WEBVTT - Seize The Bébé // Starting Solids (Part 1) 0:00:00.120 --> 0:00:04.200 Welcome to the Sees the Yay Podcast. Busy and happy, 0:00:04.240 --> 0:00:06.840 but tired and worn, just some of the feelings when 0:00:06.920 --> 0:00:10.520 baby is born. There's magic, elation, there's chaos and tears, 0:00:10.560 --> 0:00:13.200 but everyone goes through the same hopes and fears. So 0:00:13.360 --> 0:00:16.240 this is a segment we hope helps you feel supported 0:00:16.280 --> 0:00:19.360 and valid. The mum juggles real, the good, bad, the ugly, 0:00:19.440 --> 0:00:21.960 the best and worst day. It's part of the journey 0:00:22.000 --> 0:00:25.479 to seize the Babe. I'm Sarah Davidson, a lawyer turned 0:00:25.720 --> 0:00:27.880 entrepreneur who hung up the suits and heels to co 0:00:28.000 --> 0:00:30.800 found Macha Maiden, a Macha Milk Bar, become a TV 0:00:30.920 --> 0:00:33.720 and radio presenter, and of course host The Sees the 0:00:33.800 --> 0:00:36.680 Ya Podcast. This year, I added motherhood to that list, 0:00:36.680 --> 0:00:38.559 which is the best job I've ever had with our 0:00:38.560 --> 0:00:41.760 beautiful baby Teddy, and this segment was designed to house 0:00:41.840 --> 0:00:45.200 all the conversations we've been having about parenthood. We'll still 0:00:45.240 --> 0:00:47.760 do our regular episodes, and just like real life, it's 0:00:47.800 --> 0:00:51.479 a constant balance between our parent identity and everything else. 0:00:51.640 --> 0:00:54.120 I hope you guys enjoy this segment as much as 0:00:54.160 --> 0:01:03.480 I have enjoyed creating it. Welcome to a very hotly 0:01:03.520 --> 0:01:07.240 awaited episode of Seize the Baby, and by hotly awaited, 0:01:07.400 --> 0:01:10.840 I mean we had so many submitted questions from you guys, 0:01:10.880 --> 0:01:12.960 but possibly even more came up in my own brain, 0:01:13.040 --> 0:01:15.040 so this is a bit of a selfish episode as well. 0:01:15.560 --> 0:01:19.920 Pretty Much every area of parenting is overwhelming, sometimes confusing, 0:01:20.280 --> 0:01:24.000 energy intensive, but I think starting solids is right up 0:01:24.000 --> 0:01:25.800 there at the top of that list in the early days, 0:01:25.800 --> 0:01:27.839 so it's one of the first topics I wanted to cover, 0:01:28.040 --> 0:01:30.880 and after a few false starts in recording, we finally 0:01:30.920 --> 0:01:33.760 got there. Most of you also follow along on socials, 0:01:33.760 --> 0:01:36.360 so you'll probably already have heard about Nourishing Bubs and 0:01:36.400 --> 0:01:39.319 how game changing has been for Teddy's introduction to solids. 0:01:39.600 --> 0:01:42.360 But if you don't know, it's a beautiful Australian business 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:45.000 using one hundred percent Aussie fruits and veggies to create 0:01:45.040 --> 0:01:49.280 individually portioned frozen baby food pures and foods, plus a 0:01:49.440 --> 0:01:53.520 ground breaking allergen intro pack. They're delivered to your door 0:01:53.600 --> 0:01:55.840 and make it so easy to start the process of 0:01:55.880 --> 0:01:59.120 introducing foods, taking away so much stress and really freeing 0:01:59.240 --> 0:02:03.200 up your time. But possibly even more stressful is also 0:02:03.320 --> 0:02:07.880 waiting through the timing of introducing solids, the volume, the methods, 0:02:07.920 --> 0:02:11.040 and so much other information. Even now, I still have 0:02:11.120 --> 0:02:14.359 so many questions on a daily basis. So I am 0:02:14.480 --> 0:02:18.760 thrilled that the incredible Nourishing Bubs founder, pediatric dietitian and 0:02:18.840 --> 0:02:22.000 nutritionist Olivia Bates joins us for this episode to share 0:02:22.120 --> 0:02:25.640 her wealth of knowledge. And it was such an incredible chat, 0:02:25.639 --> 0:02:28.760 covering so much detail that I've actually split it into 0:02:28.880 --> 0:02:31.679 a two parter, so we will be talking about when 0:02:31.720 --> 0:02:34.040 to start solids and how you do it in the 0:02:34.080 --> 0:02:37.079 first part, which