Here is a recipe that I used for both my girls and plan on using for Hayden when his teeth finally come through. Sounds like it might work for what you are looking for.

Banana Bread Sticks

* 1/4 cup brown sugar
* 1/2 cup oil
* 2 eggs
* 1 cup mashed banana
* 1 3/4 cups flour (white, whole wheat, or a combination)
* 2 teaspoons baking powder
* 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Combine ingredients and stir only until smooth. Pour into a greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F for about 1 hour or until firmly set.

Cool, remove from pan, and cut into sticks. Spread sticks out on a cookie sheet and bake at 150 degrees F for 1 hour or longer until the sticks are hard and crunchy. Store in a tightly covered container.

I hope that this is something that is interesting. At the same time you could make the rest of the family a regular banana bread:)

Stacie
Girlsingardens

Wow, I didn't even think about beyond mushing veggies and fruit. I found a website, features a recipe like Stacie's (which I will be making in a couple of months if I remember).

Here is a link that might be useful: http://www.wholesomebabyfood.com/teethingbiscuits.htm

I know Stacie has no problems with allergies with her kids but just a note on the biscuit recipe. Egg Whites are not recommended until a year old.

We made the Oat & 'Naner Drops in the link for our granddaughter before she was ready for eggs and wheat. These are chewy rather than crunchy. There are other recipes there if she is ready for sugar, eggs (or egg yolks) or wheat.

Now that our granddaughter has had eggs and wheat, I think I'll try Stacie's recipe though I'd probably add some ginger, cinnamon and cloves.

With two teeth, our granddaughter can handle most baked good textures from soft to crispy gum-able like a cracker or Cheerio. Just avoid really hard things like nuts.

Egg allergies are usually to the egg white and not the yolk so some wait until a year to introduce egg white. If babies haven't shown a tendency to allergy, then whole eggs in baked goods may be fine - we have been using them for about a 10 months. That would be best to ask the your DIL. If there is a recipe that you want to use with eggs, egg yolk can often be substituted.

Avoid honey - most health sited recommend waiting until a year because of infant botulism even in baked goods.

Blueberries aren't a true berry and are a low allergy food so they are a good fruit (in addition to apples, pears and bananas) if you aren't sure what allergy prone foods your DIL wants to avoid. Our granddaughter loves them.

It doesn't have to be bland either. Ginger and other baking spices are fine.

Here is a link that might be useful: Teething Biscuits on Wholesome Baby Food site

Why do I never see the editing errors before I post?

If babies haven't shown a tendency to allergy, then whole eggs in baked goods may be fine - we have been using them for about a 10 months.
I meant we have been using them since she was about 10 months old not for 10 months when she would have been 1 month old. :^o And "if she is ready" should have been "if he is ready".

How would you know at that age if the baby has a tendency towards allergies? I know you can go on previous children but a child could have an egg white or peanut allergy and no other allergies and each child is different - so again how would you know for certain? Why not wait to introduce egg white? It is not that long a period and you have the option of using the yolk only. I would be hesitant to tell people to try it...

Here is a link that might be useful: Food to Avoid 0-12 months

How about homemade grahamn crackers..and toss in some marshmallows and chocolate bars for mum and dad.

This is very helpful. He actually has shown some food allergies. When they first started introducing him to solids, he had a bad reaction to green beans, of all things. So, I'd better play it safe. Thanks for the link and the recipes. I'll be seeing him in May, when he turns 1 year old. I'll plan on making those banana bread sticks for him then.

Sally

How would you know at that age if the baby has a tendency towards allergies?
Well, if there is a family history of food allergies, you start more carefully. And whether there is or not you start with the low allergy foods introducing one at a time following the 4 day rule. And if a food does cause a reaction, you stop using it - it isn't a big deal. One of our children had a milk allergy when we introduced it as a baby so we stopped using it and after a few years tried again with no issues.

Why didn't we wait to introduce egg white - a) her mother wanted to introduce it at about 11 months so she could know whether egg in the 1st birthday cake would be okay and b) Passover occurs right around her 1st birthday and there are recipes I use then that rely on egg white like sponge cake so we wanted to know whether that would be an issue.

