Jan 13 2009
How to Make Homemade Baby Food
Is my baby ready for solids?
A baby is usually ready to try solid foods by the age of six months, however some are ready as early as 3-4 months. You should always discuss your child’s readiness with your pediatrician before starting solid foods. Here are some other indicators of readiness: loss of tongue-thrust reflex which protects a baby from choking, but will also push any solid foods right back out of the mouth; can show you when it is becoming full by turning away from the bottle; can sit up and hold it’s head up without help; has an interest in food and watching you eat; has doubled it’s birth weight; has begun to wake during the night especially after good sleeping patterns had been established.
Food safety & guidelines
Always wash hands and food surface areas with soap and hot water. Make sure that all pots and utensils are clean and dry. Also, keep any raw foods away from the food you are using for your baby.
Step by Step Process
1.) Bake, steam, or boil the fruit or vegetable
2.) Puree the cooked fruit or veggie using a blender or food processor
3.) Freeze and store the puree
It’s as easy as that!!
Now I will go into further detail of each step
* Bake, steam or boil the fruit or vegetable
You will need to cook the fruit or vegetable you are going to be using, with the exception of bananas and avocados. The cooking process helps to break down the food, making it easier to digest in baby’s tiny tummies. You will also need to remember to peel the skins off the food before cooking.
As you can imagine, fresh foods are always the best. However, there is nothing wrong with using frozen fruits and veggies. When using frozen, read the labels for added salt in vegetables and the use of syrups in fruits. If you are having a hard time finding these, simply rinse the fruits and vegetables very well before you cook them.
Baking, steaming, or boiling the fruit or vegetable in just enough water to cover the food is the best way to soften the food and keep the nutrients. These methods also allow for making large batches of food at one time. Please note that baking or roasting the fruits and veggies tend to bring out the flavor of the food better.
* Puree the cooked fruit or veggie
You might want to thin out your purees. This can be done either before or after the food has been frozen. I find it easier to freeze the puree first and then thin to a desired a consistency with water,formula, or juice after it thaws.
After you have cooked the fruit or veggie, you simply transfer it to the blender or food processor for pureeing. You will want to set your machine to puree or grind and you may find it necessary to use some water, formula, or breast milk to smooth the foods during this process.
Stage 1 foods are pureed thin and watery and are used as baby’s first solid food. Stage 2 foods are made a little bit thicker and with slightly more texture. Stage 3 foods are chunky and thick.
* Freeze and store the puree
It is important to remember not to refreeze any foods (including breast milk) that were allowed to thaw and were not cooked, doing this can cause harmful bacteria to grow on the foods.
If you do not plan to freeze your homemade baby food, it is important to refrigerate it and then use it within 48-72 hours. Food safety authorities state that this time limit will minimize bacteria growth in your baby’s pureed food. It would be best to make your baby food puree on a day-to-day basis if you do not plan on freezing it. This method will cut down on food waste while preventing the growth of dangerous bacteria on the foods which were prepared.
If you are freezing the homemade baby food, you will want to invest in either ice cube trays with lids or small plastic disposable containers with lids. After completion of pureeing your baby food, you will transfer the puree into either the ice cube trays or the small plastic containers and then just toss into the freezer. Upon freezing completion, you will remove the baby food from these containers and transfer to freezer bags. At this time, you will need to label the bags with the date of preparation and the food contents. When you are ready to use the frozen food, simply thaw and reheat if desired. All frozen foods should be used within one month of freezing.
Allergies
Introducing new solid foods to your baby can be a scary time. What if my baby is allergic? Experts recommend using what is called the “four day wait” rule when introducing new foods. This rule allows you to introduce only one new food at a time for several days in a row. This will allow you to better determine how you baby reacts to each new food and to develop a taste and likeness to each food. If your baby begins to show signs of an adverse reaction, you will be better able to determine which food has caused the reaction.
Citrus fruits should not be used in making baby foods as they contain high levels of acids. These acids could cause either a gastrointestinal response or a dermatological response.
Possible signs of an allergic reaction after introducing a new food include: sudden diarrhea and/or vomiting; sudden rash; runny nose; hives; irritability; gas; breathing problems; swelling of face, lips, tongue; closure of the throat.
Foods to use
The following is just a partial list of good foods to use to make your homemade baby food. Please always check with your pediatrician before starting your baby on any solid foods.
* Fruits - avocado, apple, apricots, bananas, blueberries, cantaloupe, cherries, mango, peaches, pears, plums, and pumpkin
* Vegetables - asparagus, green beans, beets, carrots, eggplant, peas, white and sweet potatoes, butternut and acorn squash, zucchini, and summer squash
Benefits of homemade baby food
1.) you know what your baby is eating
2.) you can control the consistency of your baby’s food
3.) it’s cheaper
Do’s and Don’ts of making your own baby food
* Do use feeding time as a fun and bonding time
* Do freeze in ice cube trays or plastic containers
* Do throw out any uneaten foods to prevent bacteria growth
* Do follow the “four day wait” rule
* Do use thinners like water, breast milk, formula, or juice
* Don’t add salt or sugar
* Don’t use nuts, raisins, or peanut butter
* Don’t use canned fruits or veggies
* Don’t use acidic foods like citrus
* Don’t use eggs
* Don’t force feed your child
Good luck with making your own homemade baby food!
