• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • BLOG
  • Meet Sarah
  • Shop With Me
    • My Amazon Store
    • LIKEtoKNOW.it
    • Buy Plexus (the pink drink!))
    • Buy Arbonne
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
The Fashionable Housewife

The Fashionable Housewife

Because Moms Should Look Good, Too!

  • Fashion
    • Today’s Outfit
    • Outfit Ideas
    • Spring Fashion
    • Summer Fashion
    • Fall Fashion
    • Winter Fashion
  • Beauty
    • Hair
    • Skin Care
    • Makeup
    • Nail Polish
    • Organic or Eco-Friendly
    • Hair Removal
    • Sun Protection
    • Cosmetic Surgery
  • Health
    • Fitness
    • Weight Loss
    • Pregnancy
    • Vitamins & Supplements
    • About The Dukan Diet
    • Review of i-Lipo Laser Liposuction Treatment
  • Home Life
    • Home Improvement
    • Home Decor
    • Outdoors
    • DIY & Crafts
    • Homesteading
    • Travel
    • Finances
  • Marriage
  • Faith
  • Parenting
    • Baby Gear
    • Babywearing
    • Breastfeeding
    • Cloth Diapers & Diapering
    • Pregnancy
    • Natural Birth
    • Story Land in Glen, NH
  • Homeschooling
  • Recipes
    • Food & Snacks
    • Baby Food
    • Gluten Free
    • Keto
    • Coffee
    • Cocktails
  • Shop My Looks

Our Tip’s For Introducing Baby’s First Foods

Modified on July 8, 2021 at 8:39 AM

Sharing is caring!

0 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet
babys first food

As a parent, you have survived childbirth, sleepless nights, and breastfeeding. Now it’s time to conquer feeding your baby their first solid foods! It is commonly agreed upon in the medical community that the best time to start your baby on solid foods is around 6 months old, but check with your pediatrician before you change your baby’s diet. Signs to look for that your baby may be ready to start solid foods are demonstrating good head control and sitting up with minimal support. If your baby shows interest in food by reaching toward your plate or looks for more food after being breastfed, it might be time for baby’s first solid foods.

Where to Start

Knowing where and when to start anything can be one of the hardest parts of parenting. When it comes to starting a baby on their first solid food, its best to begin feeding when they are not too tired or cranky. Making this a positive experience will help you down the road.

To make it easier for your baby, bottle (or breast-) feed them first so they are not overly hungry. After they have been fed, offer them one serving of solid food. The traditional way to start solid foods is by spoon feeding your baby. Start with a few teaspoons, and let them tell you when they have had enough. Don’t worry if your baby doesn’t want to eat much at first, feeding a baby solid food for the first time is a process.

Another way to introduce baby’s first foods is called “baby-led weaning.” Essentially you put large chunks of soft food on a high chair tray and let your baby explore it. Let them squish the food through their fingers, smell it, and eat it. By learning to explore the food, your baby is more likely to have a good introduction to it.

Keep in mind that breast milk or formula will still provide the majority of your baby’s calories and nutrition until around a year old. Solid foods can’t replace the nutrients found in breast milk and formula for a baby’s first year of life. This means that mealtime is more about them learning the act of eating and the tastes and textures of foods in the beginning than it is about them consuming calories.

happy baby formula

My baby isn’t a fan of formula, which is ok with me because we’re still nursing. I do let him have a bottle of water for fun though. He loves taking a few sips after he’s done eating. The only bottle I’ve gotten him to take is Joovy Boob. I love the Joovy Boob bottle because it’s easy to clean,

Solid Food Facts

For those with a content, milk-loving baby, it can be tempting to put off feeding your baby solid foods for as long as possible. However, a baby is born with only so much zinc and iron stores, and they cannot get more from breast milk. These stores are typically only available for 6-7 months, at which time they begin to decrease rapidly. By waiting longer than 7 months to introduce solid foods, you run the risk that your baby will have an iron deficiency.

