How long between introducing foods?

[berryfish]

I've seen so many recommendations on this that it makes my head spin!

My DD is 8 months old and it seems like she is eating a lot less variety than other babies her age.  We started solids at 6 months and have been introducing a new food every 4 days or so, with some longer breaks.  Is everyone waiting this long in between?  She is getting a lot better with finger foods and it feels like the lack of variety is holding her back.

Thanks for your responses!

[Freya'sMum]

I think 3-4 days is sensible between foods, but I wouldn't be overly concerned at the apparent lack of variety in your 8 month old's diet. At 8 months milk is still far more nutritionally valuable than solid foods, which are only for practice and experience until at least 9 months if not longer.

I would think about it more in terms of "is my baby getting introduced to a good selection of healthy nutritious foods that will form the basis of her diet when she is over a year old?" eg. a good selection of different coloured fruits and vegetables (eat a rainbow every day), carbs (rice, pasta, potatos), grains (cereals, breads, seeds, pulses), maybe proteins (some folk wait longer before introducing these, meats, fish, cheese, egg), maybe dairy (again some folk wait longer before introducing these, yogurt, cheese, custard).

Avoid processed foods with a high sugar and salt content, nuts and honey (until after 12 months) otherwise it'll depend on your location what foods are advised to be offered and at what age - check with your health advisors.

I think also, you'd be surprised at how unvaried most children's diets are, my girls have repetative but balanced meals and don't get bored by the lack of variety, in fact they prefer the routine and consistency, perhaps trying something new every now and again. I actually think it's us parents that become bored with the same old things, not the kids That said, there are a lot of yummy recipes in the Finger Foods for Young Babies thread in the Recipes section you can experiment with!

Ax

[berryfish]

I guess what I'm sort of worried about is that she is eating some of the same things everyday or just about.  We've introduced 4 grains, 6 veggies, 5 fruits, 1 meat.  Aside from the meat which I'm still working in, we give a grain, a vegetable, & a fruit in two of the three meals per day.  This means that even if I did strictly alternate each item in a food category (which I don't) it would be every other day for some foods, but as it is there are some she gets more often.    For example, I give her some banana chunks nearly everyday, as it's the most available of the fruits, and some of the others that I originally introduced as a puree isn't as readily available fresh.  Is there such a thing as over repetition of certain foods?

I did look at some of the recipes, but I guess I feel my problem is that I haven't introduced all of the ingredients to make a lot of things which is why I'm pretty much only doing steamed vegetables, fruit chunks, rice & pasta.  For something like onion though, would you just introduced it cooked in with something else you know is ok?  I realize that most of her nutrition is coming from milk right now, but I also want to increase the variety so she is able to eat some more of the family meals.

Thanks!

[Freya'sMum]

I wouldn't worry about the over repetition each day, if she is happy to have banana every day then great, just avoid too much of the same thing within the day. If you can't find fresh fruits 'coz they're out of season for finger foods, how about tinned ones in juice? You can get apricots, peaches and pears that can be cut in to slices/chunks. Although it's coming to the end of the summer fruit season, you can still get fresh strawberries, raspberries, grapes, plums, kiwi fruit and pineapple too (I know some folk prefer to wait to give berries, but I didn't and had no problems, it is your choice

And yes, with onion I added it to something she already was having, but tbh, with most foods both my girls prefer things to be separated out and bland, they're not over keen on mixed ingredients or things smothered in sauces (spag bol, casserole, stew etc) their meals tend to be a portion of protein, one of carbs/grains and one/two of veg, maybe with a dipping sauce on the side, with fruit and yogurt for dessert. An example would be salmon poached in milk, broccoli and cauliflower florets, and some plain (or pesto coated) pasta twists.

It sounds like you're doing great, so don't put any pressure on yourselves, if dd is happy to eat what she is being offered, I'd just keep adding new flavours and textures steadily to build up the variety.

HTH?

Ax