Wholemeal foods

[PigeonPie]

I know I read somewhere that we shouldn't give babies wholemeal foods, but I'm not sure where I read it, and at what age we are able to give them. I think it's because babies can't absorb the vitamins etc from wholemeal produce but does anyone else have a clue about this?

Not sure, but Ive given both my babies (dd 20 months, ds 6.5 months) wholemeal bread from 6 months and they are doing beautifully!

I thought it was because it accelerated passage through the gut and gave them last chane to absorb the nutrients

i've read that too, somewhere, i'd be very interested to know the answer as well. should we be giving them wholemeal pasta, you know, to curb the insulin rush, or white pasta to absorb more vitamin c? cheers

Oh right, didn't know that but my 2 babies are fine!! Also found when weaning pooping was a little difficult for them so the fibre in wholemeal helped, my hv said it fine too??

Hmm, I think a very high-fibre diet is a bit much for a newly weaned baby, but we don't really ever have white stuff in the house, so my kids only ever had brown everything. (Maybe a slow introduction to solids avoids big problems this way?)

It doesn't seem to have done them any harm. Possibly slightly looser bowel movements than they would have on white carbs?

I insist on wholemeal products for the kids because children learn their food preferences very young. And I don't want them growing up prefering what I term "manky white bread". Towhich dd replied one morning from the table "but I like manky bread". So, it seems I haven't quite succeeded. But, I'm trying. There was a thread on here a while ago about a HV who advised not to give wholemeal. I personally put it on the list of stupid things health visitors say and do. I think it makes as mush sense as froage frais as a good calcium source for 4 month old babies.

Just wanted to add that I also read wholemeal foods should not be used for babies, and I checked it with a nutritionalist who told me that this is because, like suzywong says there's a possibility that they don't get as much nutritional value. She said that it is only an issue if the baby is lacking nutrition, i.e. not putting on enough weight, otherwise wholemeal stuff is fine.

Thanks LittleMonkeysMum I was only thinking this morning that I might bump this one for those who have just come back from their hols!

I was wondering about this too. I read somewhere that they shouldn't be given stuff with added fibre eg All bran (quite apart from the salt content!) but bread/pasta was ok. I make my own bread (machine!) and do 50/50 white/wholemeal because I wasn't sure.

Mawbroon I do the 50/50 wholemeal loaf too for DS, but mainly cos you don't need vit C powder too! I also only put in half a teaspoon of salt rather than the whole one, then when it's cooked and cooled I slice and freeze it - lasts much longer that way!

Does it turn out ok with half the salt Pigeonpie? I have reduced the salt, but not as much as that because I read in the manual about what the salt does (can't remember now) and how it won't do it if you don't use just the right amount. Why don't you want to use vit c powder? I got some in Holland and Barrat, but it is quite expensive, but saying that, it would make a zillion loaves. I slice and freeze mine too, unless we have a crowd over in which case it all disappears.

It turns out fine with only half the salt - I did it cos my Pa often forgets to put it in his and it's fine! I only don't want to use vit c powder cos I can't be bothered to go and get some - really ought to get organised - but the 50/50 seems fine.

I like the 50/50 a lot. I will make the next one with less salt, or maybe none if I'm feeling daring. Thanks for the tip.

I think it is bollocks to give processed stuff to babies in preference to the real thing. Ds only had wholemeal bread, brown rice etc and he has never had any problems that I am aware of. (his poos are fairly appalling though )

Mmmm. I had to reduce the amount of fibre in ds's diet when he was 4. He eats LOADS of fruit and veg (not boasting, dd only eats carrots and sweetcorn)and with wholemeal stuff as well he was being scoured. It was only for a few months, and then I gradually put back the wholemeal bread and it was OK. But he still has white rice and pasta. Brown rice does NOT agree with him.

I do have to limit him on fruit, in truth. Very handy when he was going through a phase of 'holding on' to his poos, though. "Oh, yes, more fruit, why help yourself "

scoured... becky?

what/where was being scoured?

I've read that in the early stages of weaning too much wholemeal per day can bulk them up, and should be left until about 7 months. It was also recommended to me to give toasted wholemeal bread because it breaks up in the mouth, unlike white bread that actually sticks to the roof of the mouth (can be a problem if baby can't move food around yet).

I'm with NotquiteCockney.

A long while back around when he was 1, my DS used to have awful diarrhea. He was pooing about 10 times a day and his nappy rash was awful. We kept going back to the doctors and they kept saying various things then on the 3rd or 4th visit, a doctor told me about a condition called toddler diarrhea. She asked me if I gave wholemeal foods and I told her that I only give him wholemeal or brown bread, brown rice etc. She asked me to try cutting these out. I also cut Shreddies out. The problem (which had been going on months) was solved within 24 hours.

Sorry. What I meant was, he had frequent and overwhelming urges to poo, and when he did they were very loose. His gut was in overdrive and it was deeply embarassing for him. He had started school, and couldn't cope with getting to the loo on time.

oh, the poor poppet, there's nothing worse, is there? good that you got it sorted.