NB.You should always consult your baby’s health professional before introducing any new foods to your baby.
These baby food recipes are a great alternative to commercial baby foods prepared in bulk with artificial additives etc, food safety guidelines are even more important however in terms of storage and use by dates.
The World Health Organisation recommend offering only breast-feeding (or where not possible formula) to a minimum of 6 months of age. Studies have shown that an infant's gastrointestinal tract has not or may not have matured enough to properly digest solid foods properly until around 6-8 months old. Hence. baby food recipes need to take these things into account.
Be aware that allergies can occur at any stage and always consult professional help.
Apparent signs of increased hunger may occur between 3-4 months of age. Your baby could begin to wake more frequently at night for a feed . A growth spurt can often account for the increasedhunger in your baby and it should not be taken necessarily as a sign that your baby needs solid foods added to her diet!
Some parents believe that if they start solids "early" then their infants will sleep through the night sooner. As your baby grows, his sleeping patterns as well as eating patterns change continually. Dont think that you need to start your baby on solids just because your friend's 4 month old has already had them.
Some signs that your baby may be ready for solids
Doubling of birth weight , ability to sit up and hold head up unassisted , interest in your food.
See your health professional to confirm your feelings that she may be ready.
Introduce new foods during the morning or early afternoon.(if there is a reaction you have more time to get to a health professional.)
- Introduce new foods after a breast feed or bottle feeding.
- Never leave a baby unattended when eating. Never feed them solids laying down.
- Ensure you are using a well designed, comfortable baby spoon!
- Don't force foods on your baby!
-Don’t give up on a new food because baby won’t eat it the first time; continue offering the food or wait another day or week.
- Follow the 4 day rule(same food for 4 days) with each new food. If you suspect your baby has had an adverse reaction to a new food, you 'll be able to identify it more easily.
- Start with offering a tablespoon sized portion of whatever food you have chosen to begin with. Some parents begin offering solid foods by using their (thoroughly washed) finger if the baby rejects a spoon.
Salt and sugar should not be used when making baby food. Some other spices such as cinnamon, garlic powder, pepper etc. could be be introduced from 8 months but consult your health professional first.
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FREEZING- home made baby food is an econmomical and safe way to prepare larger quantities and save time and money. You can keep your home-made purees in the fridge for 48-72 hours but in the freezer for 3 months.(because of leaching of nutrients it is ideal to use within 1 month, which is fine as you'll be introducing new foods all the time). Use an ice-cube tray the once frozen , put each type in its own lock-seal bag and then all bags in another closed plastic bag. Dont freeze food in glass containers. Vegetables freeze better than fruits ie. many fruits can brown (due to air exposure), but the taste is often the same. Many fruits and Veg will need thickening slightly with rice cereal or similar once thawed. For more Tips on freezing food visit this page. |
BABY FOOD RECIPES
WITH VEGETABLES
from 6 months | BABY FOOD RECIPES
WITH FRUIT
from 8-10 months
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Pumpkin
from 6 months
Peel, cut into large cubes and steam a quarter of a pumpkin
(it will freeze so maybe even more) or microwave for 10 minutes
or until soft (some parents dont use a microwave due to uncertainty of it's safetly) This is your call.
I have also microwaved a half a pumpkin and
then scooped out the coked flesh after it cooled.
It doesn't cook as evely this way.
Puree the pumpkin with your blender or
'Bamix' or similar using a little water or rice milk
to get the smooth consistency
(I use calcium fortified Rice Milk in
a lot of my cooking for adults as well)
It has a good texture but alters
the little taste very little
Freeze serves in zip-lock bages or
plastic cups (seal up well in plastic
freezer bags). Defrost as needed.
Freezing flat in a zip lock bag allows for
quicker defrosting
Jen -hafu.com
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Avocado
Prepare some avocado on the spot
by just scooping out and mashing the
pulp of in season avocados.
No need to cook
Prepare in the same way for these
Banana
(You can add breast milk,
rice milk or water until
smooth and soft or any recipe
is too runny, add rice cereal)
Mango
Papaya
- Also- Brasilian mothers use seeds of the
papaya to make a 'juice', straining out the seeds later, and this helps with some colic and gastro-intestinal upsets.
Caterina - Bahia, Brasil
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Sweet Potato
from 6 months
I prepared my sweet potato in the same
way as pumpkin as well as
squash, carrots and zuccini
which are runnier and need some
rice cereal added to make a nice texture.
Jen -hafu.com
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Pears & Apples
Peel and cut into large cubes or wedges removing central seeded area
Steam until tender
Place in a blender
or similar and puree until smooth.
You can also use canned pears
(in juice, not syrup, & can just mash
to the puree consistency)
Jodi- Port Melbourne, Australia
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Peas and Beans
Steam and mash them
(my two seemed to start
their prejudice
against green as babies), so
I ended up mixing these in with
successful veges to get them passed.
Jen -hafu.com | Apricots
Nectarines
Peaches
Plums
These fruits can be cooked
after washing and the peel
pureed together with the flesh.
The concern with leaving the peel on is of course chemical insecticides.
Getting the peel off can be fiddly
Canned versions without lots of added sugar can also be mashed
Jen -hafu.com |
BABY FOOD RECIPES
WITH PROTEIN
8-10 months |
| Meats and proteins such as egg yolk, should be cooked and pureed or chopped into small soft bits in baby food recipes. If offering Tofu you dont need to cook it first. Introduce these 8-10months. |
Chicken, Turkey, Fish
(or tofu) | Beef, Lamb, Pork or Veal |
Basic Puree
Take the darker meat (more fat and iron) of the chicken or turkey that you have cooked for yourself and mash or puree in the blender. Scrape off most of the sauce before hand.
Mix with different veg purees for variety. | Basic Puree (as for chicken etc.) |
Baby Chicken Mango Rissotto
1/4 cup of cooked brown rice
1/2 cup cooked chicken
Flesh of 1 ripe mango
rice milk or peach juice
Serve chopped/mixed for older babies,
puree in the blender and freeze in
serving sizes for the 8-10mth old
Jane - Clifton Hill
| Baby Beef Casserole
Whenever I make a beef or lamb casserole for the family,
I take a 1/4 cup of pasta, rice or mash,
1/4 cup of Steamed green (usually brocholi or beans)
and 1/4 cup of the cooked meat, minus most of the casserole sauce, I add some water and puree. This makes several frozen serves of baby food& sometimes I add more
veg when thawed.
Sharon - Templestowe, Victoria |
Chicken and Fetta Pasta
1/4 cup of cooked pasta
1/2 cup cooked chicken
1/4 cup of cooked brocholi or peas
2 teaspoons of mild goat or sheeps fetta
a little goats milk
(optional garlic or basil, v.small amounts)
Chop or puree depending on age
Voula - Carlton, Victoria | |
Chicken Delight
200g of cooked chicken breast
1 small potato
1 small sweet potato
1 cup of pumpkin
3-4 beans
a small tin of creamed corn
(optional garlic or basil, very small amounts)
Steam veg, Chop or puree depending on age
Sandra - ivanhoe, Victoria | |
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