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Mealtime: A New Adventure
by Jessica Williams
Once your baby has had her first taste of cereal or mashed bananas, the fun really begins! At about seven to eight months of age, you will probably begin introducing some new foods into her diet. Most babies begin solids around their sixth month, but it is important to remember that every baby is different. And after a few weeks of only one or two tastes, it is time to start rewarding her taste buds with different food.
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Nutritionally, your baby still thrives on breastmilk or formula until her 12th month. Solid foods compliment her diet, so at this age, you don't need to worry about providing "all of the food groups." She gets her main nutrition from the breast or bottle. However, the introduction of solid foods is a great time to practice good nutrition and rewarding meal-time habits. And in just a few short months, she will depend on solid or table food for her nutritional needs, so why not start on the right foot? |
First, remember to introduce only one new food at a time. Many experts recommend a new food every five to seven days, but some allow new foods much quicker. Talk to your pediatrician about any possible allergies your child might have or acquire, and at what rate new foods should be introduced. Most pediatricians agree that certain foods (like smashed bananas, sweet potato, peas, pureed meats, and non-acidic fruit like pureed plums) are generally safe to introduce at this age. Once your baby has had a variety of single-ingredient foods, you can start mixing them together for different flavors and added calories.
Homestyle Cookin'
When introducing new foods, you basically have two options. You can
buy jarred baby food (like Gerber, Beechnut or Earth's Best), or you
can make it yourself. 
Jarred baby food can be expensive, but it is
very convenient and stores easily. In the last few years, most baby
food manufacturers have worked towards removing preservatives and
added sugar, in an effort to make baby food more nutritious and
natural. Earth's Best prides itself on these standards by making
their jarred foods from organically grown whole foods. Most jarred
baby food has a "stage" listed on the jar, letting you know which
foods are generally eaten by which age group. These jars are often
stocked in grocery stores in convenient shelves or bins.
Homemade baby food has many benefits as well. Most importantly, it prepares baby for the time when she is eating meals you are creating for the whole family. Homemade baby food generally has a better or more unique taste, is carefully inspected by you, the parent, and can be made in larger quantities at a much lower cost than jarred food. Some parents buy their produce from organic farmers or health food stores, which can raise the cost, but may provide more nutrients. Storing homemade baby food in the freezer is easy by pouring pureed food into ice cube trays, and then transferring the cubes to Ziplock bags after they are frozen. Just be sure to label each bag with the name of the food and the date it was stored.
What Does Baby Like?
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Let your baby try new foods in small amounts before you stock up on certain items or prepare large quantities to freeze. If your baby doesn't like the taste or texture of her peas, there is no need to force them. Try another vegetable and then introduce peas again in a few weeks. Textures can confuse a baby, especially when her diet is mostly liquid, so be sure to keep that in mind when she spits something out in disgust. With meat, you might try pureeing it a little longer, so that strings aren't present, or try mixing it together with some yams or other food she tolerates well. |
Playing games with your baby while feeding her a new item might give her a chance to take more than one or two bites before deciding if the new food is a keeper or not. Trying a taste or two yourself wouldn't hurt, but if you are faking a "yum-yum" face, she will probably catch on pretty quickly. If she has an older sibling who likes the food you are introducing, consider sitting them together, each with their own serving. This also helps them get used to eating together - an experience they may not have had before.
Play Time, Or Meal Time?
As new foods are introduced, let your child experiment with utensils and the food itself. Be sure to give her safe spoons (rubber coated spoons are probably best) and be prepared for a mess! Place a large garbage bag under her highchair for easy clean up, and be sure to have plenty of clean bibs, washcloths and paper towels on hand.
Once she has discovered that food feels delightful when squished through her fingers, you may have to spoon feed her from a separate serving while she plays. Encourage this behavior, as she will need the dexterity for later encounters with finger foods. This "play" also prepares her for when she will have to manage her own appetite. Try to keep toys separate from meal time, even though she will probably consider her plate just as fun as her rattle. Most of all, keep it fun by maintaining an open mind and understanding her learning process.
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1/4 cup cooked white turkey meat, pureed in food processor or baby Dice the yam up into medium sized cubes. Boil the cubes for 15 to 20 minutes, or until tender when poked with a fork. Remove from heat, drain. Mash yam cubes while they are still hot, then set aside to cool. After turkey meat is pureed, add cooled mashed yam and water. Mix together thoroughly by hand or in processor. Serve immediately or store in freezer. |
About the Author: Jessica Williams is a Pregnancy Today contributing writer and mother of two boys, born in 9/93 and 8/96. She writes breastfeeding, parenting and pregnancy articles from her home in northwest Montana. She is the breastfeeding guide at Suite 101.
