The Big 5 (Baby's First Foods)

There is a lot of debate about when to start your baby on solids.  Current recommendations say that breast milk or formula should be your baby's main source of nutrition until 6 months of age.  The reasoning for this is because breast milk or formula has everything your baby needs to develop properly and if you start solids too early then your baby could lose out on important nutrients.  When you start your baby on solids, it helps to know what foods are best to start with.  Here are the top 5 best first foods for your baby:

1. Sweet Potatoes
Easy to make, easy to digest, easy on the tummy, and easy on the taste buds!  Not to mention, they are one of the most nutritious veggies on the planet.  These little beauties have huge amounts of dietary fiber and beta carotene, calcium, iron, Vitamin A and Vitamin C and even Vitamin E.  

2. Avocado
It is said that if you were stranded on an island you could survive on avocados because of all of the nutrients it contains: healthy fats, fiber, potassium, iron, folate and even Vitamin E.  The reason I love the avocado so much is because you don't have to cook it!  Less work for mom, faster food for baby!

3. Carrots
Fresh produce can be expensive sometimes but these little treasures are always cheap and available year round.  Beta carotene, Folate, Vitamin C and even Calcium mean better vision, growth, and development; the maintenance of healthy skin, hair, and mucous membranes; immune functions; and even aids reproductive functions for your baby.
* Note: if possible, do not use baby carrots.  For more info, read the bottom of this post.

4. Bananas
Probably one of the easiest foods for your baby to digest and one of the easiest to prepare!  Just peel, mash, and feed to that watering baby mouth.  Important nutrients in bananas include: Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C, Vitamin B2, Calcium, Folate, Potassium and Fiber.  Hard to believe that so many nutrients are in such a delicious, creamy food!

5. Oatmeal
High in fiber, calcium, protein, some B vitamins, and 2 mg of iron per cup.  Less constipating and easy to buy and prepare.  TIP: Choose steel cut or rolled oats (not quick oats).  The less cutting and processing of the oats means more nutrients in the tummy.

Information retrieved from Wholesome Baby Food.  See more information @ http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/

* Why should I not use baby carrots for my baby's food? 
“''Baby'' carrots are the product of modern technology and are specially formed by a machine that cuts them out from full sized older carrots. Some 'growers' add green food coloring at the 'stem' for further effect. One way to tell if a baby carrot is truly a baby carrot is to read its packaging. The common 'baby carrots' sold in the grocery store will actually say 'baby cut' carrots.
Baby cut carrots are cleansed in a solution that often contains chlorine so that they will not turn white while in the package. Skip these carrots and opt to peel and cut your own, especially if you will be making carrot baby food!"  

(http://wholesomebabyfood.momtastic.com/carrotsbabyfoodrecipes.html#.Ucj9vutrfgo)

 

Baby's Ideal Diet

4 - 8 MONTHS OLD

In addition to 3-5 nursings or 24-32 oz add:

Breakfast:
2 Tbs. infant cereal

Lunch: 
1-2 Tbs. infant cereal
2 Tbs. pureed fruits or veggies

Dinner:
1-2 Tbs. infant cereal
1-2 Tbs. pureed fruits or veggies

Food ideas: applesauce, ripe mangoes, sweet potatoes, peas, carrots, squash, bananas, ripe apricots.

8 - 11 MONTHS OLD

In addition to 3-5 nursings or 24-32 oz add:

Breakfast:

2-3 Tbs. infant cereal

1 Tbs. fruit

Lunch: 
2-3 Tbs. infant cereal
2 Tbs. pureed fruits
1 Tbs. finger food

Dinner:
2 Tbs. pureed veggies
1-2 Tbs. pureed meat
1 Tbs. finger food

Food ideas: finely diced kiwifruit, bananas, ripe peaches, watermelon, very ripe pears, cantaloupe, whole-grain cereal, avocado, cooked and finely diced squash, tiny pieces of pineapple, cooked sweet potatoes.

FOODS TO AVOID until baby is 1:
- Cow's milk: they can't digest it.
- Peanut butter: choking hazard.
- Honey: causes botulism.
- Round foods (like blackberries): can get stuck in baby's windpipe.
- Raw veggies and dried fruits: choking hazards.
- Stringy foods: choking hazards.

Source: American Baby

Baby Food 101

I had a hard time knowing when to start my baby on baby food/rice cereal and it was overwhelming to read all of the articles online.  After looking at different advice and tips, here is what I found out:

Can I add rice cereal to my baby's bottle?
No!  Your baby doesn't need the extra calories and a new study has come out saying that cereal-thickened formula can make babies gag and inhale the liquid into their lungs.

Should rice cereal be the first thing to introduce my baby to?
In the past people thought that babies should start with rice cereal but doctors say that it's fine to start your baby with pureed veggies or fruit.  

When should I start my baby on baby food?
For most babies you can start solids around 4 - 6 months old.  Make sure your baby can support his or her self and keep their head up independently before you start. (Ashely Hotle, pediatric dietitian at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital)

What should I do if my baby doesn't seem to like a certain food?
Keep trying!  Offer the food one bite every day for a week.  85% of babies eventually enjoy the taste of a new food. (Alan Greene, clinical professor of pediatrics at Stanford)

Should I feed my baby the veggies before the fruit?
Not necessarily.  In the past a lot of people thought that if you fed the baby fruit first then he/she wouldn't eat the veggies but there's no evidence to that theory.

When should I try new flavors of baby food for my baby?
Your baby can learn to like almost any food from 6 to 12 months (from the time he/she starts solids).  If you start introducing your baby to new foods at the beginning then they have a larger variety that they like when they get to the picky stage (around 2 or 3 years old).  You can even try some pureed seasoned ravioli to spice things up.  When your baby is 10 months old you can get even more adventurous!

How can I help reduce the risk of by baby spitting up the food?
When babies sit up at a 90º angle it will help strengthen the neck and head muscles, relieve pressure on the stomach, and help reduce spit up. 

What should and shouldn't I feed my baby if he/she is under 1 year old?
Fish is actually safe for babies 6 months and older!  Just make sure you mash it up really good and choose fish that is low in mercury (salmon or mahi mahi).  You probably already know this but you need to avoid feeding your baby honey.  Why? Clostridium bacteria can contaminate honey, especially, and cause infant botulism.  Infant botulism can cause muscle weakness, with signs like poor sucking, a weak cry, constipation, and an overall decreased muscle ton/floppiness (KidsHealth.org).  When kids get older they can handle the bacteria better.

Can my baby eat meat?
Yes!  As long as you puree your red meat or poultry to a thin consistency then go right ahead!  Studies actually show that children who eat meat earlier in life have higher intakes of zinc and iron which are essential nutrients for growth. 

* Final Tip:
Make sure that you are eating healthy foods so that your baby wants to eat what you are eating.  If you are eating greasy fries or ice cream then your baby will be fussy if you don't offer him/her some.  Your baby will be more interested in eating what's on his/her plate if it's the same as yours!  But don't let that stop you from your once or twice a month date with Ben & Jerry's ice cream when you have a craving!