The Definitive Guide to Feeding Primal Babies
It’s commonly portrayed as the realm of infant formula, rice cereal, applesauce, teething biscuits, Zwieback toast and Cheerios. And in the following months a large pantry selection of strained this or that in tiny glass, commercial jars… Add to this picture more recent concoctions like toddler formula, Elmo crackers, mini juice packs, fruit gummies, and “Graduate” lines. All of this begs the question, exactly when and how did baby/early toddler nutrition become a string of processed convenience foods? The ingredient lists often smack more of Candyland than the “wholesome goodness” claimed on the labels. Was this really what nature intended? Can’t we do better by our baby Groks? What would Grandma Grok have to say about all of this? We’ve taken up the kid question before, but I thought it was time for a definitive focus on the youngest of the seedling set.
In a consumeristic society, conventional wisdom has an odd way of merging with marketing maneuver. These revisions to common sense seep in slowly, idea by idea, item by item, until we look around and suddenly don’t recognize the landscape or logic anymore. (That is, if we choose to think about it…) As we so often ask at MDA, how did our current customs come to stray so far from the way of our ancestors?
In Grok’s day, for one, babies had to nurse. Human milk was a long complex product of evolution. Milk with fatty acids for brain development, antibodies for immune system support and high nutrient and fat content resulted in healthy babies who would more likely survive the challenges of Grok’s day. If the milk could change as the child aged to better meet his/her needs over time, that child would have an even better chance of making it to adulthood. And, as we know, these characteristics in breastmilk were exactly what evolution favored and selected for over time. Because human babies had small stomachs, they needed to eat often. Breastmilk was the ultimate in portable food. Because it took two years for babies and young toddlers to develop teeth adequate to chew much of the food available in Grok’s day, they were dependent on their mothers’ milk. (There were, of course, no Cuisinart processors or food mills in Paleolithic times – and little time to bother with elaborate food preparation anyway.) Children transitioned to solids at a slow and gradual rate and took milk from their mothers throughout the toddler years.
So, if the Primal Blueprint vision blends the best of Grok’s day with the benefit of ours, what does this mean for the youngest among us today? Before you scratch the food processor from your baby registry, you should know that I don’t believe in eschewing the gadgets and gizmos that assist in providing good nutrition. I take issue with the modern redefinition of infant/toddler nutrition and the decided disadvantage it imposes on today’s seedlings.
Breastfeeding Benefits
One thing is for certain. Nursing was good enough for baby Grok, and it remains the ideal, unmatched source of nutrients that support human development. Though I’m not going to make a point of comparing formula feeding to mechanical bull riding while pregnant (remember that ad campaign?) I will put it out there – breast is best. Currently, the American Academy of Pediatrics (as well as other pediatric associations) recommends exclusively breastfeeding until six months, continuing through the first year with the introduction of solids, and after that as long as the mother desires. WHO and UNICEF promote breastfeeding until at least the age of two. As for the MDA stance, I consider breastmilk an absolutely crucial element in optimal infant and young toddler nutrition. Extended breastfeeding and/or the offering of pumped milk should continue through the age of two and ideally beyond.
Last month an Atlantic article The Case Against Breastfeeding caught the public’s (and my) attention and got a lot of tongues wagging. The author, Hanna Rosin, made the case that research didn’t support a significant health benefit of breastmilk over today’s infant formulas. Rosin set out to scrutinize the science behind the nursing-formula debate and to weigh the benefit of breastmilk against the efforts and frustrations of the mother who must provide it. Unfortunately, the article accomplished neither goal in any comprehensive or accurate way. As to the science, critics complain that Rosin conveniently scanned (and cited) selective medical literature. Her “search” into the debate was triggered by a 2001 JAMA article suggesting “inconsistent associations” between breastfeeding and subsequent obesity risk. She went on to point out the occasional incongruity to be found in breastfeeding research – whether it be related to allergies, IQ, diabetes, etc. (Someone should tell her this is always the case – no matter what the issue or condition studied.)
As for Rosin’s and other skeptics’ arguments, it’s true that subsequent diet and circumstance can undo the benefits of breastfeeding. Other advantages are so difficult to nail down in any absolute way that results can always be questioned from some angle (e.g. an individual child’s potential IQ versus his/her actual IQ). She also doesn’t mention (and perhaps didn’t bother to look at) how many of the “critical” studies were indirectly funded by the formula industry. Trust me, there are a lot out there, and the fine print is usually buried at the bottom.