you're getting today, and then the separate 0:02:37.120 --> 0:02:41.000 section because it is so detailed on allergens, will drop 0:02:41.160 --> 0:02:44.840 next week to follow. As always, every baby is different 0:02:44.919 --> 0:02:48.200 and every family has different preferences, priorities, and needs, so 0:02:48.240 --> 0:02:51.280 we will be talking general information and referring to the 0:02:51.320 --> 0:02:53.960 studies that the information is pulled from, but of course 0:02:53.960 --> 0:02:56.920 it will vary for each individual and family. I'll also 0:02:56.919 --> 0:02:59.080 include links to everything we mentioned in the show notes, 0:02:59.080 --> 0:03:01.320 but in the meantime, I hope you find this one 0:03:01.400 --> 0:03:04.800 as useful as I did. Olivia, Welcome to the show. 0:03:05.720 --> 0:03:07.800 I'm so excited to be here, Sarah. Thank you so 0:03:07.880 --> 0:03:08.520 much for having me. 0:03:08.919 --> 0:03:11.359 Oh, thank you so much for joining I mean we've 0:03:11.360 --> 0:03:14.800 had multiple attempts, multiple this morning, but multiple before this also. 0:03:15.560 --> 0:03:18.640 I know it seems like a journey, but it's meant to. 0:03:18.680 --> 0:03:22.400 Be, absolutely meant to be. We actually tried before Christmas 0:03:22.440 --> 0:03:25.000 and there were tech issues and then there was mum 0:03:25.040 --> 0:03:27.359 life issues. But I said to you before we started 0:03:27.360 --> 0:03:30.320 recording that Teddy's actually had you know, more questions have 0:03:30.360 --> 0:03:32.200 come up this week that I wanted to ask you. 0:03:32.240 --> 0:03:34.760 So I feel like timing always works itself out in 0:03:34.800 --> 0:03:35.520 a crazy way. 0:03:35.800 --> 0:03:39.000 Yes, no, that's awesome. Yeah know, so it is funny. 0:03:39.000 --> 0:03:41.040 I'm sure things like as you're approaching that one year 0:03:41.120 --> 0:03:43.920 mark like it just it's such a constant process as well. 0:03:44.040 --> 0:03:46.040 So yes, I'm glad it's all worked out, and I'm 0:03:46.080 --> 0:03:46.960 so excited to be. 0:03:47.000 --> 0:03:51.080 Here constant learning journey, and I'm especially grateful to have 0:03:51.200 --> 0:03:54.920 you because you have been such a pivotal part of 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:56.800 Teddy's journey. And I think I, you know, as I 0:03:56.840 --> 0:03:58.520 do approach that one you mark, which oh my god, 0:03:58.520 --> 0:04:01.400 I can't even believe it, look back at the businesses 0:04:01.400 --> 0:04:04.720 and the people and sort of the experiences that have 0:04:05.480 --> 0:04:08.480 formed what your motherhood journey has looked like and what 0:04:08.480 --> 0:04:11.080 that first year has looked like, and you've been really 0:04:11.120 --> 0:04:14.160 a big part of making our life easier and our 0:04:14.160 --> 0:04:17.480 experience better, like measurably better than it would have been 0:04:17.520 --> 0:04:19.800 without you. So I'm very, very grateful for you. 0:04:20.320 --> 0:04:22.920 That honestly means a lot. And you've been so supportive 0:04:22.960 --> 0:04:25.400 of the business. And I've just yeah, loved just watching 0:04:25.440 --> 0:04:27.760 the journey and watching you guys really flourish as parents 0:04:27.800 --> 0:04:30.440 because I was following your journey before you felt pregnant. 0:04:30.560 --> 0:04:33.960 I've been following since mattibated, so as I told you before, 0:04:34.120 --> 0:04:37.320 so big time follower, and it's just been amazing to watch, 0:04:37.560 --> 0:04:39.480 really such a joy for me to be part of it. 0:04:39.520 --> 0:04:40.359 So thank you. 0:04:40.880 --> 0:04:43.360 Oh well, that's really special, and it's I think one 0:04:43.400 --> 0:04:46.200 of the great privileges of social media is that you 0:04:46.279 --> 0:04:48.880 can follow people through different chapters of their lives. And 0:04:48.920 --> 0:04:50.760 I love that you know, you have been around since 0:04:50.760 --> 0:04:53.599 then when motherhood was so far from my mind, and 0:04:53.680 --> 0:04:56.520 yet now you know we've reconnected in this new chapter. 