Rusks

[HotI]

What is the story on (commercially available) rusks? I had mother's group and they were the in thing. However, most of the women also measure how much their bub eats by what fraction of a jar they eat, cos why bother cooking when the baby may not like it

Are they needed for development?
Are they needed to be cool?
Are they used because the rest of food baby is getting is just mush?
Are they good for baby or just convenient?

ta

[ss_storm]

I think they are good when they are teething and have the need to chew on something, or just for 'fun' but I probably wouldn't use them as a substitute for 'food' iykwim. There are a few recipes I have seen for making your own rusk sticks (I think they are based on slow roasting bread in the oven..sounds weird I know. Lol). If they are giving their bubs purees then having a rusk is probably also good for developing their hand/eye/mouth coordination, but if you are going to do BLS then bub will figure it out anyway.

DD loved the Rafferty's Garden rusk sticks, like their other products everything that is in them is detailed in the ingredients list and they don't add preservatives/additives etc like most of the other commercial baby food companies.

[~Gee_Whizzy~]

I only used rusks when DD was teething as they are nice and hard and provided comfort for her and something to chew on other than my fingers! - i never gave them to her as "food" just something to chew on when i could see was in pain.

hth

[Barb Glare]

Not needed for development - that's for sure. Convenient, possibly. Never any need to cook especially for the baby - they can just eat a bit of what you are having

[Snowy Love]

They're so messy! I only bought one packet & only used them to keep him busy in the supermarket trolley. I now get the rice rusks which are much tidier.

[CinderToriella]

They are not for food.. dd has them for teething pain they really settle her.. Yeah they are messy but if they help stop the crying and screaming then i am all for it

I am ding BLS and rusks are not for food in my books

[tk1999]

We used rusks for DD when teething but once she had the rice rusks she wouldn't go near the harder ones any more, she prefers crunching on the rice ones.

We don't use them in place of food and when she is teething we give her less softer pieces of carrot etc (still steamed but not much - LOL hard to explain, it isn't raw but it isn't soft either)

[luna moth]

They're just fun for gnawing on. I wouldn't buy them - you know how if you microwave bread for too long, it kind of goes all hard? Buy some non seeded rubbish-free bread, cut it into fingers, and microwave it (or oven bake at low temp) until it goes stupidly hard. There's your rusk. If she's interested. If she's just as happy chewing on her fingers, or a face washer, or toys or whatever, then don't bother.

[CinderToriella]

Oh Audax you just sent shiverss down my spine OL.. With the chewing on a wash cloth My DD does that as well and it makes me teeth feel all sensitive just thnking about it lol

I think i may try the bread idea though and see how that works as well

[HotI]

Ta! She loves chewing on cucumber sticks and the face washer so happy to stick with those. I remember rusk recipes were on here ages ago. Spread a little vegemite or something on the bread and then cook it in the oven- might have to do a search see if i can find it.

[LimeSlice]

Not needed for development - that's for sure. Convenient, possibly. Never any need to cook especially for the baby - they can just eat a bit of what you are having

:yeahthat:

Gotta at rusks as status symbols!!
Nah, we rarely had them here, Charlotte didn't like them. Ended up buying those ones that taste like rice bubbles and she liked those as a snack

[MummaSue]

We got some for missy teething and she loves to chew on them. We keep them in the fridge.

[Olive]

kate to make your own, cut off the crusts of a slice of fresh breas, roll flat with a rolling pin, either leave plain or smear with a little vegemite and roll up (you need fresh bread so it rolls abnd sticks to itself easier) then microwave... maybe 30 secs or so, may be longer i cant remember, then leave it to dry out and go hard

[~Lashes~]

i use rusks with all 3, but only as a teether if it or something frozen dosent help, then i will resort to bonjella, i dont see it as more then a teething relife, my 4yo has recently discovered they are yummy, so finnishes what his sister dosent! we also use tthe rafertys range.
as for food, y bother comparing? every child is diffrent, in my opinon sitting arround comparing what your child eats to where others kids are at, is mums trying to have a competition. ive only just started including my daughter in family meals (she is 8 months today, oh wow!) only this week ive let her have chunks of meat, witch she now likes more then the veggies, whoops!

[Moi]

I've used rusks for teething but also to keep DD happy for a long time, like if I need to get some shopping done (they take a very long time to eat and my DD LOVES food so it keeps her occupied for a long time).