Nonetheless, the overall picture of breastfeeding benefits looks like this. One of the most comprehensive review studies examined and screened over 9000 research abstracts. The final contents of the review included “43 primary studies on infant health outcomes, 43 primary studies on maternal health outcomes, and 29 systematic reviews or meta-analyses that covered approximately 400 individual studies.” The findings were these: a 36% reduction in SIDS, a 23-50% risk reduction (depending on breastfeeding duration) for middle ear infections, 42% risk reduction in eczema, 64% reduction in non-specific gastroenteritis, a 72% reduction in hospitalization for lower respiratory tract infections (infants under 1 year of age), a 27% reduction in asthma (40% for those with a family history), 7-24% reduction in later obesity, a 19-27% reduction in type 1 diabetes, a 39% reduction in type 2 diabetes, a 15-19% reduction in childhood leukemia, as well as an association with lower blood pressure, and lower total and LDL cholesterol. Association with cognitive development, particularly for premature or low birth weight infants, has been shown, but environmental factors have not been completely ruled out as confounding factors in existing studies.
Finally, research is coming out now suggesting a significant health benefit for the mother. In addition to helping prevent postpartum depression, nursing (particularly for two years or more) can also reduce the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, maternal type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, and heart disease. Membership has its privileges.
All that said, I understand that modern life and individual circumstance can make nursing (particularly “extended” breastfeeding) difficult despite the incredible advantages to both mother and child. More mothers work outside the home and are away from their children for long stretches of time. Although the breast pump industry (along with the pumping culture) has skyrocketed in recent years, not every woman has the practical opportunity, legal entitlement or adequate location for pumping during the workday. These are legitimate questions our society needs to actively and concretely address.
Additionally, nursing requires a tremendous amount of patience, time, and (at certain stages) physical fortitude. No wonder nature designed positive motivators like hormonal release to encourage mother-child bonding and relaxation during breastfeeding. Mother Grok didn’t have much of an alternative to nursing, but she likely had more support and informal instruction within the tribal community than mothers do today.
In the rare case of milk supply issues or maternal absence, it’s probable that other lactating women in the group took on nursing responsibilities for an ailing or orphaned infant. Today we have the likes of La Leche League and professional lactation consultants to stand in for some of the traditional supports. Herbal remedies like fenugreek, alfalfa, nettle leaf, and goat’s rue can help stimulate milk production in mothers who need a boost because of illness, abnormally difficult labor and delivery, premature birth or poor nursing latch.
In the rare case of milk supply issues that couldn’t be fixed through herbal medicine, it’s probable that other lactating women in the group took on nursing responsibilities for an ailing or orphaned infant. Today, we don’t really live in tribes, villages, or closely-knit families with lactating females in our midst at all times, but we can still obtain donor breastmilk through programs like Milk Share, Human Milk 4 Human Babies (nice ring to it, eh?), and Eats on Feets. If milk-boosting isn’t working, I would strongly consider donor milk. Human breast absolutely is best, even if it’s not yours.
If breastfeeding isn’t an option because of maternal health, adoption or other irremediable circumstance, opinions differ on the best secondary options. Most experts suggest conventional formula preparations (particularly for newborns and young babies). Some have evaluated their composition to aid parents in their decision, but nearly all recommend avoiding soy formula all together.
There are also recipes for homemade formula, but it’s crucial in these circumstances to consult your pediatrician. For newborns and young babies, I would recommend conventional formula with DHA and ARA. (I’m not any fan of the formula companies, but infant nutrition involves a whole constellation of considerations. As much as I despise some of the industry marketing practices, the formula companies are closely regulated, and nutrient/hydration requirements have been precisely figured.)
For older babies, I would suggest caution and close medical collaboration when selecting and feeding homemade formula. Though many pediatricians suggest that cow’s milk is a sufficient substitute for formula after twelve months, I recommend continuing a DHA-containing formula (pediatrician-approved homemade or conventional if necessary) until at least eighteen months and preferably two years. Finally, although human breast milk can be purchased, it is generally far beyond the budget of most families. If your baby is premature or unhealthy at birth, talk to the hospital staff and your insurance company about the availability and coverage of donated breast milk.
