Babies First Food

I waited until my son was just about 6 months to start feeding him solids. I wanted to make sure that his digestive system was mature enough to handle new foods. I also heard that introducing food too early could increase the likelihood of allergies.

My son has been exclusively breastfed since birth and I know that my milk has been providing him with all the nutrition that he needs so I was in no rush to begin solids. I also decided to start introducing solids to my son during dinner. I choose dinner since my breastmilk supply is much higher in the morning and afternoon. I also continue to breastfeed my son regularly and always breastfeed him first before offering him his serving of solids. I want my milk to still continue to be his main source of nutrition.

I knew before my baby was born that I wanted to make all of my baby food and avoid buying over processed baby jar food. I want to be the one in control of what my baby eats and ensure that he is given fresh, healthy and wholesome foods. I prepare my son’s food twice a week and freeze single serving sizes for him to enjoy.

Yummy Homemade Organic Avocado Puree 

When deciding which foods to start with my husband and I decided that we would skip cereal all together and offer nutritious fruits and vegetables instead. Choosing what fruits and vegetables to start with all depends on what I could find in stores based on the season. I decided to start with avocado. I do not really follow a particular order, I just alternate between fruits and vegetables.

I also only buy organic produce. Babies developing systems are more vulnerable to chemicals and organic foods have minimal toxicity. I know buying only organic foods may be unrealistic to find or even afford, so here is a list of foods that are considered the Dirty Dozen. These are the most contaminated produce so buying these organic is highly recommended.

Apple

Bell pepper

Carrot

Celery

Cherries

Grapes

Kale

Lettuce

Nectarine

Peach

Pear

Strawberries

When starting with avocado I just started with one tablespoon. He ate half of that. It’s truly best to go with babies lead. Now my son is up to 3 tablespoons a day. He slowly wanted more each day. I also offered my son avocado for 4 consecutive days before offering any another food. The 4-day window is recommended to watch for possible reactions to the new food. Some reactions to watch out for include: redness around baby’s mouth, bloating, gas, irritability, fussiness, over-activity, trouble sleeping, congestion, eczema, and mucous in the stool.

Remember starting solids is just about the experience. What was your experience like?