Wow, I am just the worst blogger ever! I apologize for not getting entries in quicker, it has been a very busy month for me!
That being said, let's spend this entry talking about food (a favorite subject for most at any age)! You may be wondering when is the best time to start your baby on solids, what should you begin with, and what's the best way to prepare foods. We will cover all of that and more!
When to begin?
I will begin this by stressing you will want to follow your doctor's advice on when to begin feeding your child solids. Most infants begin solids between the ages of 4-6 months. You will see signs of readiness such as your child wanting to eat more frequently or an increased interest in watching you as you eat. I always find it hilarious when a baby will watch ther fork as it goes from my plate to my mouth and back again, very interested in this activity and, quite frankly, often making me a bit self-conscious!! It's usually a pretty good sign they are ready to try something but check with the doctor first to be on the safe side.
How to begin?
Most likely, you will begin by giving your new foodie about 2 tablespoons of either rice cereal or oatmeal cereal meant for infants. These two cereals are usually the first options because they are least likely to cause an allergy. You don't need to start with cereal however. Banana or avocado are also good starts. If using the pre-packaged rice/oatmeal, mix the two tablespoons with breast milk or formula. This will add protein to the mix. If you would like, you can also use water, though it adds no nutrients. The cereal should be the consistency of applesauce.
Your baby will, at first, likely need to figure out how to eat it. You often will put a small spoonful in and that tongue will just push it right out! That's ok, some of it IS getting in there, and your baby just needs time to get the hang of it! After a few feedings, she will be able to keep more in to swallow. You will just want to make sure you have a nice, big bib and a wet washcloth handy!
You can also make your own cereals using brown rice, whole oats or millet as the base. Great recipes can be found at wholesomebabyfood.com and you shouldn't be afraid to experiment! While making your own foods can seem like a time-consuming task, once you try it you may feel it's very manageable and inexpensive.
It is also extremely important you NOT use cereal in the baby's bottle! This is an old practice handed down likely from your mother or grandmother. It is also a choking hazard! If your baby isn't able to take the cereal from a spoon, it may just be too soon to begin! Oftentimes, people will give cereal in a bottle at bedtime in hopes the baby will sleep through the night. It usually doesn't work and can, in fact, cause stomach upset in a baby who isn't ready for it, causing them to be up more only now with a tummy ache! Cereal in a bottle is a bad, bad idea! While a sleep-deprived parent may try anything to get a good night's rest, this dangerous practice is not the way to go! Imagine if your baby gets sick and vomits, in their sleep, on their back... I can't stress enough, please PLEASE don't do this! Just offer it on the spoon when the time is right.
The Jar vs. Fresh
Jars are a wonderfully convenient way to feed your baby when you are in a hurry or out of the house. However, it is easy and in most instances healthier for you to make your own baby food. Having carrots for dinner? Just cook them by boiling, steaming or baking, put a few in the food processor with a little bit of water, formula or breast milk and puree until smooth! You can puree a variety of foods and freeze them in ice cube trays for convenience as well. Some easy-to-puree foods include banana, avocado, soft pears, peas, spinach, well-cooked broccoli, squash, sweet potatoes, beets--almost any fruit or veggie that you can puree, mash or cook into a soft form actually. Preparing foods yourself allows you to know exactly what is going into them and allows you to skip salt and preservatives. It also allows you to offer variety that jar foods don't. As your child gets older, you can puree meats, add yogurt, and vary the degree of texture to their needs. Also, when using jar food, you typically need to use all of it to feed the baby. However, babies learn by touching and tasting. Creating your own foods will allow you to have a bit extra to put on her tray so she can feel the texture and practice bringing her fingers to her mouth, both important aspects of learning to feed herself eventually.
Many parents opt for organics for their infants when it comes to fruits and veggies. The best foods to make sure are organic include carrots, spinach, peaches, apples, and white potatoes. These items are often laced with several pesticides and are best bought organic. If organic is not cost-efficient for you, you may want to try cauliflower, mango, avocado, sweet potatoes, broccoli, asparagus, sweet peas (in unbroken pods, pods removed) and bananas. They are least likely to contain pesticides due to the way they are grown or their thick skins. Be careful, however, when offering items such as broccoli or asparagus to new-eaters as they can cause gas and are probably better being offered after your child has tried a few other veggies first.
