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April 2011 Moms
kmw326
member
nitrates and butternut squash
kmw326
member
Is anyone feeding LO butternut squash? I just made some then read that it can be high in nitrates and shouldn't be introduced until after 6 months. Some books and web sites list it as a first food, while others do not. I could swear that my pediatrician said we could give her squash.
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Re: nitrates and butternut squash
This is the first I've heard of this. I've been feeding my baby homemade butternut squash for 2 weeks. Wholesomebabyfood.com says you can introduce it at 4months and my pediatrician has it listed as a food we can give her.
My advice (and what I'm going to do)...watch LO for anything weird. If anything seems out of the norm, call your pedi.
Adventures with Amelia
Our pedi gave us a brochure published by the American Academy of Pediatricsabout introducing solids which warns not to make home made preparations of spinach, beets, turnips, carrots or collard greens due to possible high nitrates; no mention of any kind of squash. The brochure suggests buying a commercially prepared version of the listed foods if you want to introduce them because the companies screen for high nitrates. We've been using yams as our first food and plan to try avocado as our second.
good luck!
This might be helpful:
https://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/nitratearticle.htm
https://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/nitratearticle.htm
Here's some good info on Nitrates
At our 4 month appointment, our pedi said to be safe, we should avoid feeding homemade root vegetables due to the nitrates from the soil -- carrots & sweet potatoes fall into the category and were the 2 she called out. She said there is less chance of those nitrates in commercially sold food, but did not say they were nitrate free.
We haven't offered solids yet anyway, and when I'm prepared too in the coming weeks, I think DD's stomach will be old enough to handle it just fine either way. That being said, I'll probably avoid making my own roots veggies for a little while. I'll start with rice, avocado & banana and go from there.