Why Make Your Own Baby Food?

Making your own baby food is easy and economical, often costing less than buying jarred baby foods at the grocery store—especially if you choose to go organic. When you make your baby’s food at home, it exposes him to a wider variety of foods. In addition, using fresher ingredients means that your baby’s food is more nutritious. Whether you choose to use conventional or organic fruits and vegetables is up to you, but no matter which you choose you will always know exactly what is in your baby’s food. Best of all, you are preparing your baby for a lifetime of good health.

When and How to Introduce Solid Foods

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing solid foods between the ages of four and six months. In fact, many pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is six months old before introducing cereal. Your baby will begin by eating a single grain cereal such as rice. Remember that breast milk or formula should remain the primary source of nutrition for at least several months after solid foods, including cereal are introduced. Once your baby is comfortable swallowing and eating rice cereal try giving her oatmeal baby cereal.

When your baby has mastered cereal introduce one new fruit or vegetable every 3 to 4 days, followed by chicken, fish, or beef, which are usually introduced last to your baby. Watch your baby carefully for signs of an allergic reaction, typically a skin rash known as eczema.

After a month or two, start combining fruits and vegetables such as squash and apples with oatmeal cereal, or blueberries and pears with rice cereal. You really don’t have to follow any specific recipe just add expressed breast milk or formula to the puree until the consistency is thin enough for your baby to handle. Later when your baby is older, you can transition to thicker, chunkier purees, until eventually your baby reaches the finger food stage.

While you are introducing new fruits and vegetables, it is important that you continue to feed your baby at least 2 servings of baby cereal fortified with iron especially if you are breastfeeding. Breast milk does not contain iron and by the age of six months your baby’s iron reserves are nearly depleted.

Try not to get frustrated when your baby doesn’t eat everything, even if you feel like you went the extra mile in making a delicious meal for her. Remember food is brand new concept to your baby. Don’t overwhelm her by introducing a whole meal of new foods, but include foods that are familiar to her and that you know she likes (or at least she did yesterday!).