It’s yet another step as a new mother, choosing proper soluble foods for your baby to transition from breastfeeding and while they’re a lot of products in the market, this process shouldn’t just happen on a whim but should be gradual so the baby can adjust. The food being given should be allergen free and must posses all the nutrients that your growing baby requires.
Now, to begin this new journey with your bundle of joy, the first step should always be to check with your child’s paediatrician to find out if you can start introducing other meals, after getting the all clear from the doctor, there’re some other things to watch out for such as seeing the baby grabbing and start nibbling on things and when the child can swallow properly.
Then decisions are made on the actual food, more research should be done to know the products you should use, this should be carried out thoroughly as the market is already flooded with a lot of substandard products.
Avoid products that have
- loads of preservatives and chemicals
- Have ingredients that are not specified
- Are not registered by your national food and drinks agency
All these listed above are all red flags, try and take your time and choose the best for your child’s nutrition, fresh, natural produce should sit at the very top of your list, if you don’t want to immediately start with store bought foods. These are some recommendations;
Legumes: They include peas and many varieties of beans, they also contain a lot of proteins and nutrients that are needed by the body, they have to be cooked well and the broth(liquid) gotten from these legumes are very nutritious. Boil them till soft and mash them up, you can serve with equally mashed boneless fish and lightly seasoned sauce.
Vegetables: Fresh greens should be a component for you and your baby’s diet, the baby should always have veggies alongside the meals of the day, vegetables are very high in vitamins that a growing body needs. Make sure to just steam the veggies till soft instead of cooking it for hours, prolonged cooking of vegetables causes loss of it’s nutrients.
Water: This is a major part of food nutrition but it is often ignored, it helps when handy water bottles are kept around and given to the baby at intervals so there will be no cause for the baby to be dehydrated. Water should not be forgotten during this transition, instead there should be an increase of it to go with every meal.
Fruit juices: Since fruits are much too solid for a baby’s palate, juices are the way to go, you can get a small juicer at home and use it for various fruit juices. Homemade fruit juices are usually preferred as store bought ones often have a lot of added sugar and very little of the actual fruit plus they’re packed with preservatives that’ll keep them on the shelf for a long time, nothing beats making your own and being certain of what actually goes in your baby’s diet.
Fruit purees: These are thicker mixes of fruits that can serve as a meal for the baby, it also requires a blender and can be made at home with available fruits when you’re less busy. Here are a few recipes:
- Banana puree: It is made with ripe bananas, peel the skins of the bananas and place them into the blender, add a cup of baby milk or more preferably, a cup of breast milk. Blend thoroughly till it has a smooth like consistency, then serve.
- Carrot puree: Baby carrots are preferable, remove the stalk and wash it well, cut the carrots into small pieces then place in the blender, blend till smooth and serve.
- Apple puree: Start off by peeling the apples, cut them into slices and remove the stalk and seeds. Boil the apple chunks with water till it’s soft, then blend till smooth, it should have a slightly thick texture.
Other purees include Avocado puree which is also thick, creamy and nutritious. No added sugars are needed with these recipes as the fruits provide the required amount.
Foods that shouldn’t be consumed by a baby at this stage of weaning are:
- Very salty and spicy food
- Sugary drinks
- Citrus fruits (they cause sensitivities)
- Berries (they contain small seeds that can choke the baby)
- Shell fish (known for being an allergen, an allergen is any substance applied or consumed that causes an allergic reaction)
- Whole nuts (Allergen)
For a complete list of foods that should be avoided and are specific to your baby, consult your paediatrician. Have an enjoyable weaning journey!
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