Not sure if your baby is ready? First of all, watch your baby, not the calendar. Our daughter completely refused anything other then breast milk until about 8 months old, at which point she enthusiastically began eating everything in sight! Some tell-tale signs that will let you know your baby is ready are:

• Sitting with good head control. Your baby does not need to be able to sit unassisted, but should be able to sit while supported to be able to swallow properly. They also need to be able to keep their head steady and upright.

• Stops pushing food out of mouth with tongue. If your baby is still doing this, put away the spoon for now and try again in a few weeks.

• Eyes your food. Have you noticed your baby staring hungrily at your plate? Maybe even reaching out for the food on it? This is a major sign that they’re ready to try solids.

The best food to start with is rice cereal. It is mild and easy to digest. Nurse or bottle-feed your baby first, otherwise they’ll be too hungry and just get frustrated. Mix a small amount of cereal with enough water, breast milk, or formula to make it the consistency of a thick soup. Put a little on the tip of a spoon and let your baby look at it and smell it. Gently put it in your baby’s mouth and let them taste it. If they just let the food sit in their mouth and don’t try to swallow it, they are probably not quite ready yet. If they do swallow it, try another bite. At first they may not eat much, but once they get the hang of it they will eat quite a bit.

Once your baby is doing well with the rice cereal, you can start introducing other foods. As a rule of thumb, it’s recommended to introduce vegetables first, and then fruit. Otherwise, your baby will be used to the sweet fruit and may not want to try the veggies. Only introduce one new food at a time, and allow 2-3 days in between each new food to make sure your baby doesn’t have an allergic reaction. Don’t introduce a combo food until your baby has tried each type of food in it individually. Meat should be introduced last. You should continue giving your baby breast milk and/or formula until they are a year old.

Making your own baby food is an easy, healthy alternative to store bought baby food. You will have complete control over what your baby eats and you can be sure that it is fresh and free of additives. Wash the food first, and then steam it. Steaming it makes it nice and soft, but ensures the nutrients remain in the food. Once it’s cooked, use a baby food processor or food mill to puree the food. A blender will work well at first, but since it quickly purees everything, you may want to switch to a food processor later on so you can control the texture of the food. You can make a large batch of food all at once and then freeze it for later. Ice cube trays work great, or you can also get freezer trays with lids that are specifically designed for baby food. You can store frozen baby food for up to 2 months. If you use a microwave to thaw the food, be sure to stir it well afterwards to get rid of any “hot pockets”.

Danielle Burgi

ALSO, how often do you feed your baby meats? My daughter is 8 months now and i know she is needing to eat meat but how much and how often, and also what do you make for your baby? I’ve pureed chicken for her before but what else is good?

My twins are only 4 months old, so I still have time before they are on solids (we are not even on cereal yet), but I am a planner!

I am intending to make our own baby food (probably not all of it but at least some of it). My mom got us a cookbook and kit with trays to freeze the baby food for Christmas.

My question is what do you use to puree? Some people say a blender, others say a food processor will work and still others say that a food mill is a must.

So what do you recommend or use to puree your baby food?

Thanks in advance!

There are many benefits to making your own baby food, and it doesn’t have to be difficult or time consuming. A major advantage is that you can guarantee the quality of the ingredients you use. You can also make large quantities and freeze individual meals to use later, which can be very convenient. Here are some suggestions that will help you on your way to preparing your own baby meals.

Begin with a trip to your local fresh fruit and vegetable store. Babies love fresh food and it’s also very healthy for them. You could even try organic produce – it might not be too expensive when bought in larger quantities. Wash all ingredients well to remove all traces of soil and pesticides.

To preserve all the beneficial vitamins and minerals, use a steamer to cook instead of boiling. Make sure that the fruit or vegetables are soft enough when cooked, especially if baby is young and is new to solid food.

Once the food is cooked, you will need to use a baby food grinder or baby food processor to blend it. These are products designed especially for processing baby food, and give you the right amount of control to vary the consistency. Go for one that is portable but can still blend a good quantity for freezing.

Mix up the cooked food (add some meat if your baby is mature enough) and grind until it reaches the desired consistency, depending on the age of your baby.

Now strain the food so that any small bits such as pips, seeds or peel are removed. The food is now ready to eat! Babies have very sensitive taste buds, so there is no need to add salt or pepper or other flavorings. In fact the baby will enjoy the natural flavors of the fruit or vegetables you have prepared.

The baby meals can now be stored, either in a refrigerator or freezer. Use specific freezer bags or plastic containers designed for storing food. Ice cube trays can be useful as each section can store a small portion of blended food. Once frozen the cubes can be popped out and put into plastic food bags. Make sure the frozen food is heated thoroughly before use, and of course check that it isn’t too hot for baby. Refrigerated food can be heated using a baby food warmer

And finally, vary the meals so that baby experiences a wide range of tastes, as these early experiences go a long way to help baby develop their tastes when older. The more flavors that baby experiences at this stage, the less likely baby will be a fussy eater when older.