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 HOW TO GUIDE FOR BABYFOOD

 

 

 

How we make our food:

Like every mama probably does :) I clean the produce, peel (only root vegatables), and then bake or boil for the appropriate amount of time. Depending on the age of the infant I then add water!

 

Why homemade baby food?

Mom's these days prefer homemade baby food for several reasons

  1. They know exactly what is in the baby food

  2. Zero GMOs, Preservatives and no additives

  3. Studies show that babies who consume homemade baby food are more likely to be better "eaters" when they enter their toddlers years.  

 

How to introduce Solids (timeline):

Ask your doctor how to properly introduce solids! We started with some mashed up avocados and mixed about 2 tablespoons of avocado with 2 tablespoons of breastmilk until it was like a soup.  It takes a while for them to understand chewing and swallowing so start off slow.  See below for some tips.

 

Example:

After morning bottle put your baby in their high chair and offer them a couple tablespoons of rice cereal & vegetable of your choice. Do this twice a day until your baby gets the hang of it (could take up to a week). You'll be able to tell when your baby gets the hang of swallowing and you can start offering solids more often.  Around 8 months you will have probably introduced an array of solid foods and your baby is more than likely ready to take on 3 solid meals a day accompanied by at least 4 bottles of 24-32oz of breastmilk or formula (again please consult with your babies doctor). 

 

The trasnition at 12 months old away from formula (or breastmilk) to milk was a tough one for us.  A lot of mom's breastfeed well past 12-18 months so do what's best for you. Consult your doctor for the best plan.  When they are infants their liquid feedings are considered meals but once they enter the toddler life, liquid no longer counts as a meal but as a beverage that provides them with the proper vitamins they need for healthy development.  You should never give a toddler a bottle and no solids and assume they can make it until their next meal.  

 

Tip: We always fed our baby fruits and vegetables with a side of rice cereal

 

What food do I start with?

Most doctors will recommend starting with a green vegetable these days.  We did avocado and rice cereal and it worked great! Once she understood how to swallow a solid we started to introduce more fruits and vegetables. 

 

It is recommended to wait to introduce new foods every 3 days. This way you can be certain there are no food allergies.

 

When does frozen baby food expire?

All of our baby food is labeled with proper expiration dates! Fruits and vegetables will last up to 3 months. Meat & beans up to 1 month.

 

HOW MUCH DO I FEED MY BABY???

This is a great question!! When you start off introducing solids it won't really be much! But around 8 months you'll start to notice they really take down those purees!! Some parents even feed their baby finger foods at this point!  Please email me with any questions!

 

I asked our daughter's doctor and she recommended this great website that gives a general guideline for portions but if your baby is eating more or less I'm sure that's also normal.  Our daughter always ate LESS than what this guideline recommends!

 

       Click Here for the website and then click on the appropriate age.

 

      Example By Age

 

6 Month Portions

Amounts per day:

• At least 6-10 breastfeeding sessions per day or 24-32 ounces formula or combination (decrease solids if your baby is not taking in at least this much)
• Water is unnecessary (breast milk and formula have plenty of water in them). If your baby has any constipation issues, focus on P-foods (pears, prunes, etc.)
• 1-2 servings baby cereal (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry)
• 1-2 servings fruit (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)
• 1-2 servings vegetable (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)

Note: If you did not start solids until 6 months (I did not start until 6 months), you will work your way up to the amount of servings above. Don’t worry about feeding this much right away!

 

10 Month Portions

Amounts per day:

• At least 3-4 nursing sessions per day or 24-32 ounces formula or combination of both
• No more than 6-8 oz of water or juice (to ensure they drink enough breast milk or formula)
• 2 servings (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons dry) baby cereal
• 2 servings grain (1 serving = 1/2 slice bread, 2 crackers, 1/2 cup Cheerios, or 1/2 cup whole grain pasta)
• 2 servings fruit (1 serving = 3-4 Tablespoons)
• 2-3 servings vegetable (1 serving = 3-4 Tablespoons)
• 2-3 servings protein (1 serving = 1-2 Tablespoons)
• 1 serving Dairy (1 serving = 1/2 cup yogurt, 1/3 cup cottage cheese or 1 oz grated cheese)
• You can also offer cooked egg yolk (but no egg whites until 1 year old due to allergens)

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