New moms are bombarded with baby care advice. You hear different things from people around you. When it comes to starting solid foods, things are not different. After listening to your friends and family, you will be confused about the menu for your baby’s first solid meal. Worry not. Here we give you a perfect guide to prepare you for your little one’s transition to solid foods.
Before we begin, keep these things in mind. Introduce solid foods at the right time. Starting too early may affect your baby’s digestive system and sometimes it may invite allergies or infections. Once your baby crosses six months milestone, he/ she is ready for solid foods. Your little love requires more nutrients than those provided by your breast milk. Restrict breastfeeding to 4 – 6 times per day when you start solid foods.
Pureed Fruits
It is best to start with purees and mashed foods. Remember to scrub or peel off the skin of the fruit. Apple, pear, banana, peaches, avocado, and apricots are good choices, to begin with. 4 to 8 tablespoons of pureed fruits are recommended for kids as they cross 6 months. When they are at 8 months of age, you can increase the amount to ¼ – ½ cup for 2-3 times a day.
Pureed Vegetables
Like fruits, pureed vegetables are another healthy option for infants. The skin of the vegetables should be peeled off properly. Gradually, increase the servings to ¼ – ½ cup for 2-3 times a day. The cooked pureed vegetables like potato, sweet potato, pumpkin, and carrot are often found in a baby’s favorite list.
Wondering how to make pureed baby food? Boil fruits/ vegetables until soft. The water should be sufficient enough to cover foods. Allow it to cool and later puree it in a blender. Or mash it through a sieve to avoid any lump. You can add water to make it smooth.
Protein Foods
Many are skeptical about adding meat to their infants’ menu. After eight months, you can give them pureed lean meat, turkey, or chicken. If you haven’t noticed any irritation in your baby after serving meat, you can continue it. You can give them 1 to 6 tablespoons per day of pureed lean meat.
Remove the bones, visible fat, and skin before you prepare meat for the baby. From eight months, you can feed your baby cooked lean meat, turkey, fish, chicken, or egg yolk.
Baby Cereal
As your baby reaches 8 months, add cereal to their menu. Start with whole wheat and mixed grain cereal. Crackers, brown rice, soft tortilla pieces, and whole wheat toast are other options.
Dairy Products
Your baby will love to have yogurt and diced cheese. Make sure that you cut cheese chunks into very thin pieces. However, it is best to refrain from giving your little one whole milk. You can wait till your baby is 1 year old.
At 10 To 12 Months
Of course, pureed, mashed foods are your baby’s favorite. But you can introduce him/her to soft, chopped foods. This is the time to let your baby experiment with his/her hand. Allow your little love to feed himself/herself with a spoon. However, your baby should not be left alone when he/she eats.
Avoid These Foods
What not to feed is also important. Certain foods like nuts, seeds, chips, popcorn, and pretzels may cause choking. Hard cookies, granola, dried fruits and raw vegetables such as carrot are also not recommended.
Whole grapes and cherries, hard pieces of fruits or fruits with seeds may not be safe for your 1-year-old baby. The high fat and salt content in hot dogs and sausages makes it unsuitable for babies.
Even ‘baby food’ meat sticks are not recommended for babies under 1 year of age. Moreover, fruit juices and soft drinks should not be given to babies younger than 12 months of age.
