Media Release:

Parents should start lumpy foods early, prevent problems later...

Delaying a baby's progress from puree to lumps may result in fussy eating that continues into the school-age years, latest research reveals.

Rafferty's Garden nutritionist Karen Kingham quotes a survey of more than 7800 mothers of children born in the South West of England.

Researchers found babies introduced to lumpy solids later than nine months had more restrictive eating patterns and ate a less varied diet with fewer fruits and vegetables at 7 years of age, than those children introduced to lumps earlier.

This result also appears to have tracked from early childhood. When the same mothers were questioned in 2001, children introduced to lumps later were considered more difficult feeders and were less likely to be eating family foods at 15 months of age.

These results reinforce the opinion that a critical window of between 6 and 9 months exists for the introduction of lumpy or textured food. To miss this may result in feeding issues that extend beyond early childhood into the school-age years.

The transition from milk to solids at around 6 months of age is an exciting but often daunting time for parents.

Karen Kingham, mother of two and dietitian has many tips for making this first journey with food an enjoyable one.

Karen's tips include:

1. Read the signs: Look for your baby's cues for solids readiness:
• Sitting with support and a steady head
• Sucking/chewing on anything reach
• Tongue thrust reflex ideal for sucking (and pushing out food) disappears
• Milk feeds may not satisfy
• Lots of interest in what you eat
  
  
2. Start right: First solids are more about experience than nutrition. Solids come after milk with just small tastes to start
   
   
3. Keep it simple: Rice cereal is a great first food - bland, low fibre, gluten free and easy to digest. Make it runnier at first thickening it up as they get the hang of it
   
   
4. Make it tastier: Don't dawdle over cereal. Move on to new tastes with fruits and vegetables - think stewed pears and steamed pumpkin
   
   
5. Take your time: Offer one new food at a time, and for few days, before trying another. If reluctant to try a new food, offer another and come back to it later. It may take 10 or more tastes before baby accepts a new food.
   
   
6. Move on texture: Smooth puree is just for starting out so avoid lingering on this stage. Thicker lumpier blends or fork mash can be offered once baby has the hang of eating off a spoon – typically towards the end of their first month on solids.
   
   
7. Expand the menu: From nine to 12 months bring some adventure to the menu with simple family foods, modified in texture when necessary, and hone emerging motor skills with soft finger foods.

For more tips on how to encourage your children to enjoy their food and experience a wide variety of flavours, see www.raffertysgarden.com.

About Rafferty's Garden
Rafferty's Garden is a premium baby food range of products produced and sold in Australia. Launched in 2007, the range has been enjoying unprecedented growth with all its products and is now the number 2 range in its category in Australian supermarkets. Rafferty's has seven ranges of premium baby food, which range from cereals and smooth purees suitable for babies from 4 months, to a "lumpy" range for toddlers.

References

• Coulthard H, Harris G, Emmett P. Delayed introduction of lumpy foods to children during the complementary feeding period affects child's food acceptance and feeding at 7 years of age. Child and Maternal Nutrition. 2009:5;75-85
• Northstone K, Emmett P, Nethersole F & the ALSPAC study team. The effect of age of introduction to lumpy solids on foods eaten and reported feeding difficulties at 6 and 15 months. Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics. 2001:14;43-54

Mum Zone Release Date: 21st July 2009

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