introducing food to babies

[Guest guest]

I recently read a book called " Childbirth Wisdom " which was a study of

traditional childbearing/rearing practices in a variety of indigenous cultures

around the world.  The book reported that most cultures start introducing solids

around 6 months.  The book also reported, however, that this was the most

dangerous time health wise for babies, and that more babies died during the

transition period between mom's milk and solid foods than died at childbirth.  I

found this to be rather fascinating, it's not what we are traditionally taught

in the birthing professions about " dangers to babies in the past. "   The book

didn't really explain why this trasition was so perilous to babies- if it was

from bacteria in the food, lack of nutrition or what.  

I also lived with a (rather traditional) arabic family when I had my first

baby.  From the time of about 4 months on at family dinners older family members

would chew small bits of their food (rice, meat stews, etc) and place them in my

sons mouth.  He never had any adverse effects from this, and as far as I know

doesn't have any food allergies.

Just some food for thought on the whole " when do you give gluten to babies "

debate.

Meg N

Subject: Re: Re: Gluten Conference

To: trad-foods-MN

Date: Saturday, December 6, 2008, 5:22 PM

> ----- Original Message -----

> From: " Meg Novak " <megdoulayahoo (DOT) com>

>

> I also am interested in this.  I have a two month old that I am not

> planning giving anythinf but breastmilk until he is 6 months at the

> earliest, which is the standard recommendation from the World

> Health Organization, as well as most breast feeding organizations. 

> Anybody find anymore info on this?

No more information, but definitely a thought. Whenever I hear some " new "

information, I evaluate it in the light of human history. I pretty much ignore

the last hundred years as our foods have been so corrupted.

In history, there are some people who believe that humans didn't eat grains

until relatively recently (by which they mean within the last several thousand

years). I don't want to get into that debate, so for the purpose of this

question, I will ignore the disputed period of history. The period of history

when humans have consumed grains and up until food manufacturers began

distorting our food is the time period I would look at.

When did human babies begin to eat foods other than breastmilk and what did they

eat? I think the answers to those questions are important.

Terri

--

Be Yourself @ mail.com!

Choose From 200+ Email Addresses

Get a Free Account at www.mail.com

[Guest guest]

On Sunday 07 December 2008 08:53:20 pm trad-foods-MN wrote:

> I also lived with a (rather traditional) arabic family when I had my first

> baby.  From the time of about 4 months on at family dinners older family

> members would chew small bits of their food (rice, meat stews, etc) and

> place them in my sons mouth.  He never had any adverse effects from this,

> and as far as I know doesn't have any food allergies.

> Just some food for thought on the whole " when do you give gluten to babies "

> debate.

> Meg N

>

> I lived in Italy for 10 years, and there they prepare broth with tiny pasta

> for infants, stir in a large amount of olive oil and parmesan cheese, and

> as soon as the baby is willing to eat it, they feed it this as well as the

> breast milk.  I also saw grandparents chewing up meat for infants,

> Janette

I wonder if the food being mixed with some of Mom/Dad's saliva plays a role in

this? Because the adult's saliva would have some enzymes appropriate for

digesting that particular food?

This means that the " experts " really know very little about feeding babies and

we've been listening to them for far too long!

God bless,

, the lady in purple, in Oster MN

Isaiah 26:3

No God, no peace; Know God, know peace.

Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.

( Henry)

[Guest guest]

On Sunday 07 December 2008 08:53:20 pm trad-foods-MN wrote:

> I also saw grandparents chewing up meat for infants, and old

> people and babies also drink a kind of " beef tea " made from horsemeat,

> which is very lean.  I never encountered anyone with gluten intolerance, or

> any other eating problem.

> Janette

One other comment on this that I thought of just after pushing send:

I have a 17 month old and I've been holding off introducing grains and dairy to

her because of problems with these with some of my older kids. Is it too late

to start doing this now?

God bless,

, the lady in purple, in Oster MN

Isaiah 26:3

No God, no peace; Know God, know peace.

Peace is such a precious jewel that I would give anything for it but truth.

( Henry)