Regardless of what you have heard, your baby should NOT have rice cereal as its first food. Even though rice cereal provides enough zinc and iron for a growing baby, it’s not the best option for introducing your baby to their first foods. Believe it or not, well-cooked, finely minced or pureed meat, poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, and legumes can be safe for babies and offer enough iron for their growing bodies. Taste matters, so let your sweet babe decide what is right for them and what is not. I personally recommend avocados, bananas, and sweet potatoes as first foods. Mash a tiny portion of food in the Nuk Mash & Serve Bowl when you first introduce solids. Baby will only want a couple bites for the first week or two so preparing a whole tray of food is unnecessary, especially until you know what your baby likes.

nuk mash serve bowl

Sara Peternell, a nutritionist and expert in family nutrition, says that “babies have a very immature digestive system, so when we introduce something that’s more of a refined grain, that takes a lot more energy from the digestive system to try to break it down and extract the nutrients.” Amylase is the enzyme needed to break down most carbohydrates found in fortified rice cereals, but babies don’t make enough of it at the age of 4-6 months. As a rule, avoiding foods that cause discomfort is key to establishing a positive feeding relationship during infancy.

Make Your Own Baby Food

It’s easier than you think to make your own baby food. Most items are easy enough to mash without a food processor, but I use my Nutribullet to puree my homemade baby food. If you don’t have a Nutribullet, blender, or a food processor, consider getting the Baby Bullet or the Beaba Babycook that steams and then blends your baby food.

Once your baby’s food is pureed, store it in small, single serving containers like Glasslock baby food containers that are freezer and dishwasher safe. If you want to make and store a week’s worth of baby food, get a silicone freezer-safe tray like KIDDO FEEDO baby food prep and storage container. It’s BPA free, FDA approved, multipurpose use, and comes with a FREE eBook on baby feeding. Plus you can get 50% off a KIDDO FEEDO bib when you buy a storage container of the same color. I got mine in orange!

kiddo feedo

It’s not always easy or feasible to purchase a wide variety of organic fruits and vegetables in the winter months. It can also get costly pretty quickly too. If you still want your baby to enjoy all the taste and nutrition of organic vegetables without the hassle, check out Dr. Cowan’s Garden. Consider grabbing a jar of Winter Squash Powder or Threefold Blend Powder to mix in with your baby’s mashed bananas or apple puree. Transform your baby’s food into sophisticated and nutritious cuisines with Dr. Cowan’s powders. There is no way the average stay at home would have the time to cook this wide of a variety of fresh, organic veggies on a daily basis. Dr. Cowan makes it easy with his high-quality vegetable powders that can be added to a variety of baby’s foods or your own soups, stews, casseroles, and more!

winter squash

Things to Avoid

Avoid pureeing your own beets, carrots, turnips, spinach, or collard greens for food until your baby is at least 7 months old. These vegetables have a large number of nitrates in them which can cause anemia in infants. If you want to feed your baby these foods, make sure to buy organic commercially made baby food, as they are tested to be nitrate free.

Avoid honey until your baby is at least one because it can contain spores that may produce a life-threatening condition called infant botulism. Even when your child is old enough, check with your pediatrician for their recommendation before feeding them honey, just to be safe!

It’s not common, but it’s also not that rare for mothers bring home their first (or even fifth) child to find that they are malnourished. Make sure to get regular checkups and consult your doctor in regards to the health of your baby. The human brain can only develop properly with the right nutrition, and at your little one’s age, this is extremely important. If you are noticing weight loss or an overly fussy babe, consult your physician to make sure they are healthy and happy.

First Food Tips

  • Introduce one food at a time. Monitor your baby for 3-5 days for signs of allergic reactions like diarrhea, vomiting, or rash before moving on to a new food.
  • Texture may be an issue for your child, so start with softer and smoother textures, moving gradually towards thicker foods.
  • Don’t be surprised by a picky eater. Disliking specific foods is normal, but it’s important to continue offering those foods that your baby seems to initially dislike in order to shape a healthy child.
  • Introducing the same food 15 to 20 times before your baby likes or tries it is normal.
  • There is no arguing that babies are expensive. Do your research before you start buying bowls and cups and spoons!
  • Homemade baby food is ideal because it offers a variety of flavors and nutrients that commercial baby food lacks and it’s cheaper! However, if you must buy your baby food, try Happy Baby Organic baby food so your baby doesn’t miss out on flavor and nutrition. All my kids have loved Happy Baby products including toddler snacks.

As with anything new, be patient. You may have a happy food-loving baby or you may be blessed with a picky eater. Whatever the case may be, introducing your babe to a variety of first foods is the best way to decide what is best for them.

