Parenting/Pregnancy and all that comes with it!
Baby First Food Recipes & the Four Day Rule-found online
First, please read the "four day rule":
The four day rule is a simple strategy to help spot baby digestive problems or potential allergies and easily identify problem foods.
The rule is easy to follow. Each time you introduce a new food to your baby, you need to continue feeding your baby that same food for four days. You can continue to feed your baby other foods you have safely introduced. But don't introduce two new foods at the same time.
It's an effective strategy ...
Allergic reactions usually appear quickly - sometimes within 1/2 an hour of your baby eating the food responsible. But it can take up to 3 or 4 days for a reaction to occur. Baby digestive problems, too, tend to take a few days to appear.
By sticking to one new food for 4 days, you will immediately be able to tell which food is causing the reaction or medical problem. You can then eliminate this food from your baby's diet, although it may be possible to re-introduce it later on. Identifying the problem quickly means you won't need to "experiment" to find its' cause ... and you won't risk provoking the same reaction again.
A useful tip is to try introducing new foods in the morning or at lunch time. If your baby suffers a severe allergic reaction, it will be easier to get medical help then, rather than later in the day.
If the food causes your baby digestive problems, he may experience diarrhea, gas or some other discomfort. If you've given him the food late in the day, then he - and you - will probably be in for a sleepless night!
If you are introducing solids to your baby before he is 6 months old, you might want to increase the "four day rule" to seven days. Some medical experts believe that, in a younger baby, digestive problems and allergic reactions are more likely to occur.
Giving your baby new foods is exciting, but don't rush things - it pays to be patient and apply this rule. You will be in control of your baby's diet, alert to potential problems and able to identify their cause. And the end result ... a happy, healthy baby, enjoying the foods that are right for him/her.
CEREAL
You can use commercially prepared rice cereal (although I made everything else myself, I admit that I did sometimes buy packets of baby rice!) - but here's a recipe to make your own .
More breakfast ideas for baby
BABY FIRST FOOD - VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
Vegetables are the perfect first solid foods for baby, both nutritious and easy to digest. Introduce vegetables before fruits - if baby gets used to the natural sweetness of fruits first, he might not be so willing to accept vegetables later.
Healthy and delicious, fruits also make wonderful first foods for babies. Not all fruits are suitable at this stage, though - see foods to avoid , for more information.
Remember to apply the four day rule as you introduce each new food to your baby, in order to identify any potential allergies or digestive problems.
To puree food for your baby, you can push it through a sieve or use a blender. The Magic Bullet Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer #7712 is very popular with many parents and is incredibly versatile - meaning you can continue to use it even after your baby is past the puree stage!
Alternatively, consider using a hand blender (my favourite option) - you can simply puree the food in the pot you cook it in, plus hand blenders are easy to clean up afterwards!
If your puree doesn't come out with the consistency you'd intended, then don't miss our tips for thickening or thinning baby food purees.
Happy pureeing!
NOTE FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS: British vegetable names are used in these recipes - if these are not familiar to you, the following translations may be helpful!
courgette = zucchini
aubergine = egg-plant
swede = rutabaga
spring onions = scallions or green onions
VEGETABLES
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Scrumptious Sweet Potato
This has to be my all-time favourite first baby food. All my children have loved it, probably because of its' subtle sweetness. And it is, by far, the easiest vegetable to prepare.
Preheat the oven to 375 deg F or 190 deg C.
Simply take one large sweet potato. Scrub it and prick it with a fork.
Bake for about 45 mins, until it feels soft.
Once cooked, all you need to do is split the potato and scrape out the flesh with a spoon. Hey presto - instant baby food, which doesn't even need pureeing! Just mash it lightly with a fork and you're ready to go.
One large potato will give you about 3 or 4 portions at this early stage. Bake a few at a time and you've got a fortnight's supply!
Alternatively... you could peel the potato, then boil or steam it in cubes. But really, what's the point in giving yourself extra work when baking it in its' skin is so much easier?
One point to consider - one of my daughters loved sweet potato so much that I fed it to her a little too often - her skin took on an orange hue! It actually looked as if she had a healthy tan - so much so, that I considered trying the sweet potato diet for myself! So be careful not to over do it.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Delicious Butternut Squash
Another simple-to-prepare vegetable, with a taste that babies love. You could also use acorn squash.
Preheat the oven to 400 deg F or 200 deg C.
Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.
Place the squash in a baking tin, face down in about one inch of water.
Bake for about 40 mins. Keep an eye on the water in the pan - add a little more if necessary.
The squash is done when it feels soft. Remove the flesh from the skin and either puree it, or mash it lightly with a fork.
Butternut soup recipe - for babies already enjoying a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Tender Carrots
One of the most popular first solid foods for baby - and possibly the cheapest! It makes you wonder why people are prepared to pay so much for jars of prepared foods, when you see how economical these are to prepare at home!
Choose large, older carrots - these are actually richer in nutrients than baby carrots. Just trim the ends and slice. Then steam, boil or microwave and puree to perfection!
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Tasty Courgettes
Courgettes puree to a very thin, almost watery consistency. Introduce them on their own at first (as per the four day rule), then mix them with other vegetables that may otherwise be a little too "stodgy" in texture.
Simply wash the courgettes, remove both ends, then slice. You can boil, steam or microwave them until tender, then puree them as usual.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Superb Swede
Swede is often neglected as a food for babies, yet it has a lovely, earthy flavour that my children have all enjoyed.
Simply peel the swede, cut it into chunks and then boil, steam or microwave until tender. It is very easy to puree to a wonderful, smooth consistency.
