the essential guide to your baby''''s first foods

annabel karmel Everyday help for introducing your baby’s first foods, with more than 50 recipes Solids Starting Starting Solids [...]... begin to wean your baby, you’ll be introducing her to new tastes in the form of baby rice, vegetables, and fruit At the outset, she’ll take these in the form of a liquid purée so that it’s similar to her milk—it should be almost the same consistency as yogurt—and then progress to lumpier, thicker purées, then lumps Variety is the order of the day Introduce her to a new food every day or so The greater the. .. difficult to distinguish between them If your baby is suffering from any unusual symptoms after eating particular foods, it’s important that you take her to see your doctor Keeping a food journal One of the best ways to pinpoint problem foods is to make a note of what your baby eats Jot down every food you introduce, when you introduce it, and any reactions your baby may have to it Even if your baby... months, milk and other drinks should be offered in a cup Avoid the non-spill type as these require your baby to continue sucking rather than learning to drink The liquid should flow freely, but not too quickly Some brands have specific flow settings, which can be set according to your baby’s age Soft, easy -to- grip handles are essential 28 Which foods should I choose? Which foods should I choose? Your baby’s... intolerance, there is a shortage of the enzyme lactase, which is involved in the digestion of milk Some intolerance is temporary Your baby may develop a short-term intolerance to milk after a tummy bug, for example Very rarely, your baby can experience an intolerance to the chemicals added to foods, such as colorings, flavorings, monosodium glutamate (MSG), and sulphites Symptoms can be similar to those... aside and try again another day Tips for starting weaning Getting it right from the start will make the process of weaning your baby over the coming months much easier Later on in the book, we’ll look at the various setbacks that can arise, and the best ways to deal with them However, before you even put that first spoonful into your baby’s mouth, it’s helpful to be aware of the top tips for successful... can monitor your baby’s reaction throughout the remainder of the day Continue to make a note of any changes in your baby’s health and even in her sleep patterns, bowel movements, and behavior for a few days after the introduction of any new food What if there is a reaction? If you do notice a reaction, then stop feeding your baby the new food in question, and make an appointment to see your doctor, who... Z When babies feed from the breast or a bottle they instinctively push their tongue forward Now your baby needs to learn to keep her tongue at the back of her mouth If she has trouble with a spoon, try dipping a clean finger in the purée and let her suck your finger for the first few mouthfuls Z Laugh, smile, sing, and taste your baby’s food at mealtimes—she’ll want to join in the fun by copying you and... the way you cook them (see page 34) Raw foods contain enzymes that are required by the body to break down other foods, which helps us to absorb what we need from what we eat Having 29 First tastes: Stage One – around 6 months Best first foods best first vegetables carr ot A plain purée of a single root vegetable mixed with your baby’s usual milk is the perfect first food Your baby will be used to the. .. vegetables in your purées Iron in non-meat sources is difficult for us to absorb, so give your baby some vitamin C-rich foods (fruit, vegetables, a small amount of juice) at the same meal to boost iron absorption Vitamins and other supplements Until the age of 12 months, most babies get the nutrients they require from their regular milk At six months, however, your baby’s iron stores start to become depleted... about giving him the right foods I really want to give Tom the best start in life and make sure he’s getting all the nutrients he needs to be strong and healthy But in the end weaning was a huge success and he eagerly took to his first tastes For our first purée, I chose organic sweet potatoes with a little expressed breast milk At least I know he’s getting the best there is! “ “ Sally and Tom, 6 months . textures: Stage Two – 6 to 9 months Getting it right from the beginning: introducing new foods 60 The best new foods 62 Foods to avoid 64 Lumps, chunks, and learning to chew 66 Foods for little fingers. almost the same consistency as yogurt—and then progress to lumpier, thicker purées, then lumps. Variety is the order of the day. Introduce her to a new food every day or so. The greater the. and the best ways to deal with them. However, before you even put that first spoonful into your baby’s mouth, it’s helpful to be aware of the top tips for successful weaning: Z Make sure your