1) We try to avoid refined, over-processed foods in our own diet - why would that be the first introduction of food to our baby? Gerber rice cereal ingredients:
2) Why supplement nutrition, instead of getting it through diet/milk? Most of the ingredients above are supplements. The main one being iron (and the main selling point). Here's a list of iron-rich foods I use when building meal plans (more baby food recipes to come). Plus, breast milk is a super food - especially when the momma is taking her own vitamins!
3) It was important for us that being tired was his sleep queue, not a full tummy. Often rice cereal is used before bedtime as a 'filler' so the baby will go to sleep (not a proven theory). I read Baby Wise, don't agree with the scheduling of the baby, but I do like the concept of not training/ soothing/ queueing babies using food.
4) Rice cereal (or any other food supplement) often takes the place of breast milk - nature's super food.
5) Allergies & Open Gut - My biggest fear is I'll pass along my allergies to the baby. I'll let someone more able explain the concept of an 'open gut':
From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an “open gut.”6) Arsenic levels from rice are much higher than people would expect. This is similar to the issue with Apple juice (which is why we'll go 100% organic when the time for juice comes). Article from Consumer Reports here. No, it's not 'keel over dead' levels, but prolonged exposure certainly poses health risks.This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream.This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby’s bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins fromother foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby’s first 4-6 months, while the gut is still “open,” antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby’s digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also. FROM HERE
7) Feeding is much easier when the baby wants it. The babe was super curious every time we would put something into our mouths. He wanted everything on our plate. He had good head control and was able to sit himself - all sure signs he wanted the food to go into his mouth!
8) Gas/Constipation - it takes time for a baby's insides to develop. There aren't the proper enzymes to digest food for a few months.
I will say that all of these are taking into consideration that I was breastfeeding. Certainly some of the conversation would be different if that weren't the case.
I know this is a long post, but I wanted to give everyone something to think about. As I said before, millions of babies started with rice cereal and turned out just fine. On the other side of the coin, millions of babies have been born in countries that don't hop on rice cereal immediately (or in the years before rice cereal) and have also turned out fine. There is no right/wrong - as long as you make an informed decision. Doing something 'because that's what everyone does' is the wrong decision.
If you've read this far you're probably a parent or soon-to-be parent, so, YEAH!!! If not... wow, you need a hobby, but glad you're reading ;)
Good on you if you're a rice cereal warrior - you won't be getting a side eye from me. Every baby is a different adventure.
What non-mainstream decisions have you made? What was your baby's first food?
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