Even in the best of circumstances, it’s important for nursing mothers to prioritize good nutrition for themselves. Breastmilk production requires extra protein, calcium, fatty acids and an overall addition of daily calories (usually between 350-500). Incorporating a wide variety of foods will help cultivate an infant’s taste for that same healthy fare once they transition to solids. It’s a wise idea to limit or eliminate foods associated with sensitivities and allergies like dairy, soy, gluten, peanuts, coffee and citrus.
Sampling Solids
This brings us to early foods… It’s impossible to cover the first year or so without discussing the transition to “real food” (as if breastmilk is somehow a substandard stand-in…). Ask a roomful of parents what their children’s pediatricians suggest for first foods, and you’ll inevitably hear infant rice or oatmeal from the vast majority. How many of us received the same from our parents? Show of hands?
Conventional wisdom and practice promotes a timeline that goes something like this: rice cereal at six months (sometimes even earlier!), quickly followed by infant oatmeal, followed by barley, followed by processed and pureed fruits, processed and pureed “sweet” vegetables (e.g. squash, sweet potatoes), followed by infant desserts like pudding and cobbler (seriously, folks), followed by the gradual inclusion of maybe an additional 3-4 processed “vegetable” varieties (for the last time, corn is not a vegetable – and neither are peas for that matter). Mixed into this mash of baby mush are innumerable Cheerios, “puffs” (grains decorated with coloring and air), “yogurt melts” and other such nutritional nonsense. I need a timeout just thinking about this….
First off, let me say what should be the obvious. Forget the grains. Pitch the cute boxes with the baby face and baby bowl and other sentimental imagery. Rice, oatmeal, barley. These are unnecessary elements of infant (or adult) nutrition. Although they might be cheaper per ounce, they are less nutrient dense, have a high glycemic index, and in early infancy can trigger allergic conditions. There’s the argument that babies should be exposed to grains to actually prevent allergies or intolerance later. The research is spotty, inconsistent, and the evolutionary logic doesn’t add up. However, because grains are so ubiquitous in our society, it might not be a bad idea to “test” for allergies at some point. Nonetheless, this process can easily wait until the age of one or later when babies have the enzymes to better handle their composition.
That takes care of the boxes. What about the jars? I mean, of course, the customary jars (Gerber, Heinz, Beechnut, etc.) that have lined the cabinets of parents for the last few generations. My first reaction is save your money. These baby purees contain so much water that you’re paying through the nose for a truly minute amount of actual food.
My second response is to forgo them for the sake of better nutrition as well as a better bottom line. Commercial baby foods, whether they come in the traditional jars or those little plastic containers, contain unnecessary and questionable fillers. (Something has to hold it together after including all that water). Fillers like cornstarch or tapioca add to the processed carb content of the “meal” without adding any nutrition to it. The primary food ingredient itself is likely overcooked, a process which depletes the nutritional content. (Some analyses have found natural and organic brands such as Earth’s Best to be more nutrient dense than the bigger conventional companies.) By all means, skip the infant desserts, which have a lower nutritional profile than their regular puree counterparts. If you’re looking for convenience, I’d suggest the frozen baby foods that have become widely available in the last few years (Happy Baby, Plum, Sweet Cheeks, etc.).
Ultimately, however, I’d recommend making your own. The business of do-it-yourself baby food has come a long way since my children were young. In addition to the old fashioned food mills and the small size processors, you can now find special freezer trays, portable serving cubes, baby food sieves, innumerable cookbooks and even an all-in-one steamer and processor. With all the gadgets and gizmos, the time investment is minimal, the nutrition unmatched, and the financial outlay less than most other options.
The best first foods around six months of age are non-allergenic, fresh and flavorful foods that provide impressive amounts of the nutrients especially helpful for infants. Avocado is a great first option: easy to prepare and rich in healthy fats. Bananas, another old standby, aren’t bad either. Cooked (but liquid) egg yolks are a good choice and offer essential cholesterol. (Yes, cholesterol is good for something.) Meats run through a fine food mill provide the iron and protein critical for this stage. Pureed beets, carrots, spinach and other softer greens, sweet potatoes, turnips, apples, pears, berries are good additions. (Side note: some experts suggest delaying the feeding of fresh beets, spinach and carrots until at least six months if not a few months longer given the high nitrate content that young babies largely convert to nitrites.)
