I try to buy Zac foods w/no suger added. I bought him his own peanut butter today as he just started eating PB & J sandwiches. When I got home I noticed that it is sweetened w/splenda. I've read a little bit on this over at kellymom.com but that was re: MY consumption of it. I suppose I could ask the ped...she DID say that "anything goes" now besides choking hazzards. Anyone else have any input on this?
TIA

i know your supposed to stay away from aspartame(very bad for kids), but not sure about splenda. In my opinion, its still an artificial sweetner and i wouldnt use it....but i am wierd about stuff thats artificial so maybe someone else knows for sure.

Our ped said no Splenda (it's actually sucralose...an artificial sweetner) or aspartame. Have you tried the natural peanut butter? There usually isn't anything in that except peanuts and a bit of salt.

Our ped also said no peanut butter until Emma is two, maybe three? Maybe b/c she's more allergy-prone?

Yeah, I would buy the natural stuff. I use it myself. Smuckers makes one that it just peanut butter and salt, I believe.

Amanda-peanut butter is supposed to be avoided until 2 because of the severe allergy component, AND because it can stick to the roof of the mouth and poses more choking hazards.

I'm sure you've thought of this Sara, and Zac must be handling it fine, but I just wanted to answer Amanda's question.

Why can't they have artificial sweetners?? Ooops! No one told me and K has had drinks of my iced tea with sweet n low.... though if she has her own iced tea, it's plain with nothing in it.

hmm I'm an idiot, i buy him natural jelly but didn't even LOOK for natural peanut butter....good to know! I specifically asked my ped about the peanut butter. She said it was fine for Zac as long as I put it between bread or crackers (because of the sticking to the roof of the mouth)...he really has never reacted to any foods and there are no food allergies in the family so maybe that has something to do w/it? :dontknow:

hmm I'm an idiot, i buy him natural jelly but didn't even LOOK for natural peanut butter....good to know!

The Smucker's peanut butter (Natural) is yummy...try that! It kind of needs to be mixed each time b/c the peanut butter oil settles at the top.

I buy Smuckers Natural, but I dump out the oil that floats to the top, lol. Catherine won't be getting any PB for years.

AM I sensing that you guys think I should hold off on the PB??? :oops: The ped really said it was fine but am I missing something here? :dontknow:

if it doesnt bother him dont worry about it. It is just one of the allergenic foods so kids that are allergy prone shouldnt have it until later...that being said alexys has had pb for ages and she is allergic to everything. so far no problems with it and she loves it.

Hate to say it but I would avoid the pb until he is 2 years of age as it is just such an allergenic foodstuff. The later the exposure the better and less likely of an allergy to it being provoked. Sorry.

I have not a clue about splenda. I get rip roaring headaches with aspertame so I avoid it like the plague and my kiddos are not exposed to it yet.

definitely not giving the splenda pb...i probably would not have bought it if I had seen that in the store. I just saw "no sugar added"...go figure. He's already had a few pbj sandwiches though :oops:
she said fish was fine now also...what are your thoughts on THAT??

Fish should be fine at this age, shellfish not until they are 2 is what I was told. Maybe someone else has a different opinion?

I should dig out my reccomended ages for food introductions in our library....

Catherine is so sickly and who knows what triggers what; otherwise, I don't know that I'd wait that long. She'll be at least 2 before she tries it.

Fish-fish is fine; shellfish is generally considered a no-no until age 2. Also because it's a common allergen.

As I read this Parker is in the highchair eating pb on a muffin, not as a swhich, bad mum me! I didn't even know. Sara at one stage all Parker could eat was nutella and then cause he was eating I didn't care, well this has nuts so I assumed that it would be OK for pb- maybe I am wrong?

I would stay away from any artificial sweetner for a child, even in adults it should be used sparingly!

Sara - My ped also gave the go-ahead for PB at 1 yr since we have no allergies. I would say that if he has already had PB&J sandwiches, then he should be fine. :)

Sara.. I was told that they could have it at 12 mos... they say to hold off so long because of an allergy to peanuts... I'm glad you asked about the Splenda because I've been wondering the same.

Cady can't have PB until she turns three, because of her obvious reaction to milk. GI is concerned about other foods, as well. However, I do give Cady these milk-free fish tender's I found at Aldi's that she loves and she hasn't had any reaction. I won't give any sort of shellfish, though, since they are more allergenic and I have a nephew allergic to shellfish. Kaylin had PB at one and did fine...in fact, that's all she would eat from 15-18 months. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, PBJ sandwhiches. I also don't check things for sweeteners, mostly because I'm already checking for milk, so whatever is there to sweeten is there to sweeten. I still try to buy things that say natural or unsweetened, though.

LOL about the PB&J for breakfast, lunch and dinner. :)
I dont plan on giving him any shellfish anytime soon. Those fish tenders sound good. I don't give Zac fried things though so are they battered? I suppose I could peel off the battered part after they're cooked. That's what I've done when I get him chicken nuggets.

Yes, they're battered, but I'm not picky. Cady's rice milk is low-fat, so she needs the extra fat from food. I'm not picky about fried foods or even sugary foods, because she doesn't get enough fat and calories from her milk. I'm sure you can find fish that you can cook yourself for him.

or just bake them in the oven...thats what i do.

You guys are making me wants some fish sticks lol :)

I bake them in the oven, too. I think they're pre-fried, though. Maybe I'm wrong...

LOL Judy, so are you saying "i'm" pickY??? LOL You'd probably be right ;) I could bake them and just let them sit on a napkin to soak up some of the grease ;)