Oranges...

[Harmony83]

Okay another silly question...
I bought this really cool thing today called a 'fresh food feeder' basically its a small teething ring with a little mesh bag attached, and you put frozen fruit (melon, berries etc) or ice chips in it and bubs munches or sucks away.... Apparently its really good for teething or trying fruit without choking. Anyways I put a small piece of orange in it and gave it to bubs and he thought he was in baby heaven, sucking all the orange juice and chewing away. Now I am wondering if he is too young for orange (juice), he is 6 months old... What are you thoughts...

[Imogensmum]

As far as i know orange is fine as long as bub doesn't have excema- because i know citrus fruit can sometimes flair it up..

Where did you get the ring from- i think its a fantastic idea and i'd love to get one?

[Harmony83]

I got it from Big W, I think its only a new thing or maybe an out of stock thing, cause it was on its own with other stuff and I couldn't find the price for it?? Anyway it was $6.95 and its from Tommy Tippee and I thought it was a really good idea too!!!

[cwsmum]

Hi
I did a similar thing when DS was younger. I just used a piece of muslin, folded so it was double thickness to start with. I tied string around the top to keep it closed and also to attach it to the highchair so he didn't drop it on the floor and to make it easy to get out of his mouth when he tried to put the whole thing in there...which he did alot :p
He was having oranges and mandarins from about 6mths old without a problem too :)

[Harmony83]

Oh good, because he is absolutely hooked on them!!

[mimi]

Hi there

I guess as others have said, he is not 'too young' for juice as such - but I am thinking about the recommendation that 'no baby or toddler NEEDS any juice' [nutritionaly speaking :)] and when it is introduced it should be diluted. I will 'copy and paste' here, the section on fruit juice, from the NHMRC [Australian infant feeding guidelines]

QUOTE:
"Fruit juice offers no nutritional benefits to infants under 6months of age and its consumption may lead to a reduced nutrient intake from breastmilk.
After 6months, consumption of whole fruit is recommended instead.

Fruit juices are suitable for children in modest quantities, but excessive consumption by young children has been associated with gastrointestinal symptoms, failure to thrive, decreased appetite and loose stools.

If pure fruit juice is given to infants, it can be diluted with an equal amount of water. Fruit juices that are commercially prepared for infants and young children have usually been already diluted to less than 4per cent total sugars.

For older children and adolescents, questions about sugar-containing drinks and the risk of obesity arise. Milk drinks or water are good substitutes.

The following recommendations apply to the use of fruit juice :
• Juice should not be introduced into the diet of infants before 6 months of age.
• Infants should not be given juice from bottles or easily transportable covered cups that allow them to consume juice easily throughout the day.
• Infants should not be given juice at bedtime.
• For children aged 1 to 6years, the intake of fruit juice should be limited to about 150millilitres a day. For children aged 7 to 18 years, juice intake should be limited to 240–360millilitres a day (two servings a day).
• Children should be encouraged to eat whole fruits to meet their recommended daily fruit intake." end quote.

I am sure using this occassionally is not going to cause great problems - and I think apart from the acid/sugar problems with juice [leading to dental caries] the worry is also that babies will 'fill up' on juice and not get their required intake of milk or other foods????

Sorry to be the 'juice-party pooper'!! :D