Are you thinking about starting
baby on solid foods?
You can check with your doctor but most suggest starting baby on solid foods at or
around 6 months of age.
Two main reasons to start solid baby food before 6 months is because your baby
is loaded to the max with breast milk or formula and still seems hungry or
is not gaining a sufficient amount of weight.
After 4 months of age, you can ask your doctor about starting baby on solid foods if you feel that
your baby still seems hungry after a full breast or bottle feeding. You can also
ask if your baby is gaining enough weight but your doctor should let you know
right away at every checkup.
Though, when the time does come, it's very exciting!
You should definately get the camera or camcorder ready because babies can make
the funniest faces when trying new tastes and textures. It's especially funny
when they try something "sour" like pickles but don't try that just yet. Their
little digestive system isn't ready for something so strong and acidic.
The most common first solid baby food is "Rice Cereal". I am a big fan of
Gerber
but there are several out there like
"Earth's Best".
It's very fine rice flakes
that you would mix with either breast milk or formula to make a nice loose "paste".
Just follow the simple directions on the box.
Once they get used to rice cereal, you can try oat or barley cereal. You can also
get a little fancy and mash up a banana and mix it in. Babies really love this!
Be sure to only try a new food every 3-4 days so that you can keep and eye out
for food related allergies.
From here, the sky's the limit! There's a large variety of jarred food at your
local grocery store or if you're feeling really ambitious, you can make your
own and it is so simple and fun!
My all time favorite baby food making "Bible" is "Mommy Made and daddy too!"
This book is incredible! It gives you step-by-step, easy to follow instructions
on how to make your own solid baby food.
Example: Homemade Baby Applesauce
Quarter some golden delicious apples. Steam them in the microwave or stovetop until tender.
Let cool. Peel off skin. Then puree apples in food processor.(you can add some of
the water from the pot if you feel it needs to be thinner.) That's it! How much
easier can it get?
Then you just divide the applesauce into plastic ice cube trays and freeze. When
frozen, place all "cubes" into a zip top bag and into the freezer. Each cube is the
perfect portion size for your little solid eater. Just let defrost at room temperature
or pop in the micro for 20 or so seconds. That's it!
Seriously, if you compared taste and texture of say, jarred carrots to your freshly
pureed homemade carrots, the choice would be easy just as it is to make homemade
solid baby food! Try it! Make it and compare. Look at it. Smell it. Taste it. Yes, taste it!
Would you feed something to your precious baby that you wouldn't eat yourself?
I understand that not everyone has the time to make their own baby
food and the convenience is great sometimes just to buy it but if compared that a couple
pounds of pureed apples can be 1-2 weeks worth of applesauce meals, it's worth it!
Same goes with carrots or any other fruit or vegatable that you desire.
Check it out! "Mommy Made and daddy too!"
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