0:04:56.640 --> 0:04:59.800 So we have so many questions, like it is just 0:05:00.160 --> 0:05:03.800 starting solids is one of the most overwhelming, information dense 0:05:04.160 --> 0:05:07.720 chapters of parenting and of life for a little one. 0:05:07.760 --> 0:05:10.039 But you know, I love the story as well. So 0:05:10.120 --> 0:05:12.520 before we get into the many, many questions that have 0:05:12.560 --> 0:05:15.160 been submitted that I have, can you tell us a 0:05:15.160 --> 0:05:19.280 little bit about your background in eddiatric dietetics and what 0:05:19.320 --> 0:05:22.120 that means, and then you know how Narish and Bubbs 0:05:22.240 --> 0:05:22.760 came about. 0:05:23.160 --> 0:05:26.120 Yeah, absolutely so. I when I came out of Unich. Look, 0:05:26.160 --> 0:05:28.040 I always wanted to do something in the baby space. 0:05:28.080 --> 0:05:29.880 I actually used to want to be a pediatrician, but 0:05:30.279 --> 0:05:32.160 to be blatantly honest, I was like, I don't think 0:05:32.200 --> 0:05:34.840 I can do that many years at Uni, so I 0:05:35.080 --> 0:05:37.440 sort of was like, I need to do something else. 0:05:37.960 --> 0:05:40.000 Decided to be a dietitian because I also loved food 0:05:40.040 --> 0:05:42.360 and wanted to be a chef at one point, and 0:05:42.640 --> 0:05:45.000 was like, I found dietetics. And then when I came 0:05:45.040 --> 0:05:46.840 out of Union, I worked for an almond milk company, 0:05:46.880 --> 0:05:49.039 so I went straight into the food space, and I 0:05:49.040 --> 0:05:51.240 guess I just got really exposed to that potential to 0:05:51.279 --> 0:05:54.640 influence the food supply, which sort of sounds a bit ridiculous, 0:05:54.680 --> 0:05:56.200 but like, you know, instead of just doing one on 0:05:56.200 --> 0:05:58.880 one consult so you can ultimately like influence the food 0:05:58.920 --> 0:06:02.000 people have. And then inevitably I was like, you know, 0:06:02.040 --> 0:06:03.960 walking down the baby food asal and at the time 0:06:04.000 --> 0:06:07.600 it was very much like shelf stable squeezes and jars 0:06:07.600 --> 0:06:09.719 of food, and I was like, this is actually gross, 0:06:09.760 --> 0:06:12.680 like beef that's sat in a pouch for like two 0:06:12.760 --> 0:06:15.799 years and like so heat treated, and I'm like yuck. 0:06:15.920 --> 0:06:17.680 Like I'm like, this is worse than what we'd feed 0:06:17.720 --> 0:06:20.400 like pets, So why are we not doing better for kids? 0:06:20.400 --> 0:06:21.919 So I guess I really just wanted to take it 0:06:21.960 --> 0:06:25.039 back to basics. And this was back in twenty seventeen. 0:06:25.120 --> 0:06:27.160 I sort of well, I think twenty sixteen I came 0:06:27.240 --> 0:06:30.159 up with the concept and then we launched in twenty seventeen. 0:06:30.279 --> 0:06:33.040 So actually it's been quite a few years now. It's 0:06:33.080 --> 0:06:35.240 definitely been, you know, as you would know, such a 0:06:35.360 --> 0:06:39.640 rollercoaster journey. We've been in Woolworks during COVID years, which 0:06:39.680 --> 0:06:43.320 really was an interesting, interesting journey to say the least. 0:06:43.800 --> 0:06:47.480 It's definitely tested me. But it's yeah, like we're the 0:06:47.600 --> 0:06:49.280 last twelve months, I would say, we've seen a lot 0:06:49.320 --> 0:06:51.440 of growth and it's really like turned a corner. The 0:06:51.440 --> 0:06:53.960 Allergen Pack's been really amazing for us, and we've been 0:06:54.000 --> 0:06:56.480 really trying to pump out more products and yeah, it's 0:06:56.520 --> 0:06:58.600 just really coming to But I'm just like, I've always 0:06:58.640 --> 0:07:01.640 just loved babies, loved the baby space. I don't have 0:07:01.680 --> 0:07:04.120 any yet of my own, although it's a work in progress. 