Ask The Doctor
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Dear Dr. Markel,
My baby is 6 months old and showing signs that she is ready for solid food. I have heard that starting your baby on grains - like rice cereal - can increase their chances of getting food allergies and diabetes later in life. Is this true? What food do you suggest we start our baby on? Someone else suggested egg yolks and avocados, however, I've also heard no avocados until month 7 or 8? Yikes, there is so much conflicting evidence out there!
Dear Chez Maman,
Yes I agree that "there is so much conflicting evidence out there" and that it why I encourage you to trust your instincts regarding what is right for your child. Every family and every baby is different. Your baby does not "need" any food other than breast milk until approximately nine months. Between six and nine months can be a fun time to see if your baby enjoys any particular tastes or textures. Unless there is a specific concern about food allergies you do not have to limit choices. The only requirement is that the food be natural and wholesome, perhaps what the rest of the family is eating, in a softer consistency by using a food grinder. There must be no pieces that can cause a choking hazard of course.
Good luck,
Susan Markel, M.D.
“peaceful parenting for a peaceful world”
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Dr. Susan Markel, MD, is a Board Certified Pediatrician, and Attachment Parenting Advisor. She is also the author of, "Ask The Doctor," in partnership with ERGObaby.
If you have additional questions, please feel free to visit her website at http://www.AttachmentParentingDoctor.com and request a private consultation.
