Gerber

[Waitingfor1]

Ladies,

Esteban will turn 6 months old tomorrow (I can't belive it!) and I know he's ready to eat Gerber fruits and vegetables, so here's my question: how often should I feed him Gerber? Would I feed him one jar of fruit and 1 jar of vegetables in one day? Any insight will help because as you can see, I'm cluless :). Thanks in advance!

[bays mom]

Aleida- This is what I did with Tyler. I would give him half and half! I just like the thought of giving him a variety, instead of eating just one taste during the meal. Just put the half in bowls and save the rest in the frig for his next meal! I am sure by then he has forgotten that he had the same thing for his last meal. But that is just my thought!

[JAMIE]

Lol I was just going to say the same exact thing...I did that with Aiden - he wasn't a huge fan of veggies at first so I would start out with a fruit then sneak in a veggie then he learned to really love all of his vegetables. I myself love variety so I guess I just naturally do the same for Aiden.

[Leslie]

Aleida you need to make sure you introduce foods one at a time, so if he has a reaction you will know to what food it was. You should start one food and only give it for two or three days. If there is no food allergy to it then you can add a second food. You should do this with each and every new food.

Many people say start with veggies because if you give them fruit first they will reject the veggies because the fruit is sweet. I don't know if this is true or not. We did all the veggies first and then added fruit, but I know some people do a veggie then a fruit then veggie then fruit, etc.

[tracyrhymer1979]

we started off like Leslie, one food at a time to check for allergies, and we started with all veggies. Kallie loves her veggies now, and prefers them to fruit any time. (Of course, we have yet to find anything that she does not like!!! My little piggie!!)

[bays mom]

once you have introduced a new food and gave it, I think 5 days to check for allergies then when you introduce a new food you can add in the ones that you have already checked and watched. So if you started on peas and 5 days have gone by and no signs of allergies then next week you can do half carrots/half peas. Or something of that combination.

[Sherri]

We have been mostly alternating fruits & veggies, one at a time for a few days. Our ped has us giving her cereal for breakfast, then whatever is new for both lunch & dinner for 3-4 days before moving onto the next thing. So far she loves everything, but the veggies seem to be more "binding" so I'm looking forward to when she can have both fruit & veggies in the same day. Tomorrow, prunes!

[Sherri]

Nope, today, pears! Just an intuition this morning that prunes aren't really supposed to be in the lineup. :oops: More something that gets mixed in with cereal or something if needed.

[mara232]

We did veggies and every week introduced a new veggie. Start with orange veggies (sweet potato and squash). I made baby food and froze it. Once we got through the veggies - we did fruit. he loves veggies and prefers them to fruits.

Sherri - Blueberry and pears keep em giong and taste better than prunes! :lol:

[texasred1]

[color=darkred] I made baby food and froze it.

You made your own baby food? Do you still? And how difficult was it?

[mara232]

Red - it was easy. I have a great book a GF bought for me. I bought organic fruits and veggies. I froze it in ice cube trays and when they were frozen put them in a bag in the freezer and took out cubes as needed. I can dig up some recipes. The starter recipes are so easy - there really isn't much to anything.

[mara232]

Oh and A is on table foods with us now. I do buy him organic toddler fruit puree (apple, pear and blueberry) - handy to carry around. With the frozen cubes it was even handy to take with me. Just pop a cube or two in tupperware and take it in a cooler - it'd thaw out in time. I will try to post a few recipes for you and get the name of the book. The recipes for 8 months old are a bit more complex but not much.

[texasred1]

Thanks Mara! I'd love them name of the book and some recipes. I've still got a month before we even start thinking of solids, but I have been wondering what I want to do.

[Leanna]

Michelle- I made all of Bonnie's baby food like Mara did. It is easy if you get into the routine of making a bunch and freezing it. Have not made as much for Jack. Things have just been too crazy. He eats mostly our table food now, I just take some out for him before I add salt or too many spices. I have a little hand held baby grinder I use for foods that can't be easily mashed with a fork.

[Leanna]

Oh and it's funny about the prunes. My family actually really likes them! Bonnie calls them "giant raisons" and often has them with lunch. I stew them for Jack and mash them up with his cereal a couple times a week. He loves them. DH and I snack on them occasionally too.

[Preemienurse]

Yes, anyone who could post recipes or books about making your own baby food - that would be very helpful! I have heard it's really really easy and that you can make a bunch at a time. I have lots of those little "Take and Toss" bowls with lids from my shower - it's like Gladware for babies - and I thought it would be so easy to pop a frozen cube or two of baby food into them, stick them in the fridge or diaper bag, and they'd be thawed and ready to be warmed at mealtime.

