Most babies start showing signs they are ready for solid foods by about six months. It’s at this time when babies need extra food for growth and development. But that’s not to say they are ready for only solid food. It’s crucial that you keep up with breastfeeding or infant formula while you wean your baby onto solids slowly.
When you’re first introducing solids, it’s a good idea to offer them when both you and your baby are relaxed and happy. Try a feed of breastmilk or formula first to satisfy hunger. Eventually try them with something yummy and nutritious, but reasonably plain in flavour. Food like Bellamy’s Organic Baby Rice is ideal, but you can also try making your own…
1. Rice Cereal
Rice cereal can form the basis for many baby food recipes. Bland in taste, it’s a good way to dull down strong flavours and then gradually build as your baby gets used to eating. To make, simply grind up some brown rice in a food processor and add ¼ cup of the rice powder to one cup of boiling water. Simmer over low heat for 10 minutes, whisking constantly. If you want to you can add some breast milk or formula, or even some pureed fruit.
2. Sweet Vegetable Puree
Boiling vegetables can strip them of nutrients, but steaming vegetables will lock all that goodness in. Roughly chop potato, sweet potato, carrot, corn cob, broccoli or zucchini and steam in Avent’s Combined Steamer and Blender until soft. Once soft, switch the mode to blender and puree.
Note: Choosing sweet vegetables such as those above mean there is no need to add sugar or salt.
3. Barley Cereal
Barley is a highly nutritious grain that introduces your baby to a nutty flavour without the nuts. Barley is filled with fiber, selenium, copper, vitamin B1, manganese and more, making this cereal a great base for gradually building up flavour. Simply bring one cup of barley to the boil in one cup of water and then mix in a little breastmilk or formula to build the right consistency.
4. Berry Yoghurt
Yoghurt is a firm favourite of babies, but when it comes time to introduce more flavour you can start adding pureed fruit. Place yoghurt in a bowl and push strawberries, blueberries or raspberries through a sieve into a second bowl. Discard seeds and then stir through yoghurt.
5. Beef Stew
The earlier you start baby on your family favourite dinners, the more likely baby will continue to eat ‘your food’ as he/she grows. Baby versions do, however, need to be a bit softer. Next time you’re making a beef stew, make this baby version on the side by steaming onions, carrots, potatoes, celery, herbs and lean beef until tender. Puree the stew and if too thick, add a touch of water or formula.
6. Banana Puree
Bananas are a great source of potassium and most babies love them. Mashed and added to rice, they make a tasty and filling snack. Adjust the texture by adding breastmilk or formula.
7. Broccoli and Cauliflower Puree
An excellent source of vitamin C and iron, this broccoli and cauliflower puree is simple to make and hugely nutritious. Steam the vegetables until tender and blend with a touch of breastmilk, formula or water.
8. Baked Peach Puree
Halve a peach and place it open side down in a pan filled with one inch of water. Add to the oven at 180 degrees until you see the skin start to pucker and the flesh become soft. Peel the skin and add to the blender with the water from the pan. Puree until smooth. Peaches are delicious steamed, but baked and they are even more amazing. If you prefer to thicken the mix you can always add a little of your chosen cereal.
9. Potato and Spinach Puree
Providing plenty of beta-carotene and vitamin C, this tasty puree introduces the taste of leafy greens (hugely important for diet) early. Simply boil a floury potato in unsalted water until tender, drain, and then throw in a handful of spinach in the strainer to wilt from the heat of the potato. Add veg to the blender with a touch of baby’s usual milk and puree until smooth.
10. Lentils and Butternut Pumpkin
Providing your baby with iron, beta-carotene and fibre, this lentils and butternut pumpkin mix is tasty enough for you to eat. Boil 50g of split red lentils until soft while steaming pumpkin until tender. Add the ingredients to a sieve and once dried slightly, push through the sieve into a bowl. Stir and serve.
11. Pear and Apple Puree
This sweet and refreshing pear and apple puree your baby will love, but be careful not to give it too often. While offering baby plenty of vitamin C, too many fruit-only purees will have them reaching for the sweet stuff while turning their heads to the savoury.
For this occasional food, peel and dice a pear and apple and place them in a small saucepan with a tablespoon of water. Stir over low heat until soft and then blend until smooth.
12. Avocado and Kiwi Puree
A better fruit mix might be to combine avocado with kiwi fruit. Just as refreshing, it doesn’t have the same intense sweetness thanks to the sharpness of the kiwi fruit. Make sure the kiwi fruit is ripe though or this recipe will be too tangy. Cut a kiwifruit in half, taste a bit yourself, and if it’s got just the right bitterness, add it to half a ripe avocado and mash together.