#66: Can babies digest starch?

Episode art for episode: “#66: Can babies and toddlers digest starch? ”. Pictured is a baby girl holding a baguette.

In this episode, I’m sharing with you all the research I’ve done on babies and toddlers digesting starch. This is another topic that I’ve been asked about several times by worried parents who are just trying to decide what food is best to serve as a first food for their baby. I’m glad that I can clear up any confusion about grains rotting in a baby’s gut – which is the main point of what I’ve been hearing, and is not exactly true! 

So it’s time for some myth-busting! Starting with, explaining what starch is, and what food it’s found in. You may be surprised…it’s in more foods than just grains, and it would be hard to avoid giving them to your baby. Then, I break down exactly how starch is digested by your baby, and bust that myth that babies can’t digest it. Finally, I get into why it’s important to introduce starches at around 6 months of age, rather than waiting until they’re 2 years old.

If you get value from this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review it at Apple Podcasts. I would really appreciate it, and it helps get this podcast out to other parents like you to help them with feeding their babies too! 

Additional Resources:

If you’re interested in learning more about what foods are best for your baby, how to serve them, how to prevent picky eating, and how to advance your baby onto finger foods in a non-stressful way, then my Baby Led Feeding Course is for you. Sign up today for a step by step instruction on how to feed your baby.

BABY LED FEEDING COURSE: https://mylittleeater.fixed-staging.co.uk/baby-led-feeding/

MORE ABOUT DIGESTING STARCH: https://mylittleeater.fixed-staging.co.uk/babies-and-starch

Skip To:

What is starch? (3:16)

How is starch digested? (4:10)

How is it digested in babies? (6:44)

Should you wait to introduce starches to your baby? (12:59)

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meet edwena

Registered pediatric dietitian, mom of two and lover of all things related to baby and toddler feeding!

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