undigested foods - is it worth feeding them to LO?

[Lirazel]

So you all know how it is... You feed LO some solid food and a day later find it practically whole and untouched in the diaper. My question is, what's the point of giving those foods to babies? It seems like a sign that those foods are not useful to their systems yet.

I've given DS well cooked pieces of carrot, he chews them up, swallows, and then I find little chewed up pieces of carrot in his diaper. Should I stop giving him carrots in favor of something his body will actually use? Or is it more important that I keep letting him try these foods that will be important to him later?

[RaeDyCo]

Is there any food they actually are digesting at this age? IMO, everything comes out looking pretty much like it went in (unless it is very pureed, then it just comes out looking like a puree).

I would keep feeding those foods. Baby isn't necessarily getting a lot of calories from carrots, blueberries, peas since the bulk of calories should be coming from br milk or formula. The foods are for practice -- different tastes, different textures. I'm sure baby is getting some nutrients even though the poop doesn't look like anything is being absorbed!

[Lirazel]

Well he eats a good bit of meat and cheese and I never find pieces of those in his diaper. And while he doesn't digest the skins of beans and raisins, it seems like at least the insides are being used.

So yes, I think there are some foods that are digested.

[Rosenbloom]

yea, those bright carrot poops make me ask the same questions... I am so glad that I am not alone to worry about it. Now I think it is normal developmental thing.

[akind1]

There are some foods even adults don't really digest (corn for instance) - we still eat those things. I would continue to feed them, esp if you LO enjoys it