baby food

[mountain_mama]

I was wondering if anybody had any good tips for making baby food.
Thank you!

[Herbmama]

Buy a "happy baby" baby food grinder! they are incredibly helpful. When I was starting my son on solids I just made sure to include one plain steamed veggie with the meal. Them I would just grind up some of that veg in the babyfood grinder and mix in breast milk. Simple as can be.

[BandAide]

I bought one of the hand held mixers (which as far as I can tell is just like the kind specific to babies... but only costs ten dollars.)

Bunny is on to big girl food now, refusing to be spoon fed anything, but when she was agreeable, she really liked avacado, egg yolk and spinich. Also, corn and butternut squash was a big hit with her.

When are you starting your little guy on solids? Dr's are so weird. Bunny was absolutely ready for solids at three and a half months (grabbing food from our plates and putting it to her mouth) but the dr. told us to wait until four months. My friend's doctor told her that she needed to wait until six months to begin rice cereal. Crazy, if you ask me!!!

[Herbmama]

The reason your friends doc recomended waiting till 6 months to start solids is because there have been studies showing that babies guts aren't full closed till that time. Which can mean microscopic bits of undigested foods can leak into their blood streams, which has been associated with food allergies and digestive issues later in life.

I hadn't seen any of these studies myself until well after I start introducing solids to Pooka (my son) at around four months. We haven't had any issues from his early introduction to solids, but that doesn't mean they couldn't show up later.

Knowing what I know now, I'm pretty sure I would stick with pure breast milk till around 6 months.

Oh, and one more tip on introducing solids. When your first starting be sure to give only one food a day, just in case your wee one (gods forbid) has a allergic reaction. that way you know for sure what caused it.

[mountain_mama]

Thanks for all of the great advice. My friend just gave me a hand held food grinders today that she no longer needs for her son. My baby is three and half months and displaying all of the "ready" signs. He is grabbing food off my plate and is no longer satisfied after feedings. I see a very laid back pediatrician who gave me the go ahead on solid foods. I have been using the organic rice cereal by earth baby but don't feel good about using jarred veggies. Anyways, I am just babbling on! Thanks again for the good advice :)