Related posts:

4 Amazing Superfoods for Your Baby and How to Prepare Them4 Amazing Superfoods for Your Baby and How to Prepare Them

Posted By The Fashionable Housewife
on February 27, 2018 at 5:01 PM
Filed Under: Baby Gear, Breastfeeding, Food & Snacks, Home Life, Organic or Eco-Friendly
Tagged With: baby food, baby food container, Beaba, bib, Breastfeeding, breatmilk, DIY, Dr. Cowan's Garden, formula, freezer tray, Happy Baby, homemade, homemade baby food, Kiddo Feedo, organic baby food, organic vegetables, vegetable powder

About The Fashionable Housewife

Sarah-Jean Ballard is the Editor in Chief of The Fashionable Housewife blog and Founder of Fashionable Media. Married to a sexy Molecular Biologist, housewife, mom to 5, homeschooler, Certified Personal Nutritionist and entrepreneur who's mission is to help moms just like you look and feel GREAT! Other interests include dancing, yoga, positive intactivism, natural birth and breastfeeding support, babywearing, paleo & gluten-free cooking, and promoting an overall healthy lifestyle to all.

Disclaimer

The Fashionable Housewife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for blogs and websites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We also participate in various other affiliate programs, and we sometimes get a commission on purchases made through our links. There is no extra cost to you! For more info, please see our Disclosure & Privacy Policy.

Previous Post: « Why You Should Spend Your Next Winter in London
Next Post: How To Make Brushing Teeth Fun For Your Little Ones »

Primary Sidebar

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Hello, there!

Sarah-Jean Ballard

Hi! I’m Sarah-Jean. I’m a Christian, the wife of a handsome Molecular Biologist, and the homeschooling mother of 5 beautiful kids!

I enjoy homesteading, reading, writing, cooking, baking, crafting, home decorating, Xtend Barre, and of course, fashion!

This blog is a place for me to share how we live and what I love most. I’m on a mission to help busy moms like you, be fashionable too! Read More…

Never miss a post

Fashionable!


Use code FASHION10 to get 10% off your order at www.mapleandlark.com





Use our exclusive coupon code
LS-SARAHJEAN for $20 off your first order!


DHgate fashion dresses for sale

Use coupon code ‘FHW‘
to get 20% off your order!!!

Latest on Instagram

fashionablewife

𝒯𝒽ℯℱ𝒶𝓈𝒽𝒾ℴ𝓃𝒶𝒷𝓁ℯℋℴ𝓊𝓈ℯ𝓌𝒾𝒻ℯ
Christian, Wife, Mama x 5. livin' in NH
Fashion, Food, Health, & Home
✉️ Email me, let’s work together!

𝕊𝕒𝕣𝕒𝕙 | Fashionable Homemaker & Large Family Life
You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
I’m addicted and I just can’t get enough 😂🫣

I’m loving my no -toxic, non-stick cookware from @caraway_home  It’s as beautiful as it is easy to cook with. And it makes my kitchen look prettier too! 💁🏼‍♀️

Want to learn more about why I’m obsessed with these pots and pans? Visit my blog and search CARAWAY! Or scroll through my feed! 🥳

#homemaker #housewifelife #homestyler #momlife
Today was my due date for Dylan. Considering he w Today was my due date for Dylan.

Considering he was my 6th child, it's possible he would have been here by now. It’s been extra hard for me this week. 

Despite my best efforts to be strong and stay positive, I am completely brokenhearted. I’m just being honest. I could pretend I’m fine, but that doesn't do me or anyone else any good to be dishonest about the pain of miscarriage or the grief that comes with losing a child. 

My heart is completely shattered from having an empty womb and an empty nursery. An empty bassinet in the corner and unused tiny newborn outfits, all washed, folded, and ready… for nothing. 

It makes me physically sick to my stomach when I think about it all and I can't even fathom how I got here. How did I get here? 

This isn't how it's supposed to be! I should be holding a newborn right now! It’s so unfair. 

In an instant, my baby was gone and there was nothing I could do to change that. 

It doesn't matter how much time passes or what else happens in life, I will always miss him. My heart with always long for my baby. 

Those who haven't experienced loss tell you that "Don’t worry! Things will get better, just focus on the positive!" but people who actually know this grief and what it actually feels like to lose a baby, won’t tell you that. They know this hard road. They understand that unfortunately you don't just “get over it.” 

The grief doesn't just go away, even if you try to ignore it, it's still there. Like the sun. You don’t have to look at it to know it’s there. You can turn your back on it but it will still warm your skin. 

The grief from losing a child is unbearable. 
It is unpredictable.
It is unforgiving.
It is relentless.
It is all-consuming.
And it completely shatters you when you don’t expect it. 