Most fruits and vegetables can be slightly cooked to create an easier consistency and promote better digestion. (Obviously, roots and tubers need to be fully softened.) That said, it’s unnecessary to cook these items to the point of unrecognizable mush. You want to balance nutrient retention with baby-friendly texture. You can add unsweetened yogurt to fruits and pureed greens. Include a bit of cod liver oil, and you’ve got yourself a good smoothie Baby Grok would’ve loved.
For babies and young children, I’d definitely recommend organic whenever and wherever you can find it. (This goes for any food group.) The smaller the seedling, the more vulnerable they are to pesticide residues, hormones and antibiotics. Organic and wild variety produce also offers more nutritional bang for your buck. Dairy and meats should be pastured whenever possible.
The bottom line on baby seedlings is this: it’s clear what nature intended. Human milk for human babies. Whole foods in appropriate, easy to eat forms. Traditional practice trumps conventional wisdom here as it does in nearly every part of the Primal Blueprint. Nonetheless, Lady Grok would’ve killed for that Beaba….
Have your seedling suggestions, comments or questions? Send them on, and thanks for reading.
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Posted By: Mark Sisson
So this is a delayed post, but I just ran accross this article. It’s really interesting. I try to make most all my daughter’s foods. Gerber is very disappointing. Aside from being limited on nutrients, it smells bad…even the fruit!
So Zoe has been on solids since 3 months because she is allergic to my breast milk. She has a mild lactose intolerance (ie. my milk and yogurt). She seems to be fine with solid cheese though. The Dr. Transitioned her to an expensive formula Nutramagin to combine with her morning breakfast 4 onces of oatmeal. She loves feeding herself, prefers fruits and grains (though I try to not give her too many grains), and it’s always a challenge to get her to reliably eat vegitables. She just will not take puree’s anymore because she likes that independence. I feel like I have to set up a buffet line of food for each meal to ensure she eats the nutrients she needs. Is there any way to make vegis more appealing? Is it wise to eliminate solid cheese altogether seeing as it does have some iron/protein benefits and is easily finger accessible?
Additionally, (sorry for being so wordy), how on earth does a busy mom juggling school, training, raising a baby, and maintaining a household maintain her diet? I find it so challenging to even eat enough during the day, so by the end of the week, I’m wiped and my crossfit workouts stink.
Thanks so much.
Cyndi
Cyndi, to address your question on juggling. I have trouble and I stay at home. My mother was a single mom who juggled school, work, baby and home. She didn’t do CF but she also had no car and lived on a third floor walk up so she got her workout in. When asked how she did it she says it sucked but she didn’t have choice so she just did it. Having support helps, whether people in your daily life or over the internet. Some days when the toddler is acting out and the newborn is unconsolably fussy getting words of support from other moms online as well as my daily sanity check with my mom and grandmother is the only thing that stands between me and losing it.
As to your question on making veggies more appealing, are you eating them? Are you showing great enjoyment when you do? Have you tried cooking them in bacon grease? The last question is only because bacon is the only meat my toddler will reliably eat right now. We went through the same thing with my toddler, which is why I found PB. I found that he likes it best when he eats what I eat, often from my plate while sitting on my lap. We sit at a toddler sized table, he’s allowed to get up as he needs, he can sit on my lap or in his chair, he can eat from my plate, his plate or a combination. He can also choose not to eat. We don’t force it. We also don’t serve the same thing (except his beloved bacon) everyday. If we serve the same food two days in a row he won’t eat it. If we don’t have fun eating he won’t eat.
Cynthia, if you were eating and drinking cow dairy while you were breastfeeding, that could have passed to Zoe. My baby is allergic to cow dairy and was miserable while I was breastfeeding her, until I eliminated it from my diet. She was better instantly. So, this comes months after your post…but for anyone else this may help….if you child seems to be having colic or allergies, try eliminating things from your diet (mostly dairy and gluten) before giving up nursing all together. BTW the pediatrician’s response to her pain was, “well babies cry sometimes, I’ve never seen a baby die from crying”. And then when I told him it was completely gone after I eliminated dairy from my diet, he said, “hmmmmmmm, maybe that helped” He couldn’t even acknowledge the immediate impact it had on her health and wellness.
