Constipated Baby? Quick Tip: Reverse the BRAT

Jun 21, 2010 Friendly Baby Food Advice, Solids and Weaning

Constipation Quick Tip – Reverse the BRAT:  The BRAT diet is used for the treatment of diarrhea in infants – BRAT stands for Bananas, Rice, Applesauce and Toast. An easy and natural way to remember how to alleviate baby’s constipation is to cut out the foods that contribute to it – rice cereals, bananas, and applesauce. If you ever forget which foods to cut out, remember BRAT.

BRAT foods are often some of baby’s very first foods when she is being introduced to solids.  Bananas and rice tend to be two of the most binding foods there are.  These are often two of the foods that baby eats when he is first starting solids. 

So if your baby is a beginning eater (or even an experienced eater) and has become constipated, remember the BRAT diet and use it to CUT OUT foods that may be contributing to baby’s constipation. 

Learn more ways to help alleviate constipation and other information about constipation on our website

Tags: constipation

10 ways to serve bananas to babies

Jun 6, 2010 Fruits and Veggies, Solids and Weaning

Bananas are one of the greatest fruits on the planet.  They contain so many important nutrients and, they come in their own storage jackets! 

Bananas are a much favored first food for babies due to their great taste and the ability to mash them into a fine texture.  

Today, I am going to show you 10 ways to offer your baby bananas

1. Mash bananas and serve them in their naked glory
2. Blend bananas with avocado to make a creamy Banana ‘Cado mousse 
3. Stir bananas into plain yogurt
4. Roast bananas in the oven (without their jackets/peels on) to bring out their sweetness then mash or chop
5. Add mashed or pureed bananas to pears
6. Bananas and oatmeal make a great breakfast or anytime meal
7. Whizz bananas, pears, avocado, wheat germ and yogurt in a blender for a super smoothie
8. Make banana bread teething biscuits, muffins or Monkey Cookies for your little self-feeder
9. Fry up some tasty banana “pancakes”, save some to freeze for later
10. Cool down with frozen “Ban’ Olas”

What are your favorite banana “recipes”?

Visit our Bananas for Baby Food page to learn more!

Introducing [Allergenic] Solids to Your Baby Early [Earlier] to Prevent Food Allergies

Apr 20, 2010 Allergies, Friendly Baby Food Advice, Resources, Solids and Weaning

It seems like the advice and recommendations for introducing solid foods that are top allergens is constantly changing.  Changes to recommendations can be a nightmare for new, and experienced, parents who are bombarded with [conflicting, old wives tales etc] advice on how to best feed their little ones.  There has been one confusing item in particular that a few parents are emailing about; starting baby on solid foods early, prior to 4 months of age.  This really needs to be cleared up and clarified so I thought I would post for all to read.

In particular,  the new studies have lead some to believe that the current winds of change mean that babies can be started early on solid foods.   In other words, some parents are believing/wondering if it’s now ok to start solids earlier than 4 months of age.

The only change regarding timing of introducing solid foods is the change in when to introduce foods that may cause allergies.  It is important to note that the AAP continues to recommend exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, while the AAP Commmittee on Nutrition states that solids are fine to introduce anytime between 4 and 6 months of age.  One AAP report specifically notes that

“Although solid foods should not be introduced before 4 to 6 months of age, there is no current convincing evidence that delaying their introduction beyond this period has a significant protective effect on the development of atopic disease regardless of whether infants are fed cow milk protein formula or human milk. This includes delaying the introduction of foods that are considered to be highly allergic, such as fish, eggs, and foods containing peanut protein.” Click to view report

There are 8 foods that make up 90% of all allergenic foods.  These 8 foods are

• Milk
• Egg
• Peanut
• Tree nut (walnut, cashew, etc.)
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Soy
• Wheat

Since early 2008, several studies have been done that point to the conclusion that delaying these allergenic foods may not prevent “atopic disease” e.g asthma and eczema.   For families with a history of food allergies and intolerance, the recommendation continues to be one of caution and delay.

More Resources:

German Study “This study found no evidence supporting a delayed introduction of solids beyond 4 or 6 months for the prevention of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food or inhalant sensitization at the age of 6 years.”

Dairy Introduction past 9 months ” More delay in introduction of cow milk products was associated with a higher risk for eczema.”

ESPGHAN study “Exclusive or full breast-feeding for about 6 months is a desirable goal. Complementary feeding (ie, solid foods and liquids other than breast milk or infant formula and follow-on formula should not be introduced before 17 weeks and not later than 26 weeks. There is no convincing scientific evidence that avoidance or delayed introduction of potentially allergenic foods, such as fish and eggs, reduces allergies, either in infants considered at increased risk for the development of allergy or in those not considered to be at increased risk.

Finnish Study – Late Introduction of Solids “Late introduction of solid foods was associated with increased risk of allergic sensitization to food and inhalant allergens. Eggs, oats, and wheat were most strongly related to food sensitization, whereas potatoes and fish were most strongly related to inhalant sensitization.