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Weaning

Find weaning advice from other Mumsnetters on our Weaning forum. Use our child development calendar for more information.

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Original poster

new flavours from 4 months?

28 replies

mummycuisine · 13/08/2018 11:22

Hello mums
I read an article (yes I had time, for once ha ha!) that said the best time to introduce new flavours/spices etc is between 4 and 6 months as any time after that babies have already developed the ability to reject foods apparently, I feel a bit sceptical about this... are there any of you that have added some different flavourings and spices as early as this? And what ones seemed to be ok?

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 13/08/2018 11:49

Considering you're not supposed to start solids until 6 months then I don't entirely believe that

Original poster

mummycuisine · 13/08/2018 11:57

It is just a guideline given but each baby is different and lots of mums start weaning from at least 5 months, google it

OP posts:

dementedpixie · 13/08/2018 12:05

I don't need to Google it thanks, my 2 are past that stage. First one weaned at 17 weeks (guideline at the time) and second at 21 weeks. In hindsight it was too early for dd and just about right for ds.

I don't think the window of opportunity closes at such an early age. My dd started getting more adventurous after age 10ish and ds is starting to try more things again and he is 11. They go through phases of liking/not liking foods so I personally don't believe giving foods so early makes any difference at all

Original poster

mummycuisine · 13/08/2018 12:19

Not saying the window of opportunity is closed, just an interesting article said they're more likely to have a broader variety of liked flavours at 6 months onwards when experimenting with more flavours in the early stages of weaning -

Apparently Indian/Asian people tend to add spices very early (watered down) to introduce and get their babies used to it early... I wondered if there are any other mums that HAVE tried this?

OP posts:

INeedNewShoes · 13/08/2018 12:22

DD started weaning at 5.5m with a very slow start of just single pureed veg and occasional porridge (made with oats not baby 'porridge'). I would say we didn't get adventurous until around 9m. She is now 15m and the only thing she won't eat is beetroot.

She has garlic, chillies, turmeric etc. perfectly happily.

mindutopia · 14/08/2018 14:24

Yes, I have read that, but I think tastes are one thing, but the experience of eating is another. Surely, before 6 months most babies would have to eat puree. There are few babies sitting up well enough for normal food. I'd rather mine have the experience of sitting down to a meal, eating real food, playing and exploring with their hands than getting a few extra tastes of pureed kale. Certainly in my personal experience it hasn't held mine back. My first is 5 now and didn't start until she was 6 months and is a ridiculously adventurous eater. She eats things even our adult friends and family wouldn't touch.

enbh · 14/08/2018 16:31

I'm quite interested in this, my DD is 5 months Sunday, but she's on the 95th centile, she's a big baby and I wonder if she would benefit from weaning a bit earlier.

She looks very interested in food!

Original poster

mummycuisine · 16/08/2018 09:16

Would adding some spices and herbs into their purees/snacks hurt them though? I think it would help it be a more interesting process for us mums where we can be more experimental (I know it would for me anyway )
I'd definitely buy a snack product like puffs or rice cakes that had more interesting flavours, wouldn't you?

OP posts:

honeysucklejasmine · 16/08/2018 09:18

Where was this article? Sounds like a pile of bollocks to me.

Waitingonasmiley42 · 16/08/2018 09:21

You sound like you are doing market research for a new product you want to launch...

Original poster

mummycuisine · 16/08/2018 09:23

I'm talking about home cooking and adding it into what I cook for my children, how is that 'Market Research' ?
It's something I want to do but wanted other mums opinions on

OP posts:

honeysucklejasmine · 16/08/2018 09:23

Very true, Waiting. I wouldn't by puffs and such at all, OP, because they are a giant waste of money. Just give them actual food, from 6 months as current guidelines state, unless advised differently by a doctor.

WooYa · 16/08/2018 09:23

I was just about to write that smiley

SoyDora · 16/08/2018 09:27

I introduced all sorts of different flavours/spices etc from the day I started weaning (at 6 months). As we waited until 6 months we didn’t have to bother with purées etc, we went straight for ‘real’ food that they fed themselves.
Both great eaters now (4 and 3). They had chicken laksa for dinner last night.

Original poster

mummycuisine · 16/08/2018 09:27

Oh definitely, I'm all for home cooking as much as possible! Sometimes it's nice to have a snack to take on-the-go with you if you're popping out that isn't just a pea flavoured puff haha, but maybe that's because I always pinch one or two as well

OP posts:

schooltripwoes · 16/08/2018 09:27

I weaned my DC at 6 months as per guidelines. We followed baby-led weaning so they are what we ate from the start. We don't eat very spicy food but they did have mild curries / chilli etc. They are older now, eat pretty much anything and always have done.
I did breastfeed though so maybe they were exposed to different tastes from birth?

SoyDora · 16/08/2018 09:28

Oh and I didn’t buy puffs etc aimed at babies (waste of money and very little nutrition). I just fed them actual food!

eeanne · 16/08/2018 09:33

Some flavours are transmitted through breastmilk, so if the baby is breastfed they will already be familiar with some tastes that way. Are you getting this confused with an idea of actually giving spices to a 4 month old directly?

well.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/03/28/how-breast-feeding-can-broaden-a-childs-diet/

Original poster

mummycuisine · 16/08/2018 09:39

This was the article I read...

www.telegraph.co.uk/news/health/news/8580454/Ignore-official-weaning-guidelines-says-Annabel-Karmel.html

OP posts:

SoyDora · 16/08/2018 09:42

Annabel Karmel has basically made her living from advising parents to ignore official, research based weaning guidelines. Her book (basically all spoon fed purées) would be obsolete if everyone followed the 6 month guidelines.

eeanne · 16/08/2018 09:47

Wow she'll say anything to sell more books! Weaning guidelines have nothing to do with sterilisation of bottles - babies digestive systems aren't capable of handling solids early and some have the tongue thrust instinct so they push food out of their mouths until 4/5 months at least.

I'm going to avoid her now actually...pathetic.

SoyDora · 16/08/2018 09:54

Of course she knows better than the WHO .

dementedpixie · 16/08/2018 11:34

She just wants to sell more books and weaning equipment! That article is from 2011 btw and weaning age hasn't changed from 6 months.

dementedpixie · 16/08/2018 11:37

P.s. The article also didn't say to introduce spices from 4 months but from 6 months with simple foods given from 4 months. Weaning is messy, I'd delay until closer to 6 months

sar302 · 16/08/2018 11:51

Most baby's love spices and herbs - they're a good alternative to flavouring with salt too. I've not done spicy though - I don't like it, no idea how my baby would! But I should imagine that babies born into cultures where spicy food is prevalent would handle it ok.

We started at 6 months however, so no idea about the 4-6 month period.

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