When you’re a new mommy, introducing solids to your baby is always a big deal. You get confused on what they should or shouldn’t eat, if they’re eating enough, you’re faced with a picky eater and so on. So we’re here to give you this flavorful piece on everything you need to know.
For starters, always remember that you have to be patient while feeding your little one. Make funny faces, sing, do whatever it takes to encourage them to eat. Make it a part of your daily mommy routine.
All the supplies you need to get started can be found at Premaman:
- Baby spoons (2 minimum). They should be soft-bite-rubber-covered spoons.
- Baby food containers to store food. You can feed them right out of it too.
- Baby plates to serve food. (The kind with suction bottoms that adhere to the high chair tray can be handy)
- Steamer and blender to steam and mash up food.
- Bottle warmer to heat up food (Optional). Or, you can put the food container in a cup of boiling water for awhile.
- Bibs
- Feeding chair
How to start:
- Place your baby in the feeding chair and put a small amount of food on the tip of a small spoon.
- Tell your baby that this is food and use a special word to describe food. It will eventually ring a bell later on.
- Put the food close to their lips to open their mouth. They may not like it at first, but after several days will start understanding and liking it.
- Gradually give your baby more food. Let your baby be your decision maker in terms of how much to eat. Feed them as long as they keep eating, but stop as soon as they shut their mouth.
What do I feed first?
- Start with single foods, not mixed. This makes it easier to pinpoint if any allergy. Allergic reactions appear within minutes and up to hours after eating.
- Start with veggies, such as carrots and zucchini.
- Wait 3 days before introducing a new food.
- After introducing different veggies-like carrots, zucchini and potatoes-mash them up together and you’ve got a nutritious mix!
- Afterwards, start introducing fruits like apples and pears.
What comes next?
| Age | What to Introduce |
| Starting at 6 months | Cereal & Grains[Baby Cereal–wheat and milk or rice
Oats Vegetables Fruits |
| 7 Months | Chicken Breast Boiled and blended with veggies, such as carrots and zucchini |
| 8 Months | Eggs Cooked wellMeat Boiled and blended with veggiesVegetables All vegetables are allowed. You can introduce broccoli, asparagus, eggplant etc. Fruits
|
| 1 Year+ | Dairy Products Milk and Cheese |
Foods to avoid under 1 year:
- Cow and soy milk
- Honey, maple and corn syrup
- Fish: mackerel, shark, swordfish and tuna
- Raw egg
- Peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts and other nuts
- Salt
- Sugar
Foods to avoid (for choking) under 3 years:
- Whole Grapes
- Small pieces of hard fruits or other hard foods
- Olives with seeds
- Popcorn
Average Daily Meals
| Age | Number of Meals per Day | Average meal size |
| Around 6 months | 2-3 meals per day | 5-10 teaspoons |
| 6-9 months | 3 meals per day | 2-4 tablespoons |
| 9-12 months | 3 meals per day, plus 2-3 snacks | 4-6 tablespoons |
Recipes:
Apple, Pumpkin and Oatmeal Breakfast
6-8 Months
Rich in vitamins A, B-6 & C, antioxidants, calcium and iron
Ingredients:
- ½ Cup pumpkin puree (steamed & blended)
- ½ cup apple puree (steamed & blended)
- 1½ cup cooked oatmeal
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg and/or ginger to flavor (Optional)
Preparation:
- Mix all ingredients together
- Serve
Famous Veggie Mix, with a Twist
6-8 Months
Rich in vitamins A,C & K, calcium and iron
Ingredients:
- 50g Carrots
- 50g Zucchinis
- 50g Potatoes
- A few prunes
Preparation:
- Peel the carrots, zucchinis and poatotes.
- Cut them into cubes then steam them together
- Remove the seeds from the prunes and boil them
- Peel the prunes and blend them well
- Add them to the veggie mix
- Blend and serve
Stay tuned for more to come and get exclusive discounts at Premaman Stores using the Rahet Bally card!
