The 2 Minute Baby Food Guide

If there is one reason why most parents want a baby food guide, it is to answer the question...

"What food can I give him?"

The answers are diverse, depending upon your baby's age and maturity, your purse and personal choices as well as availability.

Start With The Best

If at all possible breast milk is better at first - not only is it the perfect food for a young baby it carries in it protection from many diseases in the form of antibodies and is of course designed to suit humans rather than cows, goats etc.

If, for some reason breast feeding is not possible, breast milk can sometimes be obtained from a milk bank on prescription, other wise a proper baby formula should be used.

Ordinary cow's milk should only be introduced after about 1 year of age, when the baby's digestive system will be mature enough to cope with it.

Starting With Solid Baby Food

At about 6 months of age other foods can be introduced. In some cases this is advised earlier. Again, because the baby's gut is not fully mature, some foods need to be avoided. Those containing gluten should not be among the first foods, although it is present in some commercial baby foods.

Mashed bananas, sweet potato or avocado all make good first foods. The child will only require less than a teaspoonful at first, perhaps mixed with some breast milk or formula. At first as much may seem to be spat out as goes in. This doesn't necessarily mean that baby doesn't want it.

He may simply not have yet worked out how to maneuver it to the back of his mouth and swallow it.  Don't worry. He will soon get the hang of it.

You can of course buy baby foods in sealed jars or packets. And many other brands are made from organic foods and do not contain additives such as artificial colorings and flavorings.

They include lots of different foods including fruit purees and drinks, finger foods and cereals as well as such things as mixed vegetables and puddings. Do not use the same spoon to remove food from the jar and to feed  the baby or you can introduce things into the jar which you then put back in the fridge.

Making Your Own Baby Food

If you are preparing your own food, make up a reasonable amount and then freeze it in small amounts. Ice cube trays work well for this, sealed with cling film. As baby grows you just defrost more cubes at one go.

Introduce new foods slowly, one every three or four days or so. This gives you chance to see if the baby reacts to it in any way and gives him chance to get used to the new flavor.

Organix has an excellent baby food guide for weaning infants. It gives more details about which foods to give when and which to avoid until the child is capable of digesting it easily.

This is the one time in your child's life that you have total control over what he eats.

Don't let that responsibility daunt you, but use the time wisely to set a healthy and varied pattern for the future.

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