As to your question about being busy…. hire a babysitter/nanny even if it is just a few hours a week. Have her come while you are home, so you can get your shopping/laundry/busy things done without interruption.
I just wanted to say THANK YOU for saying that a nursling should be able to have the breast for two or MORE years. You don’t know how rare that is (or maybe you do), but I am completely and totally in love with your website now. If the rest of the information didn’t get me, just the common sense knowledge of knowing breastmilk IS best, I really do believe 100% in what you are saying! Thanks for getting the info out there!
Still nursing my 2 y/o very actively. We will wean when she chooses.
Started solids at 10 m/o only meat and veggies. We don’t “do” processed food anyway. Although we did just start really being primal.
We also practice attachment parenting as I believe it is what’s best for our family and undoubtedly what grok and his wife must have done (at least mostly).
Great article I am glad someone had the guts to say the things you did! I just wish more people would wake up and start doing these things!
I had gestational diabetes while pregnant, so I had to really watch my diet, and carbs during the pregnancy. Everything went great and I had a healthy normal weight baby. But I didn’t produce a lot of milk, and it probably was somewhat a result of being forced to give her formula in the hospital because of her jaundice. I tried all the supplements, in pill and tea form and still no increase in my milk supply. And I found out she was milk allergic, so I couldn’t give her formula (nor did I want to), so I had a tough time finding things that she could take to supplement calories for her.
So I did make her a formula at home of goats milk/coconut milk and added infant concentrated vitamins, and pro-biotics. When I pumped I mixed this half and half with my breast milk, and then nursed her the rest of the time. It seemed to work great. But she was starting to refuse it around 4.5 months….so I wanted to introduce solids….but being that she was at a greater risk for Diabetes than the average child, there was no way I was going to stuff her full of carbs in a rice cereal. So I introduced her to simple foods like bananas, avocados, sweet potatoes, zucchini, etc. And then eventually fish, chicken and red meat (which I pre-chewed….I didn’t know this was gross…I just did it because it got it finer than a knife could). Now that she is a super-healthy 13 month old, and now that I am converting to primal lifestyle, I feel validated by this article that I made all the right decisions based on my intuition. Had I listened to her doctors, she would have both been in a very bad place healthwise.
I applaud all the women who have commented on here, who have breastfed for as much and as long as they can, and for all the women who also trust their instinct for their kids, or trust their kids cues as to what they need or don’t need. I am in the healthcare field, and am appalled at the lack of training in nutrition that doctors/nurses receive…and then to top it all off, most of that information is wrong, misleading, or sponsored by giant food/formula manufacturers.
Thank you Mark for keeping it real!
Love this article. I have 3 children, the youngest 11 months. I nursed the two older children until they were almost 18 months. I am still nursing my baby and plan to for a few more months. My question is, is it ok when weaning to transition babies to cows milk? Are there any other options other than formula?
Why wean at all? Have you heard of Child Led Weaning? Our species naturally needs mothers (human) milk until they are at least 2 y/o (even according to the World Health Organization) and they naturally wean between 2-7 y/o (biologically speaking without mothers influence)
Wow. I stumbled across primal blueprint while listening to Mark on a radio program. I just finished the boom and my only concern was that I am nursing my 12 month old son and don’t want to risk his health or my milk supply by starting to go primal. All these comments and articles have been so helpful. I am so happy that I was listening to the radio the other day. I am going to start incorporating this lifestyle change tomorrow…and with my son too (I will work on my darljng husband too, of course). Thank you all for your comments and help.
PS – I guess the primal blueprint concept must have been in my primal subconscious…my son’s first food was avocado…the thought of rice cereal just didn’t sit well with me. Now I realize why! Primal mother instincts! Haha!
