Flax for Infants

Look it up on the Dr. Sears website. I can't remember how old my son was when I started adding flax. He had a problem with constipation and the flax really helped. I would mix it in with smoothies so he may have been more like a year or year and a half. You could always start things like avacados. I think for the first year, children need fat for brain development.

Good luck.

I would ask a nutritionist, but I think ground flaxseed would be too much roughage. I would use the oil instead in minute amounts, like a few drops say.
As for transitioning from breast to solids, I personally had breast fed my boys for 2yrs each and did the solids and at about 12 months changed to as regular food as possible but just in the appropriate bite size. Unless you're going back to work soon, I'd try to stay with the breast feeding as long as possible. I got down to 2 main feedings a day when the solids started. Then closer to 18 months just did 1 feeding at night. I know not all moms have patience for nursing but I truly feel that the nursing is for the baby first you second, and a wonderful calming experience for the both of you. You have my support....

We gave our son flax seed oil starting pretty young. I don't remember an exact age, but it seems to me he was still nursing, so sometime before 13 months. We saw a lot of benefits from it.

Dr. Cristine Wood has some great ideas on how to feed your kids and make it nutritious. Check out her web site:
www.Kidseatgreat.com

Nutritionals you can trust www.jerrbiz.usana.com

Yes Yes! I have been giving my daughter flax since 3 months (in dropper with the oil) for Eczema. When she was 3 months old we switched to ground flax and it worked wonderful. You can use a little at first and try it for 3-7 days and see if there is a reaction. Also a good start to fats is avocado my dd loves it! Don't forget only a tablespoon of fresh breast milk will keep up your babies immunity. I really like the book Super Baby Food. What a wonderful mom you are to be thinking about this option on your first baby!

I've been mixing a tsp or so of ground flax into my daughter's cereal and/or yogurt since she was six mos. (she's now seventeen mos.). No problems whatsoever. And she has never been constipated in her life, which along with the good fats may be an added benefit.

Hi, C.! I started putting flax seed oil in my daughter's yogurt when she was about 10-12 months old. I swear it helped her cognitive development, and so does my daycare provider. I would highly recommend using it. You can buy the oil in the refrigerated section of Whole Foods or Vitamin Cottage.
Happy spring,
S.

P.S. I read your "little about me" and have to say, I know how you feel! I became a mom at 34 for the first time, too, and was so overwhelmed with how amazingly beautiful it is. Aaaahhhh.

I wouldn't worry about the flaxseed at this point. At 10 months, though, your child should be eating more variety than cereal. As far as transitioning from nursing to solids... It used to be said to wait until 4 months, now it is said to wait until 6 months. You can tell child readiness by interest in food and the ability to take the food into the mouth with a spoon. Did you wait until 10 months to transition to solids? At 10 months your child is more than ready for solids. From 6-9 months you try the cereals, pureed fruits & vegies. At 10 months you can introduce finger foods. I guess you could bake flaxseed into bread or muffins or cookies. Start serving water in a bottle or sippy cup with meals. Breastfeed/give bottle of milk in the morning, at night, and/or for snacks. At this point, I started the slow process of weaning. I wanted my child weaned at 12 months. You don't need to transition to solid foods --- just do it. There are lots of books/magazines out there with ideas of what foods would work. Babies eating solids is messy but fun!

absolutely -- i try to give some to my son (same age) every day. read "Super Baby Food" by Ruth Yaron for some great suggestions on natural, healthy feeding for babies. good luck!