You don’t get over it. You don’t forget. You simply learn to live with it. And I’m learning to live with it every day. 

It’s been 137 days I’ve had to live without my baby. 

Lord Jesus, please… hold me extra tight tonight. 

#babyloss #babylossawareness #babylosssupport #babylosscommunity #babylosssurvivor #stillbornstillloved #stillbornawareness #stillbirth #miscarriagesupport #miscarriageawareness

Footer

coffee

Thank You For Your Support!

Each product we feature on The Fashionable Housewife has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase through the links in our posts, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting us!

You do not find a happy life. You make it. 

That’s the biggest lesson that grief has taught me. If I just wait around to be happy again, I’ll die sad. 

You don’t get through grief and come out the other side. That’s not how it works. You learn how to grow around it like a tree grows around a rock that’s in the way. You don’t wait for the rock to move. Cause it’s not gonna. 

Choose happy. And then make it happen. 

#choosehappy #joyinthejourney #griefjourney #healingfromtrauma
8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favor 8 billion smiles in the world, but his is my favorite. 

Happy Valentine’s Day, @daeinexplains 🥰

The last 20 years with you have been my favorite years on this earth. ❤️ 

If I did anything right in my life, it was when I decided to give my heart to you.  You are my best friend, my soul mate, my better half, my rock, my everything. 

I love you.

#couplegoals #marriedlife #motherhoodthroughinstagram #weddingday #marriagegoals #yourestilltheone
Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍ Kids love helping if you just let them!💁🏼‍♀️

This little guy always asks to help when he sees me cleaning the house, washing the floors, doing laundry, or emptying the dishwasher. That’s what I love about Montessori parenting - it allows kids to do  big jobs and in turn makes them eager to help! 

He was over the moon when we gave him the @lovevery floor mop that actually works! He uses it daily now. The mopping pad is machine washable and you can refill the fluid container on it. I usually just do water and a drop of essential oils because he loves it when everything smells clean! 😜 

Definitely recommend! If you want to grab this mop for your little helper, it’s in the Storyteller Play Kit from Lovevery for 3 year olds. 

LlNK is in my bio to get FREE shipping! 💃🏼

#lovevery #loveverytoddler #loveverypartner #montessoriathome #montessoriplayroom #montessoritoddler
Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hol Stop trying to fit your square self in a round hole. 

Sometimes we outgrown relationships. Sometimes we realize someone else isn’t a good influence on our lives. Sometimes we realize we aren’t a good influence for someone else. Sometimes we need to let things go that aren’t good for us in order to grow. And that’s ok. 

Stop trying to sit at a table you are no longer welcome at. Just be yourself, focus on God, love your family and friends, and the right people will gravitate to you. ✌🏻 

#raisingsaints #momlife #motherhoodunplugged #selflovejourney #growingpains #selfcaresunday
When your toaster breaks from a power surge you ta When your toaster breaks from a power surge you take that as a sign that it’s time to upgrade! 🤪

It wasn’t hard to pick a new 4 slice toaster. As soon as I saw this one from @haden_usa I added it to my cart. I bought it from @lordandtaylor because it had the fastest shipping and I didn’t want to wait! 

No fancy electronics, screens, or extra features we don’t need. Just simple, straight forward functions and perfect results everytime. Plus it matches all my @cafeappliances too! 😂👍🏻

What do you think of this 4 slice toaster?! 

#toasters #kitchenappliances #kitchendesign #kitchendecor #whitekitchen #farmhousekitchen #farmhousestyle #whiteappliances
I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @en I’m obsessed with these leather booties from @enjoiya! 💃🏼 

The “Steffi” in green are the perfect boots for ushering in spring weather with their delicious vintage leather and worn-in look right out of the box. I love the chunky lug soles and inside zippers to get them on and off easily. 

These are the boots you’ll want to wear again and again. And again. 

Use my coupon code BALLARD20 to get 20% off your order! Find them on www.enjoiya.com

#leatherbooties #enjoiya #italianshoes #realmomstyle #momstyle #momstyletips
All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with All the poop shoveling doesn’t seem so bad with the prices of eggs right now! 🤪 🐔 🥚 

Guess it’s ok to be a crazy chicken lady and have a homestead now! 🤣

#momlife #crazychickenlady #homesteadlife
  • Home
  • Meet Sarah
  • Contact Us
  • Disclosures & Privacy Policy

[Est 2005] Copyright © 2023 Sarah-Jean Ballard and Fashionable Media | Beloved Theme

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT
0 shares