Starting baby on Solids

by Newmamma
(Ontario, Canada)

I have a 5 1/2 month old who I plan to start on solids in a few weeks. What are some healthy 1st foods to try? Are there any traditionally used baby foods I should avoid because they are not healthy?

Thanks!

Michelle says: Congratulations on your little one, Newmamma! How exciting to see baby growing and moving on to a new stage.

To start, it's great to take things slowly. Introduce new foods to your baby one at a time and in small amounts. That will give baby time to get used to solids. And it will also give you a chance to observe any allergies or sensitivities.

The best foods to start your baby on at 6 months are foods that easily digested. Here are some great choices:

Grains - brown rice, cornmeal, millet, quinoa

Fresh fruits - bananas, apples, pears, apricots, peaches

Vegetables - sweet potatoes, white potatoes, avocados, organic carrots, squash, green beans

The very best way to give these foods to your baby is to prepare them yourself. Making your own baby food is fairly simple, easy, and cost effective. There's really no real need to run out and buy those commercially prepared baby foods.

What you make at home will be a lot more nutritious and will taste so much better than the commercial stuff. And, it will get your baby used to natural whole foods right from the start!

If you're not sure where to start, here are a few quick tips:

Cook your grains long enough so that they will be palatable and easy to digest. Use a blender to blend everything to a smooth, creamy consistency. Add a little breast milk or formula to make it easier to blend.

Gently stew apples, peaches, and pears before pureeing them in your blender or food processor.

Use a fork to mash soft fruits like bananas or avocados until they are smooth.

Steam vegetables such as squash, sweet potatoes, and green beans until soft. Then puree them with a little water or milk.

For convenience, you can make larger quantities at a time and freeze them in stay-fresh baby food containers.

If you prefer to make food on an as needed basis, then you can always invest in a manual baby food mill That way, baby can have some of what you're having for your meals each day.

Try to go for organic produce if you can especially when it comes to produce like apples, peaches, pears, nectarines, carrots, and potatoes. These fruits and vegetables tend to have a more pesticides in them than other fruits and vegetables.

Here are some foods that I recommend avoiding for baby (even though some people may disagree):

Acidic foods such as strawberries, tomatoes, and citrus (at least in the first year)

Spinach

Cow's milk

Meat

White flour products

Commercial baby foods - these may contain unsafe levels of carcinogenic and neurotoxic pesticides. Choose the organic versions instead and use them only when absolutely necessary.

Genetically modified foods (GMO's) - soybeans, corn, canola, and cottonseed oil are usually genetically modified unless they are labeled otherwise. GMO's can cause irreparable damage to DNA. Learn more about GMO's here.

It's a good idea to read labels before you buy. Avoid these ingredients:

White sugar

Honey - honey may contain botulism spores. It is not safe for babies under 1 year of age because their immune systems are not fully developed.

MSG (monosodium glutamate) - can damage brain cells and other serious problems. Unfortunately many food manufacturers hide MSG in their products by using alternate names. Click here to learn more....