Weaning the Allergens – Our True Experiences!

I came across to an article about the process of withdrawing infant formula milk and instituting babies’ nourishment with other food. I love reading about baby’s development and when I found out this piece of writing, my mind scream hysterically as we had mistakenly understood the weaning routes our baby should have.

According to The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), solid foods should be introduced to baby around six months of age to ensure she receives proper nutrition. However, keep in mind there are a number of foods that we should not give to our baby until she is older, including:

1. Wheat: Wheat is the most common grain allergen so baby should not take wheat or wheat products until she is six to eight months old and can handle rice and oats.
2. Honey: Honey can harbor spores of botulism, which can grow and produce life-threatening toxins in your baby’s intestinal tract. Do not give baby honey until she is older than one year. (Never do as I don’t like honey as well)
3. Cow’s Milk: Giving a baby cow’s milk too early can cause childhood allergies. Wait to introduce cow’s milk until she is one year old. (ermm, I’m having disparity clinch with this idea..i’ll tell u later…)
4. Eggs: Infants older than nine months can have egg yolks, but wait until the baby is older than one year to give her the protein-rich whites. (Never do!)
5. Citrus: before giving citrus juice to baby, check with pediatrician as it can cause allergies. (Yeah, we gave some sack of fresh oranges to Sophie…I don’t know about this either)…
   
6. Peanuts: Peanuts and peanut butter can cause violent allergic reactions and shouldn’t be given to children younger than 3 years old. (Never do, because I already know peanut has been voted as the allergen of the year!).

Talking about allergies, I had a chance to visit an allergy convention together with my superior somewhere in Bandar Utama last few months. We were there to meet our client, who is the organizer of the event. While waiting delegation to wrap up their presentation, I approached a N**t** booth just to look around their products and I asked them about their infant formula milk (which I thought maybe good to change current milk to their brand). They gave me a very detail booklet, – about their scientific research and bla –bla –bla of their formula milk which is also allergy free tested! So once I went home, I told Babah that we should change Sophie’s current *2* Gold to this *a* by N**t**. Then we bought that so called allergy-free formula milk.

Regrettably, Sophie didn’t really into this milk and her stools became worse and she continuously having diarrhea. What a waste! And pity to my lil’ girl! Babah blamed me for my immediate-jump-to-conclusion-sense and said our baby is not an experiment thingy (My bad, as before that, I told him about the scientific research of this product that sounds incredibly convincing!). Later we changed back to the initial brand. I got lessons; the best researched brand doesn’t mean it suits Sophie’s stomach well, in fact the allergy-free term used was merely turned into endangered toxic.

I got another story to share! I have a friend whose son (aged 9 months) refuses to drink milk (whatever named milk), as his grandparents often give him junk food with a reason “Alah, just give him some to taste”. The “some-to -taste” idea has swiftly cultivating his habitual action to taste more and more. End up, he refuses to drink milk, loves eating junks and these have really made his mother fall in great apprehensiveness.

In a nutshell, foods and solids reflect the inner growth of babies’ brain. As mothers; we should select the best nutritious solids for our babies during this momentous milestone. YES, please avoid the allergens and do plan properly for your loved angels!

A six months old baby is now on board!!

Announcing the arrival of ‘half-mature’ month for year 2009~ Yeahhhhh a six  months old baby is now on board! Hehe on 26^th February 2009 and it was equivalent to 6 months that Sophie has mouthful-of-air in this world.

The six months baby ~gotten a lovely kiss from babah..

Howdy! Can we look at her development milestones…? And here they go….

1. Sophie can crawl, but yet can’t move forward energetically (but she still trying!) and she is kind of grouchy when she can’t perform the moving forward action. Adakah mama yang bersalah? No, Sophie you got to try slowly but do maintain your effort!  Finally you’ll be a successful crawler! (Mama whispered to her- like she understands ; p!)

2. The furious fist of Sophie’s hands getting stronger! (kinda d.e.f.i.a.nt). Hmm, accompanying her to sleep for these few recent nights were really tough jobs! I usually pat her but now she’s patting me back. Then who’s cuddling who? Other than scratching, she has also gotten a furious fist that punches any part of our body at anywhere she likes! Beware guys!

3. I don’t have any idea why at present she loves groaning and moaning! Husky voices uttered!

4. The “No-no” words! – Because of her fast grabbing hands, fist punching me, pull out my hair and other aggressive actions, I always say “No, Sophie! It’s hurt! Don’t!” blah blah blah. So I’ve been thinking that is it OK if she is too often hearing these negative words. Do I write sins? I just can’t think the best words to say. Even at this young age, she has picking up on my emotional cues but like always, she rebels and still continuing the trial.

5. She eats fresh and fruity food! A new taste..walla ~  Name the fruits; banana, pear and naval oranges. Name the veges; carrots, potatoes, and pumpkins. Name the juices, apple and pear. Name the cereals; rice with honey, chicken-vege porridge, and Rusk biscuits (cereal ker ni? Ahh boleylah) ..Yey yummy and happy weaning, Sophie!

6. Taller and taller – weeeuuu. Sophie is getting taller. All old outfits were safely-handled and folded into a box. One thing for sure, more moneys keep on accruing out from our pockets to afford Sophie’s new clothes. Huhu.

Can’t wait to see her growing up!

I’m mamababahs’ big girl!