4-12 Months: Solids

Resources

• Loved this website!
• Printed this LIST and had it inside cabinet to help think through what feeding Carmen.
• Super Baby Food is an overwhelming book that friends swear by... maybe try getting through it with second kiddo.

Real Food for Baby

• Introducing Liquids
• Never gave juice because didn't want baby to have so much sugar.
• Use small see through cup of water to have baby learn how to sip out of it.
• Also use sippy cups: 
• Do consistently and at most meals.
• Model how to use it.
• Try a soft straw in a cup with the next one.

• Introducing Solids (Mainly Veggies)
• Tried to do a lot of various veggies and non-sweet foods before fruit.
• Month 6 & 7 only did veggies and avocados with Baby C.
• Order of foods started with Baby C: oatmeal, avocados, acorn squash, butternut squash, green beans, rice cereal, carrots, peas, apples, bananas, pasta
• Used formula with solids to make them less thick instead of trying to pump for it.
• Used oatmeal before bed for the first couple of months to help with sleeping through the night

• Introducing Fruits
• Think through what fruits are binding and which ones break down.
• No citrus, strawberries, raspberries and blackberries until after a year.

• Introducing Dairy 
• Start with whole fat yogurt (banana flavor is especially mild, watch out for berry flavors!), mild cheese (like mozzarella), then not as mild cheese...
• No milk until after a year old.

• Introducing Finger Foods
• Started at 8 months.  Maybe do earlier with next one.
• Finger Food Ideas
• Don't put finger into mouth to pull out food baby is choking on unless you can see it.  Do a hooking motion to pull out food.  Swatting baby's back is best!  Don't want to accidentally shove food further down the neck.

• Foods to Watch Out for and Avoid:
• Highly allergenic foods: dairy, eggs, peanuts, strawberries, wheat
• Peanut butter and nuts
• 6-12 months
• Maybe give baby right before doctor appointment in case swells?
• Not until after a year: strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, citrus, honey, eggs, whole milk, shellfish/crustaceans
• Grapes and hot dogs are super big choking hazards!

Mommy Reflections

• Be patient!  Baby is learning!
• Know what allergies run in the family.
• Wait 3-4 days with introducing new foods to see if there are any allergic reactions.
• Baby C had big time rash with poop changing for 1-2 weeks.

Parenting

• Flick the side of baby's mouth if spitting food to nip that practice in the bud right away. Don't do it hard! Even a little flick hurts.
• From beginning of solids hold baby's hands down in lap while feeding him/her. This keeps baby from from grabbing the spoon and pulling on the bib.  Down the road as you no longer need to hold the hands he/she won't grab the spoon when being fed.

4-9 Months: Baby Food Making Supplies

Must Have Supplies

• Stock Pot and Strainer/Colander
• To steam the fresh foods.
• Used the strainer that came with our stock pot and it worked great instead of needing an additional colander.
• Blender
• To puree the steamed food in.
• If food is already frozen just follow the directions of how to cook it on the bag.
• Ice Cube Trays with Lids 
• Use initially to freeze baby food.
• Silicone Muffin Pan
• Use to freeze baby food once eating more.
• Loved this over a normal one!  So easy to pop the food out after it's frozen!  
• Use saran wrap to cover it to keep it from freezer burn.  Must be BPA free.
• Skillet
• To reheat the food up since the microwave zaps all nutrients.

Additionally Useful

• Pack of 4 oz Jars
• Place frozen ice cubes of pureed food into them to defrost the food in the fridge before heating it up.  
• Moved so quickly to the muffin pan to store the pureed food that probably would get a couple bigger glass jars instead for next baby.
• Or skip this altogether and just go straight to using the skillet to reheat the food.  It only takes a couple minutes longer :)
• Sili Squeeze
• To take homemade baby food on the go in.  
• Make sure have a way to keep the food in it cold.

Thoughts & Resources

• How to Puree & Store Baby Food
• Start with small batches to make sure there aren't any allergies first.