ou want only the best for your child, right? So when it’s time for your little one to start eating solid food, why not make meals from scratch?
Although not for everyone, cooking homemade baby food can be extremely beneficial to your baby (if you can find the time and energy!). Here’s why:
- You have control over the ingredients.
- It can be served fresh, free of additives and preservatives.
- It can be flavored according to your baby’s taste.
- The texture can be customized according to your baby’s age.
- You can increase the nutritional value.
Also, think of it this way: if you go organic, not only is it good for your baby, it’s also good for the earth. According to EcoCradle contributor, Kimberly Danek Pinkson, founder of EcoMom Alliance, “You’ll avoid herbicides, pesticides, hormones, and antibiotics, and help keep these chemicals out of our environment.” You’ll also keep all those plastic jars out of landfills.
See our articles Ask EcoMom: Organic Baby Foods and Organic Advantage: Identifying Healthy Baby Food.
When to Start Solids
Dr. JJ Levenstein, MD, pediatrician and member of The Cradle advisory board, says that parents should start their babies on solid foods between 4-6 months.
What about Jarred Baby Food?
She cautions that “if there is a parental history of allergies, eczema, or any intolerance for a component of mother’s milk or formula, or eczema in the baby, I wait until 6 months. Some very precocious 4 month olds literally want to grab a spoon, and show interest by smacking their gums and getting very aroused when witnessing others feed. If there are no issues, such as allergies, I will let parents start these kids sooner than 6 months.
“I NEVER recommend giving solids earlier than 4 months. The only exception would be the use of cereal to thicken milk for a child with severe symptomatic reflux, but that’s pretty rare.”
Dr. Levenstein also recommends that babies start first with cereals enriched with iron, followed by veggies and fruits. “I tell parents to introduce one new food every 3-4 days to start,” she says. “You can test the water and see how reactive a baby is. If after 5-6 new foods are introduced and there are no issues, I will advise every 3 days.”
If you have any specific questions or concerns, talk to your pediatrician.
