugar and insulin levels" and could contribute to later problems, including obesity, he says.

Bhatia says parents should view this as a chance to encourage children to embrace healthy eating habits and introduce them to their culture and heritage.

"So you eat a lot of curry," he says, "try Junior on a mild curry."

BABY FOOD TIPS

Commonsense rules to follow:

--Solid foods should not be introduced before 4 months and most doctors suggest waiting until 6 months.

--If your family has a history of food allergies, proceed cautiously under a doctor's guidance and avoid allergenic foods, such as peanuts and certain seafood.

--Offer only nutritious foods, such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains. Infants have no room in their diets for empty calories.

--Make sure the texture of the food doesn't present a choking hazard.

--Introduce only one new food at a time and watch for signs of allergies or stomach upset. Most doctors suggest waiting a few days between each new food, but there is no minimum waiting period.

--Try and try again. It can take 10 or more attempts for children to accept new foods. An initial rejection, especially of healthy foods, shouldn't be taken as a sign that a child doesn't like something.

[Last modified October 10, 2005, 04:42:44]