Sweetcorn - is it just passing through?

[Samuel's mum]

I apologise if this question has come up 10 times before but I'm fairly new and inexperienced in toddlerland.
If a food looks virtually the same coming out as it did going in, what are the nutritional benefits? My LO loves sweetcorn and certain beans but I can't see much difference once he's done with them! Can someone reassure me I'm not just wasting precious tummy space?

[woopster]

Hiya, The body will take what it needs from food and get rid of the waste.
Sweetcorn is notoriously hard to digest, even for adults.  I think if your lo enjoys it, then carry on giving it to him.

[carolyn]

Yep....I know exactly what you are talking about.  Corn is more easily digested with green beans.  There is something about them that they are able to work together....if that makes sense.

[evanskimberley]

is it just sweetcorn or does it happen to any fruit or veg that isn't really soft?

Just asking cos my dd suffers really badly in this area (?) and I asked my doctor about it. If its all coming out its called toddler diaherria (sp) although not runny at all. he said that she wouldn't be getting any benefit from the veg/fruit and I needed to alter her diet slightly.
either
- cook very till really soft
- cut up the veg smaller, even peas and sweetcorn
- give her less fibre .

I chose the last one to try for a bit, doctor said that their bowels aren't long enough to digect the food at this stage. If there is too much fibre, the food doesn't stay in the body for long enoug and it all comes out as waste with out being absorbed.

I was skeptical, I'm proud of the fact that dd has had such a fresh and varied diet, I've home cooked 99% of what she;s eaten since she's been weaned, and giving her rubbish now seemed silly!
But i gave it a go and it worked! Instead of cramming as many veg in as i can to a meal, I'v ecut that down so carb/protein is higher ratio than veg. I've been giving her fruit in things like on top of icecream or baked in a muffin or in yogurt, instead of as finger food on its own. I've noticed a massive diff, if she does had whole ruits like grapes or raisins then less of them are coming out whole the other end!!!

Not to worry you at all, doctor said its perfectly normal and it will get better.

[Samuel's mum]

Thank you for replies. I'm going to have a think about the protein/carbohydrate versus fibre thing. I think I may be guilty of giving too many vegetables! I'm also going to have a go at cutting up sweetcorn and see if that helps. Thanks.

[Petunia]

Even adults don't completely digest corn.  It's 'nutritional value' is that it is a fiber.

[Samuel's mum]

Hello Noah's mama!

[dkjokisch]

I've noticed the same thing in dd (9.5mos) in the last few weeks.  She gets prunes every other day or so (and whenever she eats bananas) to battle constant constipation.

However, she is not gaining weight (didn't gain anything between her 6 and 9mos checkups), and it would make sense to me that she wouldn't gain weight if everything is passing straight through.

[evanskimberley]

Noah's mama, to update my previous post, still doing what i said and have seen a vast improvement!!
I make sure i give her things that she can practise chewwing on like cereal at brekkie time, but fruit and veg is mashed up really well to help her digest it. she only pooing once a day now and there's less of it in quantity and no real sign of whole bits of food coming out.
she's obviously digesting more into her system which can only be good!!

[noah's mama]

Thanks Kimberley - very helpful and reassuring too.
Noah really prefers to feed himself but won't use a spoon, so I try to give him some finger food to keep him busy while I spoon in the mushy stuff. Until now I was using fruits and veggies as finger food...I'll try more cheerios and cheese instead, maybe some toast, and go back to mushing up the vegetables.
And for anyone else with this problem....I found a great fresh fruit feeder that allows baby to feed himself without cutting the fruit up. It's sort of a mesh bag that snaps shut on a plastic handle. They get to chew but never get any big pieces. It's made by munchkin (website munchkininc.com if you're looking for stores that carry it).

[{{{Angela}}}]

I have a similar 'problem'? Although I can't believe I'm calling it a problem.  DS eats too many fruits and vegetables, not enough carbs or protein, and doesn't drink enough milk.  He didn't gain any weight between his 14 and 16 month checkups, so I'm also trying to up his intake of carbs and proteins.  But he does love his fruits and veggies.  He is very slim, and has fallen off the percentile charts.    I am worried, but trying not to let it stress me out.