Do you need to wait 3 days in between new foods and serve your baby one food at a time?

Written by 101 before one | July 19, 2024

Debunking Outdated Advice on Introducing Foods to Babies

When it comes to introducing solid foods to your baby, there's a wealth of advice out there, some of it traditional and some rooted in modern research. One piece of advice that has often been debated is the notion that parents should wait 3 days between introducing new foods to watch for allergies. This practice, while once considered standard, is increasingly viewed as outdated by pediatricians and nutrition experts alike.

TL:DR: We do not recommend following the 3 day rule of introducing new foods. This method slows down diet diversity, which is an important part of starting solids success from 6-12 months. The Top 9 allergens should be served to your baby on their own first, to check for allergies, before serving alongside other foods. All other foods are considered “low-risk” and can be served to your baby alongside other foods. We walk through step-by-step how to introduce solids to baby inside our 101 before one program.

Why the Three-Day Rule is Outdated

The three-day rule was originally based on the belief that spacing out new foods would make it easier to pinpoint potential allergens if a reaction occurred. However, recent studies and expert opinions suggest that there are several reasons why this approach may not be necessary or even beneficial:

1. Timing of Allergic Reactions: Allergic reactions to food typically occur within minutes to a few hours after ingestion. Waiting three days between new foods does not significantly aid in identifying allergies compared to introducing them more rapidly. Delayed reactions or sensitivities to food, which may occur days later, are rare.

2. Diverse Diet Development: Introducing a variety of foods early on can help babies develop a taste for different flavors and textures, potentially reducing picky eating habits later in life. Inside our 101 before one program, we introduce 101 new foods to baby from 6-12 months. This would not be possible if we followed the 3 day rule, and only 50 foods could be offered.

3. Nutrient Intake: Babies benefit from a wide range of nutrients found in different foods. Delaying the introduction of new foods could restrict their nutrient intake during a critical period of growth and development. We know that most foods are concerned low-risk allergenic foods, and thus can be served together.

4. Parental Convenience: Following a strict three-day rule can be cumbersome for parents, especially when trying to establish a regular feeding routine. Here at 101 before one, we teach parents how to introduce solids by serving the family meal. Eating family meals exposes baby to a wide variety of foods, flavors and textures, helping to raise an adventurous eater early on.

5. Texture & Research: Babies who are spoon-fed smooth purees beyond 9 months old, tend to have higher reported cases of food aversions in toddlerhood (Research linked). We recommend that parents who start with purees quickly move on to lumpy and more textured foods. Incorporating a variety of textures from the beginning (purees, mashed foods, and finger foods) tends to help baby learn how to chew faster.

Top 9 Allergenic Foods for Babies

When introducing solid foods through baby led weaning or traditional spoon feeding, it's important to be aware of common allergens. According to current guidelines, these top nine allergenic foods should be introduced early and one at a time. These Top 9 make up 90% of foods allergens. Serve them each once on their own, and then you can serve them alongside other foods. Reactions to foods can occur at any time, whether that be the first intro, second, or even 10th. Read our other blog post here for signs of reaction.

1. Peanuts

2. Tree nuts (such as walnuts, almonds, etc.)

3. Shellfish (such as shrimp, crab, lobster)

4. Fish (such as salmon, tilapia)

5. Eggs

6. Milk (including cow's milk and dairy products)

7. Soy

8. Wheat

9. Sesame

Understanding Allergic Reactions

Allergic reactions can vary widely in severity, from mild itching or hives to more serious symptoms like difficulty breathing or anaphylaxis. Signs of an allergic reaction usually appear within minutes to hours after exposure to the allergen. This rapid onset makes the three-day waiting period less relevant for identifying allergies. Learn more from our pediatric allergist here >

What the research says

Here at 101 before one, we are constantly researching and making sure our recommendations align with the latest best practices. There was a survey conducted of hundreds of medical professionals that found that most are no longer recommending this advice. In the survey of 563 pediatric practitioners, nearly two-thirds recommended waiting less than three days and only half felt that waiting several days was helpful for families. A need for additional training on solid food introduction was reported by more than half of pediatricians participating in the survey.

Moving Forward with Confidence

As a parent, navigating the world of introducing solids to your baby can be both exciting and daunting. Understanding that the three-day rule is no longer a strict guideline can help alleviate some of the stress associated with introducing new foods. Instead, focus on offering a wide variety of nutrient-dense foods and observing your baby for any signs of allergic reactions.

By staying informed about current recommendations and trusting your instincts as a parent, you can confidently embark on the journey of baby led weaning or traditional feeding, knowing that you are providing your child with a balanced and healthy start to a lifetime of good nutrition.

Introduce 101 foods before one

We help parents introduce a wide variety of foods to their baby from 6-12 months. Our 101 Foods Checklist is full of nutrient-dense foods that babies can eat with NO teeth. Diet diversity is a critical part of starting solids to help make sure babies are getting the key nutrients they need. Plus, serving whole foods from the start establishes baby’s preference for healthy foods from the start, which carries into toddlerhood and beyond.

Ready to dive in?
Join our 101 before one program >