I am so happy that I stumbled upon this article. It validates everything that I have done with my 13 month old daughter. I am still breastfeeding (people give me crap about that all the time), she never had formula, and she eats what we eat. Her first food was a little egg yolk from our chickens. A friend of mine recently tried to sell me on the “Graduate” line letting me know how much simpler (and more expensive I might add) my life would be. She said they have everything her kid needs. I mentioned that her kid doesn’t need preservatives and all manner of chemicals. I told her that my little one loves a berry and spinach and yogurt smoothie in a pinch. Most people think because food is on the shelf, it is what is best for us. I prefer to live on the fringes, keep eating traditional food and never getting sick…
Of course if you wait until 6 months to introduce solids, you can go straight to finger foods, ditching the food mill entirely. I’ve gone this route with both my children. The first loved the solids right from the start (and continued to bf until nearly 3), the second was slower, not really showing much interest until 9 months, but she’s now a good eater (and still bf) at nearly 2.
Several others it seems have already weighed in here by mentioned Baby Led Weaning, but I have to add my two cents here.
There is some conventional wisdom coming through in this guide, as well as some contradictions that I feel like I have to point out.
You point out that solids are not a substitute for breast milk, but then suggest the use of food processors to provide “good nutrition.” You say the transition to solids for Baby Grok happened very slowly over several years, but suggest that we spoon feed them purees. You mention that it takes two years for children to develop adequate teeth to chew “real” food, but still suggest that we modify food much earlier than that so that they can consume it. You say you take issue with modern toddler/infant nutrition, but I don’t think you realize that you’re subscribing to it by promoting the use of baby food, homemade or not.
If you have to modify a food for a baby to eat it, they are not ready for that food. If they can’t bring it to their mouth themselves, they are not ready for it. There is never a need for a baby to be fed solids on a spoon.
Remember – “under one, food is for fun.” Until they are a year old, food is 100% about exploration. They are experiencing new tastes and textures, and it doesn’t matter one tiny bit how much actually ends up in their mouth. Mealtimes should be play time, time for the baby to mush, smash, squish, and maybe taste. Avocados and bananas are great. Anything naturally squishy, and also foods that can be gnawed on but not eaten – a whole carrot, a drumstick, foods in “stick” form like sweet potato spears. Nutrition doesn’t even come into it – all the nutrition they need comes from breast milk. ALL of it. No supplementation necessary.
Yogurt, fruit, and greens make a delicious, nutritious smoothie – for an adult. Babies are not miniature adults. Yes, it’s packed with nutrients – but it is still inferior to breast milk. Using baby food only displaces the amount of breast milk they consume, and THAT is where their nutrition should be coming from. For a child under 3, everything is inferior to breast milk. After about age 1, babies will start to eat enough to displace some of their milk consumption (of course it varies from kid to kid), and this is where letting them explore with REAL, unmodified food pays off.
Eating a sweet potato puree is not the same as eating a sweet potato spear. Why introduce babies to textures that they won’t encounter again? You basically have to start over with introducing foods, this time with a potentially picky toddler. If they’ve been eating the real thing all along, there’s no transition to make.
When you let a baby completely self-feed, they are in control. When you spoon feed, they have far less control. A baby who self-feeds can self-regulate, decide what they like (handy tip – don’t react to what they’re trying, not even with “MMM isn’t that good?!” Do nothing – it will pay off), stop when they’re full. Put them in control from the start, and reap the reward of fewer mealtime struggles down the line, and I don’t think it’s unreasonable to say that it can foster a more positive relationship with food as an adult.
And a biggie – giving babies solid food in pureed form teaches them to swallow solids before chewing them. The development of chewing is delayed, and it can actually cause a choking hazard when you think you’re preventing one.
Let’s not forget how much work making baby food is! Not only is it unnecessary, it’s incredibly time consuming, and mothers are overworked as it is. Not to mention the time saved at mealtime – no one has to feed the baby. You all sit down, offer some bits from your plate, and everyone eats at the same time.
Mark, I really hope that you will take the time to research Baby Led Weaning (honestly, a ten minute browse through their website is all it takes) and maybe modify your definitive guide – it is very, very far from definitive.
I forgot to mention that the use of baby food is a direct result of the wave formula feeding. Before formula and bottles, “baby led weaning” was just how babies were fed. Baby food came about when nearly all babies started to be bottle-fed, and it was just easy to add food directly to their bottles. Once it was in the bottles, there was no limit to how soon you could start the solids, whereas before it was only natural to wait until the baby was sitting and could feed themselves. We’re fortunately starting to realize that solids before 6 months is too soon (although there are many, many mothers following their mother’s and even doctor’s advice to start sooner), but we have yet to let go of the purees. Puts it in a different light when you know where it came from, right?
