Avocado Help

[Mom to M&M]

To make a long story short - we restarted DD on solids this morning (she's 6.5 months). At 4.5 months she had been put on rice cereal per GI doctor for her reflux and started on pears shortly thereafter. She did great with a spoon but soon got VERY constipated from the rice and cramps and gas from the pears. We found she had such an immature digestive system and with our Ped, decided to hold off on all solids until after 6 months. So we stopped about 5-6 weeks ago.

Per our Ped, started again today. She wanted us to skip cereals for now and gave us a list to start with - which had avocado, potato (white), peas, plums, apricots and carrots on it. We started with avocado today. No banana for now due to continuing constipation - no prunes or pears due to intestinal gas. No peaches for no because acidic.

Don't think DD liked it at all. She didn't cry but did make faces and push the spoon away and turn her face. She ate some but got a bit chokey too. I had mashed up a ripe avocado and thinned with some water. Not sure if DD's dislike was a taste or texture issue - or both. Can I do anything to help matters? Would it taste better thinned with a bit of formula?

If she dislikes it do I continue on for 4 days to test? Or just drop it?

[tylersmommy]

You could try thinning it with formula, sometimes a slightly familiar taste can help. Also make sure you're thinning it enough...for a beginning solids eater, it should be liquid enough that it runs off the spoon. If you have a blender, that might help you get a really smooth consistency.

It might take some time for her to get used to the spoon again. It's pretty normal when older babies are starting solids for it to take awhile. They're more aware of what's going on around them and are often slower to accept new things. Also keep in mind that it can take at least 10-15 exposures to a new food for some babies to even consider tasting it. So I'd keep trying with the avocado for a few more days and see if she might open up. Good luck!

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks Melissa. I will try again tomorrow morning - will blend some overnight tonight - so I can just put the avocado "meat" and some formula in blender and go? About how much formula would you think for one avocado?

Will keep trying with it and move on to a new food Tuesday I guess.

[Colin Macs Mom]

My ds also has reflux so we've been very careful with solids too. FYI pears are also acidic although not as much as some other fruits, so you may want to keep that in mind when you decide to try them again. I don't have a lot of advice on the avocado as my ds loves them just plain and mashed, but when I do mix formula or water with other foods, I use a tablespoon or so.

You also might want to consider sweet potato and green beans. Root vegetables tend to work VERY well for refluxers.

[Mom to M&M]

Thanks Jessica.

We don't plan to try pears again for some time - not only are they acidic but they can cause intestinal gas/cramping.

Will try the avocado for the 4 days (unless she reacts badly of course) and then try white potato next - which is actually often easier for refluxers than sweet potato. And definitely try green beans soon too.

With the avocado I guess I'll put it i the blender tonight and just add a tiny bit of formula and keep adding until looks good consistency.

[*Natasha*]

I haven't tried beans yet but if they are good for reflux babies i will give it a try. I also had to cut out alot of fruit as it was making DD's reflux worse. The only fruit she is having is bananas. As for avocardo i found it gave my DD wind so i had to stop.

[Colin Macs Mom]

Yeah, Colin loves green beans! Those and applesauce are probably his favorites. For some reason apple doesn't seem to bother him at all, and I had thought they would.

[Mom to M&M]

Do you make the green beans yourself? If so, how?

[Colin Macs Mom]

I make everything myself, except the green beans. I have been afraid that I couldn't puree them smooth enough, but now that Colin's older I might try since it would be ok lumpier.

[Mom to M&M]

What brand of green beans do you buy? I haven't seen them so far in a jar.

Avocado went well this morning for day 2 - pureed in blender with formula and she liked it better that way. Yay! Just hope no reaction now.

I think we'll do carrots next - but due to nitrates will probably have the Earth's Best. It is just organic carrots and water anyway...

[Colin Macs Mom]

I've been using Del Monte Nature's Goodness. Ingredients list only green beans and water, and they actually taste like green beans.

Glad to hear that the avocado went better! There's so much good stuff in them.