0:07:04.160 --> 0:07:08.000 But yeah, I'm just obsessed with kids, anything I can 0:07:08.040 --> 0:07:10.200 do to help them, and I just think I really 0:07:10.240 --> 0:07:12.800 wanted to make it easier for parents, Like I just 0:07:12.800 --> 0:07:15.880 found there is so, as you said, so much overwhelming information, 0:07:16.080 --> 0:07:19.480 some really conflicting information. I think when you're sleep deprived 0:07:19.480 --> 0:07:21.160 and you're like, I have no idea what I'm doing, 0:07:21.200 --> 0:07:23.840 and then you look something up and one person saying this, 0:07:23.880 --> 0:07:26.680 one person saying that, including your GP and your obstetrician 0:07:26.680 --> 0:07:29.040 and your midwife and your mom and your mother in law, 0:07:29.040 --> 0:07:31.080 and everyone has something to say, and it's like, oh 0:07:31.120 --> 0:07:34.160 my god, Like what do I do? Just give me 0:07:34.200 --> 0:07:36.840 a straight answer. So yeah, I just wanted to really 0:07:36.880 --> 0:07:39.080 alleviate that pressure. And a lot of what we do 0:07:39.160 --> 0:07:41.840 is also education as well around it. So yeah, that's 0:07:41.880 --> 0:07:42.520 important to me. 0:07:42.760 --> 0:07:45.200 I mean, you absolutely have done that, and perhaps to 0:07:45.280 --> 0:07:48.320 a fault, I think in that sleep deprived chapter. For 0:07:48.360 --> 0:07:51.560 me personally, anyway, it's almost like once you sort of 0:07:51.560 --> 0:07:54.160 start with all the overwhelming information and then you kind 0:07:54.160 --> 0:07:57.680 of choose your trusted sources in each area. And I 0:07:57.720 --> 0:08:00.320 almost kind of once I decided, like Olivia is my 0:08:00.360 --> 0:08:04.960 trusted source in food, I kind of but like maybe 0:08:05.120 --> 0:08:06.960 other parents might listen and go, you could have like 0:08:06.960 --> 0:08:09.240 maybe research a little bit more, But I kind of like, 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:11.920 once I decide a person is my authority in that area, 0:08:11.960 --> 0:08:13.960 because you're just so you have to block out everything 0:08:14.000 --> 0:08:15.520 else because once you make a decision, you got to 0:08:15.600 --> 0:08:18.920 kind of roll with it. It became like you became 0:08:19.040 --> 0:08:21.760 my trusted source, and then I've just done literally everything 0:08:21.760 --> 0:08:23.800 that you've told me to do, like like. 0:08:25.320 --> 0:08:26.920 Look, look he's looking great. 0:08:27.080 --> 0:08:36.080 So yeah, yeah. I also think what's really beautiful is 0:08:36.120 --> 0:08:39.320 that we just had an episode like on our sort 0:08:39.360 --> 0:08:42.520 of guest interview for Bluth. It was the founder of 0:08:42.559 --> 0:08:45.520 Blue Thumb Art and he's like a multimillion dollar art 0:08:45.559 --> 0:08:47.719 tech founder, but he knew nothing about art. And I 0:08:47.720 --> 0:08:50.160 think what's really interesting about your stories. You would assume 0:08:50.280 --> 0:08:53.600 he came out of your own personal frustration as a mum, 0:08:53.920 --> 0:08:57.360 but it was your passion for your skill and your 0:08:57.720 --> 0:09:00.240 your passion for the food industry that you could walk 0:09:00.280 --> 0:09:02.440 down the baby food aisle without buying any of that 0:09:02.520 --> 0:09:04.560 and still be passionate enough to start a business. Like 0:09:04.640 --> 0:09:07.439 I think people don't believe that if they're not personally 0:09:07.520 --> 0:09:09.840 connected at the time, they can't make a good idea. 0:09:10.200 --> 0:09:12.640 Yeah, no, that like and people are always like, surely 0:09:12.679 --> 0:09:15.160 you have children, you have children, right, And I'm like, no, way, 0:09:15.440 --> 0:09:18.080 I actually don't. Like I obviously love kids, and I 0:09:18.120 --> 0:09:21.120 can't wait I have babiesat forel like half of Sydney's children, 0:09:21.160 --> 0:09:23.920 and like, I know, I know kids well, Like I 0:09:24.000 --> 0:09:26.400 do know kids well, and I have had experience like 0:09:26.440 --> 0:09:28.760 feeding children understand like some of the you know, the 0:09:28.800 --> 0:09:31.640 battles and whatever. But I yeah, it's it's very much 0:09:31.720 --> 0:09:34.880 you know from I come at it from the Dietitian perspective, like, 