One coworker would buy 99 cent bags of frozen veggies and make TONS of baby food from them using her food processor, saving a bunch of money. I will probably buy one of those little baby food mills, too, so that I can quickly mush up unseasoned table food as well.

[Leslie]

DH made all of Arianna's food. We basically bought organic fruits and veggies and ground them up in the food processor, froze in cubes like Mara and then put in freezer bags once frozen. We never got into fancy things, because once she figured out when we were eating she decided she wanted that. Poor kid wants salad so bad, but she only has seven teeth at 15 1/2 months old.

Anyway fixing the food is easy. I'd suggest just going to the store and look at what you can buy in a jar, then go from there making your own.

[cvalentine]

Aren't there some veggies you should only give to babies from a jar? Something about nitrates?

[Preemienurse]

Aren't there some veggies you should only give to babies from a jar? Something about nitrates?

Carrots and spinach, I believe.

[texasred1]

For those of you who made your own baby food, was there anything you limited it too? I mean Leanna you said you took out Jack's portion before you added spices and salt - like what were you feeding him?

[Leanna]

Michelle- At first I only gave him single veggies and fruits. Like someone else said on here, if you look at the ones they have in jars, it gives a pretty good idea. A great first food is sweet potatoes... you can scrub them, pierce with a fork and cook in the microwave. If you have it on hand, mix a little expressed BM with it to get it to a think consistancy. Peas, green beans and squash are also good starters. I give Jack beans, brocolli and spinach now but you probably want to wait a while on those since they can be a little harder to digest. We almost always have atleast one veggie that Jack can have. Now I give mashed meat too. Sometimes if we are having something that might be too "rich" for him, I put a little of it in the grinder and mix with a jarred baby food veggie. He's a second child so I am way less particular than I was with Bonnie.

[lisamarie]

He's a second child so I am way less particular than I was with Bonnie.

I so agree! lol We arent picky with Porkchop either..

[mara232]

I'm going to scan some recipes and post them on here tonight - I had no time last night. :?

[texasred1]

Leann - that's too funny!!!!
btw: thanks for the info. I can't believe my baby is getting ready to start solids.

[Leslie]

We did carrots later on because of the nitrates, and we only use organic. Although using only organic does not guarantee anything, because I believe nitrates are in the soil. Anyway like I said carrots was one of the last things we gave her in terms of the "main" veggies. We haven't tried spinach.

[mara232]

Red - this is for you. As promised.

The book is called "The Baby's Table" by Brenda Bradshaw and Lauren Donaldson Bramley, MD. ISBN-13:978-0-679-31291-8

I love this book. It has a whole 1st chapter discussing newborn to 6 months health requirements including breast-feeding and bottle-feeding. The next chapter starts with solid feeding from 6 months.

They recommend the following signs that your baby is ready for solids. Some babies are ready before 6 months - some after 6 months:
- baby waking consistently more frequently at night
- baby is interested in foods you are eating
- baby seems unsatisfied after eating
- baby is bored or disinterested in feeds
- baby is crying more in-between feeds
- baby is falling off growth charts on weight
- baby is able to sit in an upright position and able to hold his head up

The thought to waiting until 6 months i s that this age is thought to minimize the risk of gastrointestinal infections. BUT if you wait until baby is much older than 6 months to introduce solids, the baby runs the risk for iron-deficiency anemia as fetal stores are gradually become depleted.

They suggest iron-fortified cereals should form the basis of the baby's diet for the 1st 2 years of his life to ensure good iron intake. Good choice they suggest is rice first. Followed by barley, oatmeal and wheat. Wheat last due to risk of allergies. Once you have introduced all grains separately and seen no issues - you can give baby mixed grains.

Also breast-fed babies tend to be leaner but catch up to formula babies once solids are established.

Things you need:
- steamer basket
- blender or food processor
- ice cube trays (I bought 6 so I could make a good batch of 2 items at a time)
- freezer bags with labels
- double boiler

START veggies first - fruit after veggies established to avoid your baby not taking the less sweeter veggies.




Bananas- first raw fruit you serve your baby

1/4 banana, skin removed
1 tbsp breast milk or formula
- in a bowl mash banana to remove lumps
- add BM or formula to make more appealing
- serve immediately - do not freeze

Apples-try Golden delicious or Fuji (A loved Fuji) sweeter!

