Organix carrot stix etc say from 7 months, why?

[babycat]

My daughter is 23 weeks. I am going to start feeding her solids. Want to avoid purees and do the baby-led weaning kind of idea. Can I give her things like these organix carrot stix occasionally from the start, in addition to a predominantly home prepared diet, even though they say from 7 months on the packet?

Yes, you can. Most of the suggestions on the packets are garbage. The cereal bars say from 12 months, but my dd (and many others that I know) was eating them from about 8. Don't even get me started on the ones that say from 4 months !

Thanks CSWS. I presume the manufacturers are just protecting themselves from a lawsuit in case a baby chokes on them and there is nothing in them that would harm a 6 month old. I just need some reassurance from others. I'm a first time mum and I'm scared of doing anything wrong.

i didn't read the packet till after, i'd fed ds2... he was 6 months when he was chomping on the rice cakes!

BLW all well and good, but personally i would not give my baby what are basically crisps (just posh expensive ones) at this age. Would you give her low salt monster munch if such a thing existed because that is basically what these are??

Cant see how these can possibly be better or more nutritious than pureed carrot.

Please dont be sucked in by the 'organic' hype.

thehairybabysmum I wouldn't go so far as to say that they were like salt free monster munch I agree that a carrot stick would be more nutritious but really, what is wrong with the carrot/corn snacks? There are no artificial ingredients. My DS loves them and I don't have a problem with them.

OP - the reason they say 7 months is that They Are In Charge (Ignore all of the guidelines on that kind of food, it is all back-covering and don't get me started on the from 4 months ones..)

But they are not that disimilar...hence i say dont believe the spin!! They are just posh crisps...heres the ingredients..

Organic Corn (66%), Organic Sunflower Oil (13%), Organic Carrot Powder (12%), Organic Potato Powder (6%), Organic Onion Powder (less than 1%), Organic Coriander Leaf (less than 1%), *Sea Salt (less than 1%)

and this is the ingredients for monster munch

Maize, sunflower oil (25%) , roast beef flavour [wheat rusk, hydrolysed soya protein, lactose (from milk), flavourings, flavour enhancers (monosodium glutamate, disodium 5'-ribonucleotide), colour (ammonia caramel)] , salt, wheat flour.

Yes the monster munch has the delightful flavourings added and more oil but they are both basically a puffed corn product.

Im not saying dont feed them to children im just saying be aware that you are giving your children crisps. Personally wouldnt start my baby on a weaning diet
that included crisps...would see them as a treat for when they are bigger. If you take out the flavouring element then the ingredients of MMunch are Maize, sunflower oil (25%) , salt, wheat flour. So actually v. similar.

If you want to do finger foods only then a stick of actual carrot would be best, but
i strongle believe that pureed carrot (or any veg) is 100 times better than this as a finger food.

personally i've shied away from giving dd crisps, just because her father was pretty much addicted to them when i met him so i think if she had some we'd never hear the end of it.
those packs are very expensive as well, i think,, so i just stuck with bits of fruit and veg from the beginning. organix moon biscuits are good, though, i think, just cos they fit well into a tupperware for your handbag. good luck!

sorry meant to say i agree with Hairybabysmum... they are really just crisps imo.

Ah it's interesting to compare the ingredients! I'm still happy for DS to have them because as I said, there is nothing in them that I wouldn't like him to have and the crisp-like-ness isn't apparent to him (or me) Whereas I wouldn't give DS biscuits of any kind as I am more worried about him developing a sweet tooth. Like me. Ahem.

Sorry Im not a food nazi (honest) its just the whole marketing implication that these type of products are somehow wholesome or 'healthy' really winds me up (cant you just tell).

The biscuits are the same...they say no junk and "no sneaky sugar" but they contain 22% concentrated grape juice, which is a type of...SUGAR!!! And they charge you twice as much for the priveledge plus they are marketed as baby foods.

Again im not anti-biscuit as a treat just dont think that moon biscuits are any better then a rich tea or the like.

So yes feed you babies these foods as long as you are aware they are crisps and biscuits!!!

Sorry rant over...i realise i sound unhinged but for some reason this really gets me...i'm usually a v. moderate poster honest

I know what you mean, the marketing is annoying.

Thanks everyone . I suppose they are like crisps and I don't want to instil any bad habits from a young age. She is already very interested when Mummy is eating a packet of Quavers so might have to stop doing that in front of her once I start feeding her . I think she likes the noise the packet makes and the noise of crunching the crisps. What are the Moon biscuits like? Do they have loads of sugar in them?

Cross posts. You're all quicker at typing than me!

Dial-up connection not helpful either for Mumsnet.

22% (as conc. grape juice)...hence they are v. yummy.

Personally i didnt give my ds crisps/chocolate/biscuits when i was first weaning but now he is older he has them as a snack sometimes...he loves rich tea fingers though so luckily he has cheap tastes!

Sorry for ranting on your thread babycat , but for now i would stick with steamed carrot sticks from real carrots.

the reason the moon biscuits are good when they're starting off BLWing is that the shape is really easy to grip. and the other reason is that i don't really like them whereas Rich Teas would be inhaled in five secs flat.
i don't know how sweet they are, they are biscuits, they do contain sugar, but they're more like moon-shaped shortcakes than anything else. a pack lasts for ages here, she doesn't get them every day but they're a nice treat and handy for emergencies.

good plan buying biscuits for baby you're not so keen on yourself!!

oh yes...

the carrot crunchy sticks from 7 months have the following ingredients:

Organic Corn (72%), Organic Carrot Powder (14%), Organic Sunflower Oil (13%), Thiamin (less than 1%)

The ingredients given below are for the carrot stix and they are for 1 yr plus as they contain salt - the 7 month ones have no added salt.

I use them for ds as a snack and he only has a couple at a time. The sweetcorn rings are also quite good and they have no added salt either.

I got a packet of these recently and find that they make my DS puke. Nice orange puke too. Also suspect that there's very little substance to them so not much point in him eating them.

I like monster munch!
Ds loves the organix carrot sticks too, and since they are natural ingredients I don't see the problem. He IS going to eat crisps at some point in his childhood, and if these are just a healthy version WHO CARES?! At least they aren't full of sugar, colourings etc.

I gave my 6mo old those carrot stix thingys today and he loved them. I think that corn, carrot, oil and thiamin are perfectly good foods to give to him, and the puffed up shape is perfect for him to hold. I think he likes the feeling on his gums - although i may be over interpreting there!! I tried mashed carrot too, but it wasnt a success as he wanted to feed himself. He was very angry that i only allowed him two stix!

I gave my DD this organix snacks as they have helped her learn how to hold food and feed herself. The home-cooled veggies always slipped of her fingers when she was learning.

there was no way ds was going to eat carrot off his own back - the only veg he's shown any remote interest in is broccoli, which gave him a really poorly tummy! he much prefers slices of melon/apple/peach etc, so i tend to give him toast/Hipp biscotti things or the carrot sticks for savoury options! oh, and rice cakes with avocado on.

i do agree with hairybaby's mum though - the marketing implication irritates me. it's like they're saying "It's ok, they're organic, they're healthy!"