0:09:35.120 --> 0:09:37.600 you know, knowing what I would want to feed my 0:09:37.679 --> 0:09:40.559 child when I'm a parent, So yes, I am. I'm 0:09:40.600 --> 0:09:43.120 aiming for the ideal, but I'm also very I have 0:09:43.200 --> 0:09:46.240 that experience enough experience with kids to also know, like, yes, 0:09:46.679 --> 0:09:48.400 you might feed them the perfect meal and they might 0:09:48.440 --> 0:09:49.880 throw it on the floor and choose to have a 0:09:49.920 --> 0:09:52.000 hot ship or something, you know, Like I one hundred 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:55.320 percent understand, but I wanted to like simplify it, Like 0:09:55.360 --> 0:09:57.440 I just wanted to make it as simple as possible 0:09:57.440 --> 0:10:00.240 and go here you go. So I yeah, so I 0:10:00.240 --> 0:10:03.160 I think I like really resonated with that. I mean 0:10:03.200 --> 0:10:05.200 I do say to my husband like, I think I 0:10:05.240 --> 0:10:10.240 need my child for marketing purposes, so it's really good 0:10:10.280 --> 0:10:14.160 for advertising. But but you know, my my I will come. 0:10:14.200 --> 0:10:17.240 But it's yeah, no, it's always an unusual and to 0:10:17.280 --> 0:10:20.000 be honest, sometimes I'm a bit nervous about people I'm 0:10:20.000 --> 0:10:22.840 not a parent and I do as a business owner 0:10:22.840 --> 0:10:24.600 as something that I battle with and I have been 0:10:24.600 --> 0:10:26.600 told by like you know when I've looked at investor 0:10:26.640 --> 0:10:28.160 things as well, They're like, yeah, I wouldn't lead with 0:10:28.200 --> 0:10:29.920 the fact that you're not a mum, Like that's just 0:10:29.960 --> 0:10:33.199 not a good leader. I was like, okay, wow, yeah, 0:10:33.240 --> 0:10:35.720 I have been told, and I'm like okay, So sometimes 0:10:35.720 --> 0:10:37.880 I shy away from being like, oh, yeah, I'm not 0:10:37.880 --> 0:10:38.520 a mum yet. 0:10:38.600 --> 0:10:42.040 So yeah, that's really interesting. But I just think that 0:10:42.080 --> 0:10:45.320 it's a it's from a business perspective, like before we 0:10:45.360 --> 0:10:47.679 even get to the actual practical stuff. For anyone listening 0:10:47.720 --> 0:10:49.679 who does have an idea, but they do think that 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:52.240 that excludes them from an industry. I absolutely think you're 0:10:52.280 --> 0:10:53.680 an amazing example that it doesn't. 0:10:54.200 --> 0:10:56.240 Yeah, yeah, I hope so, and I hope that, Like 0:10:56.320 --> 0:10:58.199 I mean, I will be the one that will sit 0:10:58.240 --> 0:11:00.400 there and talk babies with your telecows come home, like 0:11:00.440 --> 0:11:02.840 I'm very happy to do that, like but I love 0:11:02.960 --> 0:11:05.120 them so like I'm just like I was the little 0:11:05.120 --> 0:11:07.160 girl that was like I just want to go back 0:11:07.200 --> 0:11:11.439 and I want my baby born, Like I was obsessed 0:11:11.480 --> 0:11:13.480 with my baby born. If you're from the nineties, you 0:11:13.520 --> 0:11:17.280 know what I'm talking about. But like, yeah, I loved it. 0:11:17.360 --> 0:11:20.240 Where's the nappies? Like, yeah, that's all that's so sweet? 0:11:21.559 --> 0:11:24.760 Well, yeah, I mean talking about education and alleviating the 0:11:25.280 --> 0:11:28.920 overwhelm and stress and also lack of options. Really, at 0:11:28.920 --> 0:11:31.560 the time that you started, you have absolutely done that. 0:11:31.679 --> 0:11:36.079 Above and beyond. From a personal anecdotal perspective. You can 0:11:36.080 --> 0:11:38.960 borrow Teddy and make him a little mascot for now 0:11:39.000 --> 0:11:43.360 because it has truly been like since I was looking back, 0:11:43.640 --> 0:11:48.040 he's my post. His first box was around early September 0:11:48.120 --> 0:11:50.440 last year, so I worked out that's just a bit 0:11:50.520 --> 0:11:53.439 before six months. So one of the main areas of 0:11:53.520 --> 0:11:55.839 questions that I had and that a lot of people have, 0:11:55.920 --> 0:11:59.320 I've divided everyone