The four day rule is a simple strategy to help spot baby digestive problems or potential allergies and easily identify problem foods.
The rule is easy to follow. Each time you introduce a new food to your baby, you need to continue feeding your baby that same food for four days. You can continue to feed your baby other foods you have safely introduced. But don't introduce two new foods at the same time.
It's an effective strategy ...
Allergic reactions usually appear quickly - sometimes within 1/2 an hour of your baby eating the food responsible. But it can take up to 3 or 4 days for a reaction to occur. Baby digestive problems, too, tend to take a few days to appear.
By sticking to one new food for 4 days, you will immediately be able to tell which food is causing the reaction or medical problem. You can then eliminate this food from your baby's diet, although it may be possible to re-introduce it later on. Identifying the problem quickly means you won't need to "experiment" to find its' cause ... and you won't risk provoking the same reaction again.
A useful tip is to try introducing new foods in the morning or at lunch time. If your baby suffers a severe allergic reaction, it will be easier to get medical help then, rather than later in the day.
If the food causes your baby digestive problems, he may experience diarrhea, gas or some other discomfort. If you've given him the food late in the day, then he - and you - will probably be in for a sleepless night!
If you are introducing solids to your baby before he is 6 months old, you might want to increase the "four day rule" to seven days. Some medical experts believe that, in a younger baby, digestive problems and allergic reactions are more likely to occur.
Giving your baby new foods is exciting, but don't rush things - it pays to be patient and apply this rule. You will be in control of your baby's diet, alert to potential problems and able to identify their cause. And the end result ... a happy, healthy baby, enjoying the foods that are right for him/her.
CEREAL
You can use commercially prepared rice cereal (although I made everything else myself, I admit that I did sometimes buy packets of baby rice!) - but here's a recipe to make your own .
More breakfast ideas for baby
BABY FIRST FOOD - VEGETABLES AND FRUITS
Vegetables are the perfect first solid foods for baby, both nutritious and easy to digest. Introduce vegetables before fruits - if baby gets used to the natural sweetness of fruits first, he might not be so willing to accept vegetables later.
Healthy and delicious, fruits also make wonderful first foods for babies. Not all fruits are suitable at this stage, though - see foods to avoid , for more information.
Remember to apply the four day rule as you introduce each new food to your baby, in order to identify any potential allergies or digestive problems.
To puree food for your baby, you can push it through a sieve or use a blender. The Magic Bullet Hi-Speed Blender/Mixer #7712 is very popular with many parents and is incredibly versatile - meaning you can continue to use it even after your baby is past the puree stage!
Alternatively, consider using a hand blender (my favourite option) - you can simply puree the food in the pot you cook it in, plus hand blenders are easy to clean up afterwards!
If your puree doesn't come out with the consistency you'd intended, then don't miss our tips for thickening or thinning baby food purees.
Happy pureeing!
NOTE FOR OUR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS: British vegetable names are used in these recipes - if these are not familiar to you, the following translations may be helpful!
courgette = zucchini
aubergine = egg-plant
swede = rutabaga
spring onions = scallions or green onions
VEGETABLES
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Scrumptious Sweet Potato
This has to be my all-time favourite first baby food. All my children have loved it, probably because of its' subtle sweetness. And it is, by far, the easiest vegetable to prepare.
Preheat the oven to 375 deg F or 190 deg C.
Simply take one large sweet potato. Scrub it and prick it with a fork.
Bake for about 45 mins, until it feels soft.
Once cooked, all you need to do is split the potato and scrape out the flesh with a spoon. Hey presto - instant baby food, which doesn't even need pureeing! Just mash it lightly with a fork and you're ready to go.
One large potato will give you about 3 or 4 portions at this early stage. Bake a few at a time and you've got a fortnight's supply!
Alternatively... you could peel the potato, then boil or steam it in cubes. But really, what's the point in giving yourself extra work when baking it in its' skin is so much easier?
One point to consider - one of my daughters loved sweet potato so much that I fed it to her a little too often - her skin took on an orange hue! It actually looked as if she had a healthy tan - so much so, that I considered trying the sweet potato diet for myself! So be careful not to over do it.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Delicious Butternut Squash
Another simple-to-prepare vegetable, with a taste that babies love. You could also use acorn squash.
Preheat the oven to 400 deg F or 200 deg C.
Cut the squash in half and remove the seeds.
Place the squash in a baking tin, face down in about one inch of water.
Bake for about 40 mins. Keep an eye on the water in the pan - add a little more if necessary.
The squash is done when it feels soft. Remove the flesh from the skin and either puree it, or mash it lightly with a fork.
Butternut soup recipe - for babies already enjoying a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Tender Carrots
One of the most popular first solid foods for baby - and possibly the cheapest! It makes you wonder why people are prepared to pay so much for jars of prepared foods, when you see how economical these are to prepare at home!
Choose large, older carrots - these are actually richer in nutrients than baby carrots. Just trim the ends and slice. Then steam, boil or microwave and puree to perfection!
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Tasty Courgettes
Courgettes puree to a very thin, almost watery consistency. Introduce them on their own at first (as per the four day rule), then mix them with other vegetables that may otherwise be a little too "stodgy" in texture.
Simply wash the courgettes, remove both ends, then slice. You can boil, steam or microwave them until tender, then puree them as usual.
Pureed Baby Food Recipes - Superb Swede
Swede is often neglected as a food for babies, yet it has a lovely, earthy flavour that my children have all enjoyed.
Simply peel the swede, cut it into chunks and then boil, steam or microwave until tender. It is very easy to puree to a wonderful, smooth consistency.
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