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Getting started: Tips for making baby food

© Kristine Roberson

OK, so you've decided to try to make your baby's food and have bought the produce. You are ready to begin cooking, mashing and freezing. But before you begin, here are a few do's and don'ts:

Do:

Keep in mind that your baby's primary source of nutrition during his first year of life is breast milk or formula, not baby food. Solids should be considered "practice."

Use the freshest fruits and vegetables possible. If you use frozen produce, keep in mind you probably shouldn't refreeze it once it's been cooked (and, by the way, this is the rule for meats). And, don't use canned vegetables. Your baby does not need all the sodium. Canned fruits are OK, as long as the fruit has been canned in water or juice, not syrup.

Make sure you practice safe cooking techniques by keeping everything -- utensils, countertops, storage containers, your hands -- clean!

Still start your baby on iron-fortified, single-ingredient cereal. These are the easiest for your baby to digest. You can also make your own baby cereal, but make sure your baby is getting an iron supplement. Consult your baby's pediatrician for advice. Cereal will be your baby's staple solid food.

Introduce single-item foods one at a time, and wait at least four days before introducing a new food. Watch for allergic reactions such as diaper rash, vomiting, rashes or wheezing.

If your baby is just starting on solids, watch out for chunks of food in your purees. These may be choking hazards. Generally, babies just starting solids should be given foods that are soupy. As your baby gets used to eating from a spoon, you can increase the bulkiness of the purees. If your baby gags on a food, it probably means the food is too thick for his liking.

Offer a wide variety of foods to your baby. Because you are making his food, you will be able to offer him foods that normally aren't made by the baby food manufacturers, such as zucchini, which my baby absolutely adores. Having said this, make sure you are not offering a food that your baby may not be ready for, such as citrus, nuts or milk. If you are unsure, check out this site for a general guideline.

Make eating fun for your baby. Sing songs, play a silly game with the spoon ("Chuga, chuga, chuga, choo! choo!" is my favorite), talk and smile at your baby when he's eating. Don't take personal offense if he refuses to eat -- he may not be hungry, be tired or want to play with the spoon more than eat what your offering. But if your baby's eating sessions turn into a power fight between the two of you, he may quickly grow reluncant to eat anything at all.

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