submitted questions into like when, what, how, 0:11:59.760 --> 0:12:02.880 and and allergens and then sort of other So maybe 0:12:02.880 --> 0:12:05.959 we could start with when I assume for you that's 0:12:05.960 --> 0:12:08.040 sort of also when you know you have to think 0:12:08.080 --> 0:12:10.360 about when you start marketing to people and when your 0:12:10.400 --> 0:12:12.960 product is going to become relevant. So what are your 0:12:13.080 --> 0:12:17.000 thoughts on I thought that the most literature sort of 0:12:17.200 --> 0:12:21.440 spoke about six months, but then there's thoughts on starting before. 0:12:21.520 --> 0:12:24.040 Then a question was submitted about feeling forced by the 0:12:24.080 --> 0:12:26.200 GP and nurses to start it for and a half. 0:12:26.320 --> 0:12:28.120 What is your take on timing? 0:12:28.480 --> 0:12:30.280 Yeah, so this is such a great question. I think 0:12:30.320 --> 0:12:33.439 it's definitely one that creates a lot of confusion online. 0:12:33.679 --> 0:12:35.480 I will go straight in and say part of the 0:12:35.480 --> 0:12:38.160 confusion is the way that it is written in the guidelines, 0:12:38.200 --> 0:12:40.960 like specifically written. So in Australia we like to follow 0:12:41.000 --> 0:12:44.120 the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology Analogy guidelines there for 0:12:44.120 --> 0:12:49.199 our population. Their wording is to introduce solids around six months, 0:12:49.360 --> 0:12:52.920 not before four months. When baby is showing signs of readiness, 0:12:52.960 --> 0:12:56.080 continue breastfeeding if you aren't doing so while introducing solids. 0:12:56.559 --> 0:12:59.160 This is in line with the UK and the US 0:12:59.600 --> 0:13:02.280 and it's use of the word about and around, which 0:13:02.280 --> 0:13:05.320 are in all three of those guidelines. That's like, so, 0:13:05.440 --> 0:13:07.920 what's that like. That's very open to interpretation. It's quite 0:13:07.920 --> 0:13:11.000 an ambiguous word because it says not before four months. 0:13:11.040 --> 0:13:13.040 Like I've always been like, oh, okay, well that's sort 0:13:13.080 --> 0:13:15.720 of a window between four and six months. And the 0:13:15.840 --> 0:13:19.000 old guidelines did actually used to say between four and 0:13:19.040 --> 0:13:21.880 six months. So they have changed them and they've changed 0:13:21.880 --> 0:13:23.920 the wording, but it is still quite ambiguous. I think 0:13:23.960 --> 0:13:26.160 one thing you've got to remember is every baby develops 0:13:26.160 --> 0:13:28.520 at a slightly different rate. You can't be like, okay, 0:13:28.640 --> 0:13:31.440 like six months on the dot, every baby is going 0:13:31.480 --> 0:13:33.440 to be ready to start solids. It's just not like that. 0:13:34.200 --> 0:13:36.280 So you know, that is part of the issue around 0:13:36.280 --> 0:13:38.880 it is the wording. People that are strong advocates for 0:13:39.040 --> 0:13:41.559 not before six months months are the ones that look 0:13:41.559 --> 0:13:44.920 at the World Health Organization because World Health Organization says 0:13:45.320 --> 0:13:47.800 at six months, they don't mention four months. They don't 0:13:47.840 --> 0:13:50.079 use the word around or about. But it is also 0:13:50.120 --> 0:13:52.920 important to remember that the World Health Organization caters to 0:13:52.960 --> 0:13:55.480 the whole world, so we are also talking about third 0:13:55.480 --> 0:13:58.840 world countries. The thing with solids is as soon as 0:13:58.880 --> 0:14:01.720 you start to introduce solid you are also potentially introducing 0:14:01.760 --> 0:14:04.840 food borne illness. So there is a higher risk because 0:14:04.840 --> 0:14:07.960 obviously when you breastfeed or you prepare formula, it's quite 0:14:07.960 --> 0:14:11.000 a sterile process. Whereas you know you are potentially you know, 0:14:11.040 --> 0:14:13.880 there's they can be bugs and listeria, et cetera in 0:14:13.960 --> 0:14:17.160 the food that you're offering. You know, water supply, et cetera. 