Baby food 101: The basics all moms and dads should know!

Your baby is around six months old and is grabbing wildly at everything you eat. You know that he’s now ready to start eating solid food, and you’re very excited about seeing him ‘eat’ for the first time!

But with the excitement, you may also start to feel slightly overwhelmed by all the baby food products in the market and by all the information you might hear from friends and relatives or read in books or on the Internet.

To make this time a bit less overwhelming for you here’s some information related to some of the most common questions about baby food.

• Starting baby on solids
• Best first solid food for baby
• What baby food should I introduce first
• Best first food for baby led weaning

When is my baby ready for solids?

According to Gina Shaw of WebMD, most babies are ready for their first taste of solids by the time they are six months old. She explains that babies lose what’s called the ‘extrusion reflex’ that they use for sucking a breast or bottle by this age.

Here are some signs that your baby may be ready for solids:

• He can sit up with support and also hold his head up well.
• He can keep food in his mouth rather than let it dribble out.
• His birth weight has doubled.
• He shows plenty of interest in what you’re eating.

Best first solid food for baby: What baby food should I introduce first?

Experts point out that around the time babies are ready to start eating solid food (6 months), their natural stores of iron begin to deplete.

Your toddler can begin eating solid foods around the age of six months. By the time your child is 7 or 8 months old, they can eat various meals from several food groups. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children do not require food to be given in a precise order.

Allow your child to try single-ingredient food at first. Wait for 3 to 5 days between each new food. This helps you see if your child has food allergies.

Foods that may cause allergies should be introduced simultaneously with other foods.

Allergens include cow’s milk products, eggs, fish, shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat, soy, and sesame. Cow’s milk and fortified soy beverages should not be offered to your child until they are at least 12 months old. 

While other milk products like yogurt can be provided earlier. If your child has severe eczema and/or an egg allergy, talk to their doctor or nurse about when and how to introduce foods containing peanuts safely.

Starting baby on solids: How to prepare baby’s food 

If you are planning to make your baby’s food at home, keep the texture smooth and runny to help your baby enjoy the process of learning how to eat. As your baby’s ability to chew and bite improves, you could add finely minced meat and finely shredded poultry to his diet.

Foods mashed, pureed, or strained have a smooth texture for your infant to ingest. Your youngster may require some time to acclimate to new food textures. Thicker, lumpier foods can be offered as your baby’s oral skills improve.

Because some meals might cause choking, it’s crucial to serve your child foods with the correct texture for their growth. Prepare foods quickly dissolved with saliva and do not require chewing to help prevent choking.

Small servings should be fed to your infant, and they should be encouraged to eat gently. Always keep an eye on your youngster while they eat.

Can I make my baby food instead of buying it?

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Baby food 101: The basics all moms and dads should know!

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Of course, you can! Baby food is one of the simplest things to make. You need to puree or mash cooked vegetables, grains, or other foods, then add a little breast milk, formula milk, or boiled and cooled water to get the desired consistency.

• Fruits such as avocado, banana, and papaya can be mashed. They can be passed through a sieve and mixed with breast milk, formula, or water to achieve the desired consistency.
• Apples and pears can be diced and then simmered in water till soft. After that, they can be pureed and mixed with breast milk, formula, or water.
• When cooking vegetables, it’s best to steam them to preserve maximum nutrient content.
• If you are feeding your child rice or other cereals, follow the instructions on the box or container.
• Consider giving your child whole grains — there are plenty of wholegrain cereals on the market, including affordable local brands.
• If you are giving your child what the rest of the family is eating, remember to puree their portion before adding salt and/or other seasonings.

To avoid wastage, make large batches of purees and freeze them in appropriately sized containers (many baby shops have great first food storage solutions) or even ice-cube trays.

You only need to thaw the amount you need for each meal. Remember not to re-freeze thawed baby food.

Best first solid food for baby:Here are some fruit and vegetable options that are the best first solid food for a baby:

• Avocado: Avocados are full of essential fats and nutrients for your little one, including vitamins A, C, niacin, and folate, and the minerals potassium, phosphorus, iron, magnesium, and calcium.
• Pears: Containing vitamins A, C, and folate and minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, and calcium, pears are an ideal first food for your baby.
• Sweet potato: This vibrant orange yam is a super-food and is chock-full of vitamins A, C, and folate, and minerals like potassium, selenium, magnesium, and calcium.
• Pumpkin: A favorite with babies, pumpkin is loaded with vitamin A and beta carotene and is an excellent source of potassium, protein, and iron.
• Banana: Another popular first food choice for babies, bananas contain vitamins A, C, folate, and minerals like potassium, selenium, magnesium, and calcium.

