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Weaning

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

Original poster

Oh I can't keep up with changing guidelines but out of interest what's this about protein under 8 months?

20 replies

Thomcat · 29/04/2008 23:18

I've gave my 6 - 7 month old chicken without any thought at all.

Was told yesterday that they shouldn't be having protein.

Right or wrong.

Just interested.

OP posts:
mylovelymonster · 29/04/2008 23:20

What? Where on earth did you hear that? Sounds like bunkum, if you'll pardon my french.

zippitippitoes · 29/04/2008 23:21

it cant be right milk has protein in

MrsJohnCusack · 29/04/2008 23:22

I haven't heard that?
i shouldn't think it will have hurt her, especially with all that breastfeeding! am pretty sure DS scarfed down some protein between 6-8 months

Original poster
Thomcat · 29/04/2008 23:25

Thought so.

A friend said 'oh are you giving her chicken already?' type comment and I thought 'aye?????????????'.

OP posts:
MrsThierryHenry · 29/04/2008 23:28

Am currently listening to a Woman's Hour article from today about feeding under 5's. I don't know why, there's so much conflicting advice it's impossible to know what to do.

As regards weaning and protein, here's what I've heard (more conflicting advice!):

  1. Vegetable protein (beans and pulses) are fine from 6 months.
  2. Some people avoid all animal proteins until 1 yr - something to do with babies' ability to digest
  3. Fish is a good, easy food to digest and can be introduced before 9 mo (canned fish in oil is best - it's either bone-free or the bones are as soft as the flesh)
  4. Eggs are difficult to digest before 10 mos (some say 12 mos)

I got so fed up with people who tried to make me feel guilty for not doing things the way that they did. At the end of the day you have to make your own choices, I'm afraid. If you're really worried perhaps you should avoid meat proteins until your dc is a bit older. I gave my ds fish from 7 mos and all other meats from about 10 mos. Other cultures give meat protein from 4 months.

I'm sure you won't harm your bambino, but it is hard to decide what to do. Good luck.

Original poster
Thomcat · 29/04/2008 23:33

Oh well - She's been sucking on and eating smoked mackeral fillets from 6.5 months and had some of DD2's boiled egg today and is 7 montghs old.

Oysters, pate, and honey for lunch tomorrow then!!!!

OP posts:
treelover · 29/04/2008 23:34

from what i remember, meat, fish and chicken should be one of the later foods you try. veg and fruit being the initial ones.

dd was chomping down o n a bit of seekh kebab at 8.5 months, so bit late for me to worry about that.

MrsThierryHenry · 29/04/2008 23:37

ho ho ho she'll love that gourmet meal!

Only thing is re smoked mack - it's probably got lots of added salt, so I'd be careful about that one unless you cook it in lots of liquid so that the salt drains out.

happy weaning!

Original poster
Thomcat · 29/04/2008 23:37

LOL, oh well!
Maybe I won't make her lamb stew tomorrow!

OP posts:
Original poster
Thomcat · 29/04/2008 23:40

Just looked at salt on mackeral and it's 2.2g salt in 100g of mackeral.

Is that very bad?

OP posts:
ruddynorah · 30/04/2008 00:05

give meat in a big piece then they can't eat much of it until they're older anyway. takes the decision out of your hands.

tiktok · 30/04/2008 00:39

Official guidelines change very little indeed.

What people - friends, relatives, HVs - tell mothers changes every day.

Babies who are beginning solids after 6 mths (as per guidelines) do not need to avoid protein, animal or otherwise...where has that come from??

You do not need to avoid any food (bar nuts) if the baby is over six months, unless you have a real concern about allergy.

stitch · 30/04/2008 08:34

well, i gave my kids no salt at all for the first year of there lives, whilst some friends with similar aged children looked on in bemusement whilst sprinkling there babies home prepared food with salt. so, it cant be that bad. but i wouldnt have given it. iyswim

MrsBadger · 30/04/2008 09:00

oh and honey

no honey till 12m

tiktok · 30/04/2008 10:19

MrsB - Unpasteurised honey has the weeniest, most minuscule risk of botulism, which might possibly affect a baby. The greatest risk (still minimal) is in babies under 6 mths, and according to this article there have been hardly any cases in the UK in recent years anyway, and the last case was years ago, and came from formula milk! That article explains how the panic about honey started, and how unjustified it is.

Here's another one www.clinicalanswers.nhs.uk/index.cfm?question=1685

Infant botulism can be a serious disease, though, and I can understand people wanting to avoid it. But there is really very poor evidence that they are justified in being worried about it. My understanding is that pasteurised honey cannot have botulism spores, and that big brands of honey (rather than small producers) pasturise their products, but you might want to check that.

MrsBadger · 30/04/2008 10:50

Pasteurisation doesn't kill spores - this is why honey is riskier than (eg) maple syrup, because it never gets treated at a high temp during its processing.

But you're right, the risk is small.

VacantlyPretty · 30/04/2008 10:54

Message withdrawn

MamaChris · 30/04/2008 11:21

stitch - I would avoid salt wherever possible (both for adults and children). kids with high blood pressure tend to have high BP as adults and that increases risk of stroke etc. there is enough salt in food to meet all our needs without needing to add more to prepared food.

stitch · 30/04/2008 18:11

oh, i agree mamachris, , salt should be avoided by everyone

Original poster
Thomcat · 30/04/2008 21:38

So - is me giving my 7 month old mackeral fillets good or bad?

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