6 medium apples, washed, peeled, cored and quartered
- in a steamer steam apples over boiling water for 10 minutes
- set leftover water to side
- in blender/food processor puree until smooth
- for very young babies add leftover water to thin out puree
- when thinning add 1 tbsp of liquid at a time
- pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 10-12 cubes

Pears

6 medium pears, washed, peeled, cored and quartered
- in a steamer steam pears over boiling water for 8 minutes
- set leftover water to side
- in blender/food processor puree until smooth
- if needed add cooking water
- pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 10-12 cubes

Melon

1 medium size cantaloupe or honeydew melon washed
- cut melon in half, remove seeds and scoop out fruit
- in steamer steam for 6 minutes
- in blender/food processor puree until smooth
- pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 6-8 cubes

Peaches

6 medium peaches, washed
-in boiling water plunge peaches for 2 minutes
- remove from water and let cool
- slit skin with knife and peel
-cut peach in quarters and remove pit
- in a steamer steam pears over boiling water for 4 minutes
- in blender/food processor puree until smooth
- pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 8-10 cubes

Avocado
- one of few fruits that contain essential mono-saturated fats
- rich in potassium, B, C, E
- introduce early so your baby loves them!

1 avocado washed (Mara's hint: go for ripe - skin will be brown and will be softer when squeezed)
1 tsbp breast milk or formula
- cut avocado in half
-remove pit and scoop out flesh
- in bowl mash avocado removing lumps
- if too thick add BM or formula 1tsp at a time
- serve immediately to prevent turning brown
- can freeze (works out GREAT!!!) in ice trays
Yield: 3-4 cubes


Veggies:

Start with Orange, yellow and red veggies. Good in beta-carotene which is an anti-oxidant.

Sweet Potato
- naturally sweet and always a hit with babies
- sweet potato and apple makes a great combo!

2 sweet potatoes, washed, peeled, blemishes removed and cut in cubes
- in saucepan bring cubes to boil, turn down heat and simmer until tender (20-30 min)
- drain potatoes and set cooking water aside
- place potatoes in blender and puree adding leftover water as needed to achieve desired consistency
-pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 10-12 cubes

Carrot

8 baby carrots, washed, peeled and sliced
- in steamer steam over boiling water for 15 minutes
- set left over water to the side
- blend until smooth adding cooking water if needed
- pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 8-10 cubes

Carrot-Apple Delight

2 cubes apple puree
1 cube carrot
- defrost purees
- in a bowl mix thoroughly
- serve at room temperature

Yams

4 yams, washed, peeled, blemishes removed and cut in cubes
- in saucepan bring cubes to boil, turn down heat and simmer until tender (20-30 min)
- drain yams and set cooking water aside
- place yams in blender and puree adding leftover water as needed to achieve desired consistency
-pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 19-20 cubes

ButterNut Squash

1 butternut squash washed
- peel skin
- cut in 1/2 and remove seeds, section
- in steamer steam over boiling water 10-12 min
- set leftover cooking water to side
- in blender puree until smooth adding cooking water if needed
- pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yield: 10 cubes

Green Beans

2 handful green beans, washed, ends and stringy bits removed
- in steamer, cook over boiling water for 10-12 minutes
- set cooking water to the side
- in blender puree until smooth adding cooking water if needed
-pour into ice cube trays and freeze
Yields: 6 cubes

AND..the big debatable nitrates.

Nitrates: At one time it was recommended that home prepared carrots, spinach, turnip and beets not be fed to young infants. The level of nitrates compared to commercially processed vegetables removes some nitrates) could be detrimental to the infant kidney. However, now that is customary to introduce solids at a later age of 6 months, current recommendations do not advise restricting these nutritious vegetables. Nitrates are not a concern for a healthy term infants over 4 months of age.

[color=darkred]So based on this statement from Canadian pediatric association - we served carrots.

Anyway - this book has so much more stuff for when the baby is 7 months and more "meals" for baby until they are on table food. If you want to make your own baby food I recommend this book. It is by far the best I have. It is a Canadian book. It's about $16.95 US. Happy baby food making!!![/color

[texasred1]

OMG MARA YOU ARE THE BEST!
That is sooo helpful. Last night dh was in the kitchen making 2 GIANT trays of lasagna for work and I was *trying* to help. I mentioned to him how I was seriously considering making baby food for Mason. He thought it was an all involved process (as I did at first). I am going to see if Barnes & Noble have this book. So cool - thanks!

[mara232]

Red - I posted a separate thread FAQ: added some other stuff!

[texasred1]

:wink:

[mara232]

I did it one saturday morning - took me 2 or 3 hours (the peeling and dicing is the worst of it) and I had enough to last me a month. Not ike they are full out eating solids when they start. I know they have the book on amazon.com. Not sure about Barnes and Noble. Good Luck!