It should be noted as well that it may take up to ten times of trying a food for your baby to like it! Don't try peas, see your baby spit them out, and then not feed them peas again because "they don't like them." Oftentimes they will accept them and enjoy them after being offered them a few times. In infancy, children will try and accept many foods older children won't. They don't see food yet as "yucky" because it is a "strange color" or "smells stinky." They do, however, need time to get used to smells, textures and tastes. They will have most success if you are eating the same foods as they are and that the family is eating together, not at separate times. Sitting down to a family meal is a great way to ensure "family time" and encourage trying new foods through modeling eating habits.
What not to offer just yet?
Whole milk should not be offered to a child under the age of one. Milk can cause allergies when introduced early. You may not even notice the allergy at first, but it may develop later. Your baby will have the best nutrition when given breast milk or formula for the first year before introducing whole milk.
The same is not true for yogurt or cheese. Usually around 7-9 months you can introduce these two foods into your child's diet if you choose. Because of the way they are cultured, much of the lactose is broken down and the milk proteins (which are a big cause of allergies) are limited or removed. This makes yogurt and cheese a great way to give your child protein without the risk of allergy. When offering yogurt, make sure it is unsweetened to limit the sugar. While many of us would "turn our nose up" at the taste of unsweetened yogurt, babies often love it. If they don't, you can always mix it with their veggies or fruit. It is noteworthy to mention that YoBaby yogurt, while targeted for infants, does contain natural organic sugars, though not as much as their flavored counterparts such as Dannimals and it is natural non-refined sugar. Even plain yogurt, you will find, contains "sugars." These sugars are inherent to milk, they are dairy sugars, and are not added sugar such as white refined.
You should also not offer uncooked berries such as strawberries or blueberries until after age one. There is some debate over this but I would suggest it to be safe. When you do offer these, organic is best. Likewise, grapes are a huge choking hazard and shouldn't be offered. Citrus fruits can cause skin rashes and should be avoided until after age one. Honey can cause botulism as infants do not have enzymes to break it down so avoid it until after the first birthday. Also nuts, popcorn, and pretzels are all choking hazards. Peanuts are especially dangerous as they can be both a choking hazard and cause severe allergies. If you have food allergies in your family, you will want to be extra cautious but even in families without food allergies babies can be allergic. Look for skin rashes, vomiting, and/or trouble breathing and seek help immediately if anything seems out of the ordinary!
Meats are usually fine after age 9 months or so, with the exception of fish. You will want to ask your pediatrician what they suggest, though most will suggest fish after the age of one. In other countries, however, fish is readily eaten earlier than age one so it is best to ask your pediatrician what is best for your baby. If worried about hormones and added chemicals, stick to locally grown organic meats. I would suggest staying clear of processed meats entirely! They are loaded with nitrates that aren't good for our grown-up bodies, let alone those of your baby.
I will also suggest avoiding juice and sugared drinks. Drinks such as sugared drink mixes have no place in a baby's diet! Likewise, juice should be very limited or not offered all together. While we think of it as nutritious, it is mostly sugar (though natural sugar) and does not have the same nutrition benefit as a piece of fruit. It can also interfere with the consumption of breast milk or formula which are much more important and nutritious. Water can be offered, but no more than once a day unless recommended by your doctor. Water is good for hydration but offers no nutrients like your baby's breast milk and formula. Once your child is eating a variety of foods and beginning to cut down on bottles, water is a great addition to lunch or dinner!
Wrap it up!
Eating solids is an exciting prospect for your baby as well as for her parents! Be sure to ask your pediatrician when to begin and when it is ok to introduce milk, berries, and other questionable foods. I suggest organics when possible, especially those listed above, but if you can't do this be sure to thoroughly wash all fruits and veggies before using. And enjoy watching your baby as she goes from trying to keep cereal in her mouth to using her hands to feed herself to practicing with a spoon and cup!