0:14:17.200 --> 0:14:19.240 That all can play a part in it. And so 0:14:19.440 --> 0:14:21.240 what they're trying to say in you know, particularly in 0:14:21.280 --> 0:14:23.280 third world countries, are like, we'd prefer to, you know, 0:14:23.360 --> 0:14:26.080 push it out a little bit longer because their immune 0:14:26.080 --> 0:14:28.160 system is going to be further along. A six month 0:14:28.160 --> 0:14:30.760 old immune system is going to be more developed than 0:14:30.760 --> 0:14:32.880 a four month old immune system, so in prefer to weight. 0:14:33.200 --> 0:14:35.080 So it is important to remember that, you know, That's 0:14:35.080 --> 0:14:37.280 why I do say you should really follow the guidelines 0:14:37.280 --> 0:14:40.000 for your country, because it's based on your food supply, 0:14:40.040 --> 0:14:43.240 et cetera. In saying that, though, I definitely like, you know, 0:14:43.720 --> 0:14:45.600 I hear you know, parents are telling me, and I 0:14:45.640 --> 0:14:48.520 do think often there is like pediatricians et cetera that 0:14:48.640 --> 0:14:51.480 are a bit more you know, pushy towards four months 0:14:51.960 --> 0:14:54.760 they sometimes are only seen, you know, the baby for 0:14:54.760 --> 0:14:57.680 a fifteen minute, you know stint, and we'll be like, oh, yep, 0:14:57.720 --> 0:14:59.520 I think that you know they you know they net 0:14:59.520 --> 0:15:02.200 control looks good. That's fine, Like you should get started 0:15:02.240 --> 0:15:04.440 on solids at the end of the day. You know 0:15:04.480 --> 0:15:06.520 your baby best. So we always talk about, you know, 0:15:06.560 --> 0:15:08.600 the signs of readiness, and the number one sign is 0:15:08.640 --> 0:15:10.720 always going to be that strong head and neck control, 0:15:11.000 --> 0:15:13.080 because if they've still got a floppy neck, there's the 0:15:13.080 --> 0:15:15.520 potential for choking, which is obviously one of the number 0:15:15.520 --> 0:15:17.880 one things we want to avoid. So you know, making 0:15:17.920 --> 0:15:20.480 sure they have that strong neck control. You can improve 0:15:20.560 --> 0:15:23.560 that by just practicing tummy time. In saying that, I 0:15:23.560 --> 0:15:25.800 don't expect, for example, you to put Bob in the 0:15:25.840 --> 0:15:28.120 middle of the floor with no support whatsoever, and they 0:15:28.120 --> 0:15:30.680 can completely hold themselves up right. But if you were 0:15:30.680 --> 0:15:32.480 to put them, say in a high chair, where there's 0:15:32.480 --> 0:15:35.240 obviously a little bit of support, they can hold themselves 0:15:35.280 --> 0:15:37.080 up right because they have that you know, head and 0:15:37.080 --> 0:15:40.000 neck control. Some babies obviously are a bit smaller, so 0:15:40.000 --> 0:15:42.200 they'll slide around the chair. I always just say, you know, 0:15:42.240 --> 0:15:44.120 get like a towel, roll it into a snake wrap 0:15:44.120 --> 0:15:46.200 it around their trunk. It'll just help give them a 0:15:46.200 --> 0:15:48.680 bit more support in there. And then things like you know, 0:15:48.800 --> 0:15:51.640 reaching for food, showing an interest in food. I'm sure 0:15:51.640 --> 0:15:53.680 you probably noticed this, like when you were eating Teddy 0:15:53.680 --> 0:15:56.240 would suddenly become interested and like want to grab what 0:15:56.280 --> 0:15:58.640 you were eating to Definitely you know that increased interest 0:15:58.680 --> 0:16:01.240 and awareness is starting to come along, but they're going 0:16:01.280 --> 0:16:03.560 to be more secondary to that head and net control. 0:16:03.880 --> 0:16:06.040 So I always say, look between that four and six 0:16:06.120 --> 0:16:09.360 month mark, when you're seeing those signs, you wouldn't start. 0:16:09.480 --> 0:16:11.480 Even if your baby was a week before four months 0:16:11.520 --> 0:16:13.880 and you're like, oh, they're showing the signs, do not start. 