Everyone has to decide for themselves based partly on family history and how the first foods go. I think it is important for parents to have the information to make an informed decision so I reference the Wholesome Baby Food site which presents a balanced view IMO - neither alarmist or ignoring the issue.

By the way, one baking tip - a few people have a cinnamon allergy. One of my son's friends does and I found out that it is usually Cassia cinnamon (what you find in the grocery store as cinnamon but it isn't true cinnamon - it is a related plant) that causes the allergy. True cinnamon (or Ceylon cinnamon) doesn't have the compound that is the usual allergy trigger - you can get it at Penzeys or The Spice House. That is what we introduced to our granddaughter first and it has allowed our son's friend to share foods that we make with cinnamon.

I actually wasn't asking you personally.

Far from alarmist I was citing the American Academy of Pediatrician guidelines. I prefer that to anecdotal cases. Of course, people are free to make their own choice but the guidelines are there for a reason.

I have no problem with people doing whatever they want. I just wouldn't tell people it will "probably" be fine.

Maggie, where do you see the American Academy of Pediatrics stating that guideline? I searched on their website and only found a fairly vague guideline that doesn't give a particular age for egg whites.

The guidelines you linked to don't appear to be from the AAP. It is the Baby Center and I don't see an "about us" that says who they are. It says it was reviewed by their medical review board which has 5 pediatricians.

Whatever food you introduce, there might be an allergy. For example Sally's grandson having a reaction to green beans which are pretty low on the allergy risk scale. If you introduce something and there is a reaction, you back off for a while.

Here is a link that might be useful: American Academy of Pediatrics on starting solid foods.

Cloud swift,

That sounds pretty much like what I have always done.Have them try something and see if there is a reaction. I havne't gone with a strict timeline about food. The AAP says after 2-3 months of eating solids they should be eating meat each meal but have seen quoted as no meat before 8-9 months of age. I think it depends on your comfort level and the thinking of your Physician. I am pretty willing to let the kids try as soon as they are ready. I told our Dr. that Hayden was grabbing for the spoon and wanting to eat. She told me to feed him solids that is what he wants. I kept up with her when Hayden was eating solids 5 times a day including snacks plus I would still breast feed a little bit. She told me that if he is hungry feed him, so that is what I do. He had problems with yeast rashes so I started him on yougurt at age 6 months and Dr. told me that it was a good source of protein and as long as he wasn't reacting negatively to any food it was fine and yougurt was good for him and his digestive system. But I see that it isn't recommended until 8 months by other sites.

So I say go by instinct and Dr. But there is no absolute guidelines for every child.

Stacie

Maggie, where do you see the American Academy of Pediatrics stating that guideline? I searched on their website and only found a fairly vague guideline that doesn't give a particular age for egg whites.

Oh, let me see...scratching my head...oh yeah...a pamphlet from my Pediatrician that lists the guidelines and it is from American Academy of Pediatrics.

I am sorry the Baby Center site did not meet your standards. I linked it FOR Sally because it is very parent friendly and easy to read. I couldn't find anything on AAP since it appears to be geared towards doctors, hospitals and caretakers and everything else they sell in their bookstore.

The Baby Center info is exactly the same. Also, the site yo mentioned earlier - Wholesome Baby Foods also lists it under FORBIDDEN FOODS. Sally asked for her GS and could not get in touch with DIL - so I thought guidelines would be appropriate. I prefer a doctors recommendation (even if it were only 5 which it it not); especially when they are not children you are with everyday.

I apologize to Sally. What a nice thing for you to do. My kids grandparents live in other states and we miss them dearly.

Here is a link that might be useful: Wholesome Baby Food

My baby will be 10 months old in two days. He recently tried a blueberry muffin and LOVED it. His Dr. told me that egg whites as an ingredient are fine, but not to try egg whites solo until he is a little older. I have friends with differents docs and they all have their own versions of the egg white rule. I would probably have not given him the muffin had there been a family history of allergies. The only food I really avoid anymore is honey.

I just made the 'Naner Drops, and was thinking I did something wrong since they just weren't coming out hard. Now I just re-read your post about them, and saw that they are supposed to be chewy. Whew!

Thanks for all the help! I hope to get these shipped out later today or tomorrow. Hopefully, they'll workout for him.

Sally