Buying your baby’s first food from the supermarket

Most baby food jars are labelled according to your baby’s stage of development. So if you’re looking for first foods, look for jars labeled as Stage 1, which contain food pureed to an appropriate consistency for your little one.

What to check:

• The expiry date on the jar label/lid
• That the vacuum seal on the lid is intact and hasn’t ‘popped’ — the center of the cover should be slightly indented
• The ingredients — shouldn’t contain added salt, sugar, preservatives, modified starch or colouring.
• Stage 1 foods should ideally contain just one ingredient, i.e., fruit or vegetable.

Also, before you open the jar to feed your baby, don’t forget to wipe the lid and then check that when you open it, you hear a popping sound which indicates that the seal is intact.

Should I buy organic baby food or use organic food when making my baby food?

Many parents prefer to give their babies organic first foods, even though they cost more. Either way, this is an issue that’s best resolved by considering your family’s budget and beliefs.

However, try to avoid skimping on fruits and vegetables to reduce your baby’s exposure to pesticides. Instead, consider buying organic for the following fruits and vegetables known as the ‘dirty dozen’ — produce that typically contains the highest residue pesticide levels.

The ‘dirty dozen’ are celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, blueberries, nectarines, bell peppers, spinach, cherries, kale/collard greens, potatoes, and imported grapes.

Here’s an idea: If you have enough garden space, why not grow your fruits and vegetables? Even if you live in an apartment, you could still grow things like herbs and tomatoes in pots!

How long does baby food last after I open the jar?

In general, baby food containing poultry, fish, meat, or eggs should stay fresh in the refrigerator for 24 hours.

Those made with only plain fruits and vegetables should last two days. Do check the jar label, too, for recommendations on how long to keep the food once the jar is opened.

Baby food can be kept for a month or 2 (6 months for plain fruits and vegetables) in the freezer, but take note that freezing does change its consistency.

Keep in mind that liquids tend to expand in the freezer, potentially cracking the jar or causing the container to pop open, so place the baby food in a clean storage container, leaving some room at the top.

If you store leftover baby food in the fridge, don’t dip your baby’s spoon in it during feeding, as this could cause bacteria to grow in the food.

Instead of dipping into the jar, scoop a small amount of food into a bowl and feed your baby. Use a clean spoon to dish food out from the container if you need more.

When feeding time’s over, throw out anything left in the bowl. If there’s food left in the jar, put the lid back on and store it in the refrigerator.

Is it okay to heat baby food in the microwave?

You can heat baby food in the microwave, but with plenty of care. Food heated in the microwave tends to get hot very fast and heat unevenly.

Because of this, it may contain ‘hot spots’ which could be dangerous for your child.

Heating the food on the stove-top may be safer. You could also place the container with the food in a bowl of hot water, and it should heat up nicely.

However, if you do use the microwave to heat your baby’s food, scoop it out of the jar (if shop-bought). Heat it for only a few seconds. Then place it in a microwave-safe container.

Take the food out, stir well and let it stand for a few minutes. Always test the temperature of the food before feeding it to your baby — it should be at room temperature.

More tips about baby food

• If you are wondering when the best time to feed your baby his first meal is, pick a time when he is alert and not too hungry — mid-morning is a good time for most babies.
• As your child grows, encourage him to feed himself and introduce plenty of finger foods when he is old enough to handle them.
• Always serve your baby clean and safe food, and supervise his eating. Avoid hard foods that could cause him to choke.
• If your baby tolerates the food well, then add another new item to the menu. If there is a history of food allergy in the family, take particular care to avoid the introduction of the known allergens.
• Avoid offering cow’s milk or honey to children under the age of one. Cow’s milk does not meet an infant’s nutritional needs and, because it is not a strong source of iron, can increase the risk of iron deficiency. Honey may contain spores that can cause botulism in newborns, which is a fatal illness.
• Foods that can cause choking in your baby should be avoided. Don’t offer your baby hot dogs, chunks of meat or cheese, grapes, raw vegetables, or fruit chunks until he or she has learned to chew solid foods and can break them up into small pieces. Seeds, nuts, popcorn, and hard confectionary are examples of hard foods that can’t be adjusted to make them safe. Other high-risk items include peanut butter and marshmallows. To introduce nuts and prevent choking, spread a thin coating of peanut butter or purée peanut butter or peanuts over fruits or vegetables.

Republished with permission from: theAsianParent Singapore

Additional information from Margaux Dolores