0:16:13.960 --> 0:16:17.400 They're definitely not ready. But from four months it's then 0:16:17.480 --> 0:16:19.840 really also up to you. You need to say. Some 0:16:19.880 --> 0:16:21.920 people are really excited and like I can't wait to 0:16:21.960 --> 0:16:24.280 start solids, and some people are like, ah, I want 0:16:24.280 --> 0:16:25.960 to push this out as long as possible. So it 0:16:26.000 --> 0:16:29.360 also is what works, what works best for you. The 0:16:29.400 --> 0:16:31.840 one thing to remember that we can't see from the 0:16:31.920 --> 0:16:34.760 outset is their digestive system, and so that one of 0:16:34.760 --> 0:16:37.720 the arguments for starting like more towards six months is 0:16:37.760 --> 0:16:40.800 people saying, well, their digestive systems are not ready, so 0:16:41.280 --> 0:16:43.840 you know, and again they're all going to develop at 0:16:43.840 --> 0:16:45.880 a slightly different rate. But say your baby's you know, 0:16:46.240 --> 0:16:48.520 five months old, they're showing all the signs of readiness, 0:16:48.520 --> 0:16:50.000 and you give them a little bit of food because 0:16:50.040 --> 0:16:52.920 you think they're ready. If their stomach became like really 0:16:53.000 --> 0:16:55.040 you know, tight and just stand and they became like 0:16:55.440 --> 0:16:58.720 gassy and uncomfortable and you know it seemed quite unsettled, 0:16:58.760 --> 0:17:01.080 that would suggest to me that they're digestive systems not 0:17:01.160 --> 0:17:02.760 quite ready, and I would leave it for a week 0:17:02.880 --> 0:17:05.760 or two and then come back and try again. But unfortunately, 0:17:05.760 --> 0:17:07.960 that's one sign that you can't see from the outset, 0:17:08.000 --> 0:17:09.280 and that's just going to be a bit of trial 0:17:09.280 --> 0:17:12.199 and error. But on the same token, some babies at 0:17:12.200 --> 0:17:14.119 four and a half months, the digestive system will be 0:17:14.119 --> 0:17:16.919 ready and so it's all fine to you know, push ahead. 0:17:17.000 --> 0:17:20.919 So I definitely think lately i've felt there's more of 0:17:20.960 --> 0:17:24.360 a move towards closer to six months. But I definitely 0:17:24.359 --> 0:17:26.320 hear of people being like, yeah, they see the doctor 0:17:26.359 --> 0:17:28.120 at four months and or they do the four month 0:17:28.119 --> 0:17:30.359 injections and the doctor's like, yep, cool, you can go 0:17:30.400 --> 0:17:32.080 get started now, And they're like, oh, I don't know 0:17:32.119 --> 0:17:34.520 if I feel like we're ready yet. You know your 0:17:34.520 --> 0:17:37.760 baby best, trust your own intuition. I think, don't yeah, 0:17:37.800 --> 0:17:40.359 don't feel pressured, but I you know, it's definitely a 0:17:40.440 --> 0:17:42.520 changing school of thought. And you've got to remember, like 0:17:42.800 --> 0:17:45.360 especially GPS, like they probably see adults and whatever, they're 0:17:45.359 --> 0:17:48.000 not constantly seeing babies. So you've got to you know 0:17:48.040 --> 0:17:49.919 your baby best. No one knows your baby better than you. 0:17:50.160 --> 0:17:52.720 I love how like my approach is always kind of 0:17:52.760 --> 0:17:55.280 look at what the overarching information is, which is like 0:17:55.320 --> 0:17:58.080 the window, the four to six month window, Then look 0:17:58.080 --> 0:18:00.400 at what your baby's doing, and then look at overlay 0:18:00.480 --> 0:18:02.680 your preferences over the top of that. So I kind 0:18:02.680 --> 0:18:06.240 of do those three things. It's like Teddy wasn't showing 0:18:06.320 --> 0:18:09.000 any interest. He had neck control from four months, but 0:18:09.160 --> 0:18:10.879 no interest whatsoever. So I was like, well, he's not 0:18:10.920 --> 0:18:14.119 ready yet. Then about five months there was interest, but 0:18:14.480 --> 0:18:16.960 we kind of weren't ready because we were overseas, and 0:18:17.000 --> 0:18:19.320 I was like, that's not the right time then. So 0:18:19.400 --> 0:18:21.159 then I thought, well, once we've got all three of 0:18:21.160 --> 0:18:23.800 those things lighting up, that's when we start. And it 0:18:23.880 --> 0:18:26.280 ended up just being a little bit before it was 0:18:26.320 --> 0:18:28.640