Spicy food?

[andpropersteel]

Not quite at the weaning stage yet but did it ok for babies to try food with spices? We're planning on BLW so after finger foods he'll just have what we're having, however as a family we love spicy food and eat it a lot. I don't want to hurt his tummy though, obviously if there are genuine reasons not to.

I'm breastfeeding and I eat loads of spicy meals (and jalapeños on their own as a snack ) so I assume some of the flavours will be coming through in my milk in preparation?

Obviously I'd be baby led and take it really slowly rather than shoving a load of chilli at him .

My thinking is that children from (for example) Indian families would try spices from an early age? Any one out there that could advise me?

If it's relevant my favourite foods when weaning was apparently curry and chilli con carne.

I'd just start off with light spices and gradually add more. I've never cooked a sperate meal in my life for my DD. So if I was having a spicy chilli, I'd just add some sour cream to hers. She's now 2 and will eat spicier food than me!

Oh that last sentence in the first paragraph reads terribly! It was meant to say "I don't want to risk hurting his tummy, obviously I won't give him spicy foods if there are genuine reasons not to"

Don't give them a vindaloo to start with!

I'd say the risk is burning their palate

YoScience thanks for your reply! Good to hear that, I was thinking that I could just add yogurt/cream to cool it off a bit. She sounds fab

We used to give ours chilli/Thai geeen curry etc from weaning. I had a hand grinder which I would put a couple of spoons into and mash up, would then add lots of sour cream/ coconut milk etc to lessen the heat, would then add extra spice to ours after I had taken the babies out.

I used to make a curry or chilli, add about half the spices, take out DS's portion then add the rest of the spices to ours.

His was then mixed with coconut milk, cream or yoghurt, or a completely mushed/blended avocado is a good one to cool down chilli.

DS used to wolf down a fruity chicken korma, he loves spicy food now and his preferences are getting hotter and hotter.

One thing I would say is if they are eating something spicy, make sure you're ready to grab their hands quickly if go to rub their eyes! My little one always got tired in her high chair and would start to rub her eyes. She did this once after eating jalapeño stuffed olives and it went pleasant.