Is spinach hard on a baby's tummy?

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

Hi everyone,

DS is 15 months old and I had a quick question.  I made him a spinach pancake last week and he loved it (ate it at lunch time). That night he had a long NW around 11:30pm.  He is also teething badly so I figured it was that.  Also, the following day, there were lots of pieces of undigested spinach in his diaper.  I gave him one at breakfast today and he is currently in the middle of a NW which started around 9:45pm.  He's been crying a little bit (not screaming) on and off, but is having a really hard time getting back to sleep.  Doesn't seem like he is in pain necessarily, but something is keeping him from sleeping so maybe he is uncomfortable... or maybe it's just coincidental.

Could the spinach not be agreeing with him? Not sure if it would take over 12 hours for food to cause stomach discomfort?

TIA!   

[ZacsMumme]

Interesting you should talk about spinach...I always thought it would be a stage 1 or 2 food, but on checking with my plunket food chart it is actually stage 3, which is usually 9-12 months. This to me suggests it is either difficult to digest of has something in it that prevents it from being recommended for younger babies. There are not many foods that are recommended for stage three...and certainly most veges are okay from 6-7 months onwards!

While I have no idea if it would cause upsets, and I understand your LO is older than 9 months...but maybe it is one of those iffy foods :\

[*Kara*]

Spinach can cause some toots

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

Thanks, ladies! I think we will hold off until sometime again next week and if he wakes again then I'll know!  This is so unfortunate because I have a picky eater who is slowly opening up to new things and the spinach pancake was a major victory LOL!!!!

[deb]

You might try a smaller quantity and make sure it's really well-pureed. Also, spinach and most crucifers should be cooked at least lightly rather than eaten raw, apparently - I didn't know this when mine were smaller, but it makes them easier to digest.

Spinach is also high in oxalates, which can cause other issues in too high a quantity.

[ZacsMumme]

What about something similar to spinach in a pancake? - Grated courgette? Or does silverbeat have the same problems as spinach? Are they even different lol

[deb]

What's silverbeat?

[firsttimemummy]

plunket food chart

what is this? sounds useful....

[ZacsMumme]

Deb - Ummm a green vegetable kind of like spinach.... cant really describe it ... and I hate it lol.
Lucy - The Royal NZ Plunket Society is the well child health services in NZ available to all babies/children free.
I cant find the food chart online, but Spinach is stage 3 so ~8 months onwards. (Stage 1 is 4-6 months, Stage 2 is 7-8months)
http://www.plunket.org.nz/your-child/6-months-to-1-year/food-and-nutrition/

I suspect the guide are different in each country, but this is what they advise here Ill see if I can scan it online as its a pretty cool reseource and sits on my fridge!

[firsttimemummy]

Ill see if I can scan it online as its a pretty cool reseource and sits on my fridge!

that would be fantastic if you get the chance

[*Kara*]

I suspect the guide are different in each country, but this is what they advise here Smiley Ill see if I can scan it online as its a pretty cool reseource and sits on my fridge!

Very funny!  They say to start solids no later than 6 months... it's recommended here to wait until 6 months LOL!  That said, we started at 5 months

[*Kara*]

Silverbeet is swiss chard

[Sam-n-Max's Mommy]

Thanks, everyone.

Great ideas on alternatives for the pancakes, Sara. Thanks, I am going to try them!

Deb - I pureed the spinach, but not really well - it looked more like it was chopped very small.  Maybe I'll try again with it smoothly pureed and a smaller quantity in each pancake.  The pancake he ate was pretty large, so I wonder if that was the problem.

[ZacsMumme]

Very funny!  They say to start solids no later than 6 months... it's recommended here to wait until 6 months LOL!  That said, we started at 5 months

I know!...every country is diff I think. In saying that though they also recommend that you wait till ~6 months, but then start no later than ~6 months because of iron stores depleting or something like that

[deb]

OK, then Swiss Chard is indeed like spinach and should be cooked instead of eaten raw.