Why Not to Introduce Cereal First: Part 2

by Joanie

The primary reason pediatricians recommend cereal first when introducing baby to solids is to reduce the development of food allergies.  But does this really help?  Or are we continuing to follow this advice with no evidence to back it up?

Here’s what Dr. Greene has to say about this subject:

Get ready for some surprising recommendations. Eczema, asthma, and food allergies are all on the rise in children, each having more than doubled in the last several decades. This rapid increase has lead to many differing recommendations on the timing and selection of foods offered to babies, to err on the side of caution before scientific studies were completed. A January 2008 evidence-based policy from the American Academy of Pediatrics turns some of this conventional wisdom on its head. For preventing allergies, when is it best to start solids for babies? Previously, it was recommended to delay solids until 6 months if possible, and to limit the choices to things like rice cereal, oatmeal, or barley if they must be started sooner. The new policy reports that solids should not be started before 4 to 6 months, but that there is no convincing evidence that delaying any solids beyond this period helps to prevent allergies. In fact, with some foods, starting on the earlier side may even help. What about highly allergic foods such as eggs, peanuts, milk, or fish? The previous guidelines were that in allergic families, whole cow milk should be delayed until 12 months of age; eggs until 2 years; and nuts, peanuts, and fish until age 3. The new guidelines say that there is no convincing evidence that delaying even eggs (yolks or whites), fish, milk, nuts, and peanuts beyond 6 months prevents allergies!

By taking away the fear of developing food allergies, parents are enabled to make the introduction to solids much more enjoyable. Why not give baby the opportunity to start making his food memories with fresh, organic, ripe real foods in all their glory?

>> Read more of Dr. Greene’s insight on food allergies in infants here.

>> Read “Why Not to Introduce Cereal First: Part One” here.

P.S.  We’re gearing up to teach you exactly how to introduce solids using our baby-led feeding concept – so get ready for  loads of great articles, recipes, tutorials and videos :)

Tagged as: Baby Led Feeding, Baby Led Weaning, Dr. Greene, Food Allergies in Infant, Infant Feeding, Introducing Solids, Real Food, Starting Solids with Cereal, Whole Foods

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  • http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com Maggie

    Here’s more fuel for the fire :)
    “For most babies it does not matter what the first solid foods are. By tradition, single-grain cereals are usually introduced first. However, there is no medical evidence that introducing solid foods in any particular order has an advantage for your baby.” Source: 09/2008 – Starting Solid Foods (Copyright © 2008 American Academy of Pediatrics)

    “Rice cereal has traditionally been the first complementary food given to American infants, but “Complementary foods introduced to infants should be based on their nutrient requirements and the nutrient density of foods, not on traditional practices that have no scientific basis,” Dr. Greer [Frank Greer, American Academy of Pediatrics's Committee on Nutrition] said in an interview.” Read Rice Cereal Can Wait (http://www.pediatricnews.com/article/S0031-398X(09)70296-6/fulltext) to learn about the new thinking from the AAP.

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