Glad to see others feeding their babies ABC (already been chewed food). My daughter, now 2, spit out the pureed stuff and even used her bib to wipe it off her tongue (at 6 months)…good girl! She wouldn’t eat mashed or processed, but would take solids directly from mom or dad’s mouth. She was slow getting teeth (still doesn’t have some in at 2 and a half) so we did this for a long time. We grossed a lot of people out but she was getting great food (salad, meat (mostly elk because we hunt, etc.) as soon as she wanted it and is very healthy. My husband and I referred to teath as natural food processors when anyone started freaking out. We’ll do the same with our second (now 5 months old).
I’m reading this long after it was posted. I’m new to the Primal World and was perusing your website. As a former nursing mom and La Leche League leader, I am still and probably will always read anything promoting breastfeeding. However, you fell into the mind set of “breastfeeding means less…(fill in the blanks-obesity, allergies, etc). Since breastfeeding is truly a primal food, analogies need to be worded such: xx% more obesity, XX% more allergies in artificially fed/ human milk substitute fed infants.
I didn’t do the jar thing. I did wean my ‘mostly ready baby’ at 15mo but that was because I was literally dying and the medicine I needed was toxic to the baby. People ask about babies and meat. Here is what I did (thank you british baby-led weaning folks) I cut steaks into strips that WOULDN’T come apart and choke him and let him at them with those gums. He had two front teeth top and bottow (total 4) but he would push the beef back to his molar region and those hard gums would mash and he would extract every single bit of flavour from the meat and leave a husk. same for broccoli. broccolini stems, chicken. I didn’t know about a lot of things but My year old plus toddler could eat all sorts of things. He ate greek yoghurt from a spoon (he fed himself but I loaded it up) Here is what I noticed. My baby (now 2yo) never really choked. If I give him a chunk of apple he chews it up. If he gets a grape he knows to bite down on it. My daughters boys were puree babies on formula and they STILL have to be reminded to chew their food. Still too picky. I have SO many food allergies that I’m terrified of limiting my diet again but I’m going Paleo for Lent to see If i can heal.
I’m all for nursing and did so with my first until past a year, but it got difficult (anemia, nausea, nipple sensitivity) when I was 3 months pregnant with #2 and had to stop against her will which made me feel guilty. I really felt like I was doing all I could but had to think of the next baby and myself. Now that I’m nursing my second girl, I’ve been pumping some for my first and she loves it but I can’t imagine her actually nursing again. Anyway, my point is that it’s very hard to keep up nursing while pregnant.
Mark thanks for posting this. I am so glad that you mention milksharing. It really is the more “traditional” or evolutionary way to feed a baby, in contrast with the much riskier practice of making one’s own formula (and of course the nasty “formula” which contains literally toxic ingredients). There are artifacts of primitive versions of “bottles” and a lot of babies died from being given animal milk. I’m so grateful to Emma Kwasnica for her work in creating an online replacement for the tribe- so women can find each other to share the amazing resource of human milk.
I just want to mention there is an inconsistency in your post, later on in the paragraph starting with “For older babies” you wrote that breastmilk can be purchased but is expensive. Its true its expensive through a milk bank–and its pasteurized through milk banks! But human milk can and should be a free-flowing resource that is widely available. That is why these new networks are so important, as well as breaking the modern cultural fear/unfamiliarity with the practice of milksharing.
This was so wonderful to see! Another great thing for babies is Baby Led Weaning/Baby Led Solids. I’ve yet to “make” baby food for either of my children and they get to sit up and eat with the whole family. My daughter was gnawing chicken of a leg at 9 months. It helps them much more than spooning mush into their mouths.
BRAVO!! As an infant and child development professional, I wish every parent on my caseload would read this article. Beautifully written!
Our son was crazy for guacamole from about six months age. He would eat it right off our fingertip. It was an occasional thing, because we did the whole extended nursing, attachment parenting thing. But my mom’s comment was priceless … one day I handed him over to her she said “why does this baby smell like garlic?”
“um, gee mom, I dunno…”