As your baby grows, so does the diet!
Written By: ElleC
It’s an exciting time in your life and the life of your baby!
All sorts of milestones like laughing make the time fly and so much more fun. Maybe little one is rolling over now and enjoying the new mobility, or trying to sit up, chattering away all the time and smiling. (I know my little man is.)
Little ones digestive system is developing, too! At around 4-6 months, your infant may be ready for some solid foods in addition to breast milk or formula. Your baby’s pediatrician will probably suggest starting him/her with iron-fortified rice cereal or other high iron foods. And before you know it little one will be moving on to other types of pureed veggies and fruits. My little one is already getting rice in his formula which helps him stay full longer (in my opinion).
What fun it will be to discover what fruits and veggies your little one will enjoy the most, new textures and tastes! It’s all trial and error at this point each child is different in what he/she likes to eat! (If my nieces and nephews are any type of example, nephew1: hated carrots but loved asparagus, niece1: hates potatoes, but loves to eat cranberries. (I KNOW ODD CHILD..lol))
I know that my little man is already starting to enjoy mashed potatoes and the cheese from mac-n-cheese!! (just a little bit nothing more than a finger tip of each at a time.)
We started with the common rice cereal and then oatmeal. The pediatrician recommended cereals at 4 months, stage 1veggies at 5 months and stage 1 fruits at 6 months. I read some text in one of my books that also recommends “Peas” as the first veggie to offer for the same reasons as rice cereal (low risk for allergic reation). We were told that after we introduce everything individually, we can start buying the mixed stage 2 entrees which have meat in them.
I am avid at this point about using my Bella Baby Blender to make his food so that they are organic (like green beans, carrots, peas, apples:: ect…) but I actually won’t be doing that until he is REALLY showing interest in our foods.
Generally, babies are ready to start trying solid foods around six months. If your son is showing interest in other foods (think grabbing for your chicken wings and staring at your cereal) and able to sit up in his high chair, it’s probably a good time to start.
From whole-grains, move on to strained, mashed and finely pureed fruits and veggies like bananas and sweet potatoes. Allow about a week between each new food introduction to monitor for allergic reactions.(Nothing is worse than not knowing what might have sent your child into a crying and itching tantrum) At eight months or so, try pureed table foods like turkey and cottage cheese. Stay away from honey until baby is at least a year, and watch out for common allergens like peanut butter, shellfish, egg whites and citrus.
Here are just a few more food that make for great starters… (these I have learned from my multitude of nieces and nephews and baby cousins over the years)..
PUMPKINS!! (I know who would have guessed!?) Pumpkins are jam-packed full of some of the best nutrition around. They are highly loaded with Vitamin A and beta carotene. Beta Carotene is one of the plant carotenoids that when eaten and digested, turns into Vitamin A in the human body. Beta Carotene may reduce the risk of cancer as well as heart disease.
PEAS!! (I’m not a fan but they are GREAT for little one!)The nutritional value of peas is amazing when you think of the small size of a cup of peas. Did you know that one cup of peas contains more protein that a tablespoon of peanut butter and also provides Calcium, Vitamin A and C and Iron too! (Help your little monster to grow up big and strong!)
AVOCADO!! (I personally can’t get past the consistency but it makes great starter foods for baby!) Avocados are often called one of nature’s perfect foods because contain everything a person needs to survive. A wonderful “good fat” food for baby’s brain and physical development. (My niece loved Avocado, she would sit there chattering and munching on it for as long as you would give it to her.)
Good luck with your baby’s food journey!!
Thanks!
Author Bio: Hello Everyone, I'm Elle, I'm happily married and a mother to a wonderful little boy Zachary who is now 6 months old. I have a total of 4 pets, two cats and two dogs, my newest edition to the family is our scottish terrier Navi, and let me just say this boy has taken to Zachary. Yay! I am born and raised in Alabama, and my family lives all over this great state. If you have any questions or comments feel free to message me or comment to your hearts contentment! Thanks!! Thanks!
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