|
|
|
||||||
|
About Your Baby About
Your Baby - Main
Page /
Brought to you by: Rexanne.com
Solid Foods
|
|||||||
|
OK, I know the high
chair is cute but you won't be able to use it until
baby can sit unattended without toppling over. Store it for the first
six months or so. If your baby is ready for solid food before six or
seven months, you will first begin feeding your baby in an
infant or baby
seat.
At about four months old, your baby might be ready for a little baby cereal. This doesn't look like much sustenance. It's just little tiny rice flakes, mixed with formula or breast milk. But oh boy does baby like it! And it will also add to baby's feeling full and satisfied which, I believe, helps baby sleep longer. Gotta love the stuff. ;-) You will now also have a chance to use those cute little baby dishes and spoons you bought or received as a shower or new baby present. :-) Baby will rapidly graduate to other 'solid' foods, although they aren't really solid as you and I know solid. They are mashed up food products, such as apricots, peas, apples, bananas, chicken, turkey, veggies, etc. Baby will make funny faces upon trying some foods for the first time, especially foods such as yogurt and anything with a less-than sweet flavor. Breast milk and formula are sweet. Baby knows and is used to sweet. Sour or bitter will take some getting used to. Baby will now begin to develop taste buds, although I have found that baby's taste buds aren't as well-honed as one would expect. My older daughter ate liver until she was four years-old, at which time she spit it out and declared her daddy 'stupid' for eating it. I agreed with her wholeheartedly, although I did tell her not to ever call her Daddy stupid again ... Your baby's pediatrician will give you a list of foods that are acceptable to feed baby at this time, along with a list of foods not to feed baby until baby is at least a year old or more. While many pediatricians will tell you not to feed your baby eggs in the first year because of potential salmonella poisoning, I did feed my daughters soft boiled egg yolks on the advice of my father, who is a homeopathic nutritionist. My babies did not have any problems with eggs, although you might not be so brave with yours. Please always check with your pediatrician before introducing any new, suspect food to your baby. Pureed veggies and fruit are usually the first and best choices after baby cereal. Another food my father encouraged me to feed my babies in the beginning of their solids intake was yogurt. Non-flavored, pure, natural yogurt, naturally. :-) Neither of my babies liked it much, thus my first-hand knowledge of funny faces. But it's good for them, so you can try. Your baby might love it. The kind of yogurt you see most older babies and kids eating is just flavored, processed fruit and sugar infested, not-very-nutritionally-sound dessert, basically. Your baby does not need the processed sugar found in most of these yogurt concoctions. Plain, natural and simple is always best, whether you're feeding baby yogurt or any other solid food. Yeah, you and I don't consider yogurt solid food but baby does. ;-) You could try mashing a little banana or other sweet, soft fruit into the yogurt to make it more palatable. At about seven or eight months, when my daughters graduated to combo meals such as veggies and meat together, I always tried to make my own baby foods, using as many organic and pure ingredients as I could find and afford. I would throw a bunch of washed, clean food stuff in a pot with enough water to cover it and boil it all to death. After it cooled, I would run it through the blender and portion it out into sterilized baby food jars I'd saved from store-bought varieties of baby fruit mush. I took advantage and supplemented my food creations with jars of organic baby fruit, mostly because I needed those perfect-sized little jars. ;-) The jars filled with my homemade baby food would go right into the freezer. You can zap each one (without the lid) in the microwave to defrost as needed or, ideally, pull one the night before you'll serve it to baby and let it defrost in the fridge. Serve this to your baby at room temperature or slightly warmed. These are some of the foods I used, varying a meat, poultry or fish with any combo of veggies (you can try your own combinations): beef, chicken, fish, lamb, squash, spinach, carrots, green or yellow beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes. You can begin introducing broccoli, legumes, onions, garlic, tomatoes and the more acidic or gas-producing foods when baby is a little older and can better tolerate strong food reactions, if they occur. Babies do not need spices or additional flavorings added to their meals. The blended food tastes great to your baby just as it is. Considering baby hasn't yet developed a taste for salt or seasonings, spare baby your preferences. Your baby will be better off enjoying foods in their natural, un-doctored state for as long as possible. Some herbs, on the other hand, are healthy additions that can add a nice flavor to your food concoctions. Try basil, parsley, cilantro or any other mild herb to start. You can introduce stronger herbs as baby gets older. The following foods should never be given to a baby or toddler:
Here are links to solid food information sites:
Try to make good nutrition uppermost in your mind when feeding baby and the rest of your family for that matter. Good nutrition really and truly does make a difference in your family's health and well-being. People who eat well are healthier and happier due to their bodies feeling good, and they look better, too. Mom might be the only one who gives a hoot about looking good, but rosy cheeks, strong muscles and bones are always attractive on anyone. And for as long as you can, avoid McDonalds ... this will become your child's restaurant of choice soon enough. ;-)
Feeding Your Baby
About Your Baby - Site Map This site provides general information and the author's opinions. It is designed for educational purposes only. Always consult with a healthcare professional if you have any concerns about the health of your child.
|
||||||
|
|
Bookmark to save this page!
|
