Nutrition

During the first 3 years of your child's life you have the opportunity to lay the building blocks for lifelong healthy eating habits. There are many different views on how, what, and when you should feed your little one. We at The Baby Grocery Store value all opinions and think you are making the perfect choice for your family by doing it your way. We will share the tips and opinions of numerous pediatricians on how you can best feed your baby, but we'll leave it up to you on which way you want to go!

If your baby is breastfed, he/she should rely mainly on breast milk for the first 12 months. By 6 months you can introduce solids, at which time your baby might be down to 4-6 nursings a day. At a year, solids ought become approximately 50% of their daily nutrition. If you are not able to breast feed and do not have access to a milk bank, organic formula or homemade formula is the next best thing.

Is your child ready for solids?

• Can your baby sit up and hold up their head unassisted?
• Does your baby show interest in food when you are eating?
• Does your baby grab at the food on your plate?
• Has your baby begun to teethe? Does your baby mimic your eating behaviors, like opening his mouth when you take a bite?
• Does your baby still seem hungry after breastfeeding or having formula?

If you answered yes to most of these questions, your baby is ready for solids. If your baby eagerly opens his mouth when he sees a spoonful of food coming his way, he is ready and willing. It's ok if your child isn't ready. Try again in a few weeks. Only introduce one solid food at a time (mornings are best in case of reaction) and wait for 2-3 days to see if there are any allergic responses such as diarrhea, gas, rash, vomiting, fussiness, or in extreme cases, anaphylaxis.

You can feed your baby with your finger for the first few weeks and then switch to a spoon if that is easier. Make sure the spoon is silicone so it doesn't get too hot or cold.

Use breast milk or formula to thin out solids.

What to Eat

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that most babies are ready to start eating solids between 4-6 months. By this age, they are able to swallow food instead of pushing it out with their tongue. There is no medical evidence that says introducing solids foods in any order has an advantage for your baby. In the past, it was recommended to delay nuts, nut butters, strawberries, citrus, eggs, and fish but currently pediatricians say you can introduce these before 12 months if there are no known family allergies.

Here is a guide on some things you can introduce at different ages/stages:

4-6 Months (Stage 1 Foods)

Cereals & Grains: Oatmeal, Barley, Quinoa
Fruits: Avocado, Apples, Ripe Bananas, Pears, Peaches
Vegetables: Sweet Potatoes, Squash, Carrots, Peas
Dairy: Raw Milk, Cream (Not ultra pasteurized)

6-8 Months (Stage 2 Foods)

Cereals & Grains:Oatmeal, Barley, Quinoa, Kamut
Fruits: Avocado, Melon, Mangoes, Banana, Kiwi and Papaya can be mashed and given raw. High pectin fruits like Apricots, Apples, Nectarines, Peaches, Pears, Plums, and Berries should be cooked to break down the pectin which can be irritating to the digestive tract at this age. Prunes can be stewed and pureed to ease constipation as well.
Vegetables: Pumpkin, Sweet Potatoes, Acorn Squash, Butternut Squash, Carrots, Beets, Green Beans, Peas, Cauliflower, Zucchini (yellow and green). Steam and mash. You can add coconut oil to provide nutrients and aid digestion.
Protein: Pureed Chicken, Wild Salmon, Turkey, Tofu, Pork, Sirloin, Bison, Lamb, mashed Egg Yolks (no egg whites), Kidney Beans, Lentils Dairy: Plain whole milk yogurt.

9-12 Months (Stage 3 Foods)

You can start introducing finger foods at around 9 months.
Herbs and Additional Seasonings: Herbs and Spices can be introduced to your baby now. Always check ingredients and don't add anything with MSG or other chemicals to food.
Cereals & Grains: Wheat, Pasta
Fruit: Figs, Dates, Cranberries, Cherries, Grapes, Citrus. If served whole, make sure fruit is cut.
Vegetables: Asparagus, Peppers, Broccoli, Eggplant, Mushrooms, Leeks, Onions, White potatoes, Artichokes, Beets, Corn, Cucumber, Tomatoes
Dairy: Hard Cheese (no soft cheeses like Brie), Cottage Cheese, Not Ultra- Pasteurized Cream.

12 Months+ (Stage 4 Foods)
Now the real fun begins! Try to incorporate all the colors of the rainbow on their plate.

Here's a list of foods you may want to avoid during your baby's first year:
Honey (may cause botulism in infants under 1yr old)
Peanut Butter (if allergy in family, ask pediatrician)
Tree Nuts (if allergy in family, ask pediatrician)
Whole Milk as a drink
Grapes- whole
Shellfish/Crustaceans.

Baby Led Feeding or Weaning:
Instead of feeding your baby mashed up foods, some parents offer whole foods that their baby can feed themselves from the very start. Babies who a use this method learn to chew first and swallow later. You can start with a steamed carrot, soft enough you can smush with your thumb.

Making Baby Food

There are numerous baby food makers like the Beaba, Sage Spoonfuls, and Baby Brezza that steam and puree whole foods. You can also get food mills, blenders, and refillable pouches.

Things to Know

Arsenic: There have been high levels of arsenic found in all kinds of rice, especially brown rice. It is best to limit your baby's rice consumption. A few times a week is thought to be ok, but not more than once a day.

Nitrates: Certain vegetables such as green beans, carrots, spinach, lettuce, radishes, beets, turnips and collard greens, may contain excessive nitrates, which can be converted into nitrite (an undesirable substance) in the stomach. These naturally occurring nitrates can reduce the baby's hemoglobin. When cooking vegetables that may contain these substances, do not use the water they were cooked in to purée due to the possible concentration of nitrates in the cooking water. These vegetables are safe for home preparation if fed to infants 6 months and older when prepared as described above.