Why Organic? Part One

Why do I make/fed Callum only organic baby food?

It’s overly important to me that Callum obtains the most premium food that is best for him. By feeding your baby organic food you are ensuring a diet free of chemicals at a time when your baby’s growing body is most susceptible to environmental damage. I know that as a new parent I worried about whether or not Callum was/is thriving – whether he was “getting enough” – whether he was sleeping enough – or not enough – whether I was coping as parent or if Callum’s weigh was good enough. I started to really pull my hair out. We no longer are seeing the health nurse who kept telling me that co-sleeping was bad for Callum. I weighed Callum on super market scales yesterday and he has hit the 6 kilo (12 pounds) mark for 5 correct and 7 months real age.

However I feel that he should still see the Ped, due to him being preem. These are all common concerns and experiences. In the end I stopped listening to everyone, I went with my heart and instincts. It was the best move I have made yet. I wanted Callum’s first foods to be pure and gentle, that was made with one nutritious ingredient and easy to digest.

I find it just as easy to make baby food as buying it. Australia is very big into organic growing and eating of food. We have some wonderful organic baby food brands. My all time favorite is Bellamy’s. Grown from organic produce and Made/packed in Tasmania. Aussie owned. (You get it from Wollies/safeway) It is also endorsed by the Australian Breastfeeding Association.

I read around open diary land, there are a lot of Mothers out there who are starting there babies on solids. Over the last month and very slowly I have started to induce Callum to Organic Rice cereal mixed with EBM. I have also started to make my own rice Congee. You just boil up rice with lots of water for hours and hours and then strain and you get a jelly type stuff which is the perfect first food- and you know how it was made.

Feeding foods with sugar and salt can have serious repercussions on a digestive system that is so delicate. Salt directly affects the kidneys, and can cause serious problems, not to mention preservatives and additives in processed foods.

You also have to consider what trend you are setting for the future… healthy eating habits start NOW. If a child is eating mostly fresh fruits and vegetables now, he wont be as reliant on fast foods and junk later on.

Breast milk or if you are using infant formula supplies all of your baby’s nutritional needs for at least the first 4 to 6 months of life, so don’t be in a rush to start solid baby foods. Starting solids too early can cause your baby to develop food allergies. Your baby’s intestinal tract is not as fully developed during the first few months and introducing solids at this time will be too much to handle. Also another reason to hold off on solids is babe’s inability to swallow solids correctly before 4 to 6 months of age and this can potentially cause choking. And contrary to the popular myth, starting solids early will not help your child to sleep through the night!

When offering a new type of food, always feed it for several days in a row before starting another new food. This makes it easier to detect food allergies, which can present with diarrhea, vomiting, coughing, hives or a rash. Do not offer mixed ingredient foods until you are sure that the baby isn’t allergic to any of the individual ingredients. Also, don’t add any seasonings or salt to your babe’s foods.

All babies will show an interest in their own time it’s not anything to worry about. Even if it’s over the 6 month mark. Just because it’s said that babies should have start solids at that age doesn’t mean that you have to start then. I do think that its best you wait for your babe to show you signs that they are interested in solid food.