Starting solids and Stage one foods for 5-8 month old babies – Part 1

In the series of  Infant Recipes on Mommygyan, lets start with Stage 1 foods.

Stage 1 foods are for the itty bitties when you start semi solids with them. But before we go to the recipes – here are a few pointers.

First and foremost please refer to our food chart HERE , its a must!

TIPS:

Do not start lumps or textures till 7.5 months

Do not give processed packet baby food  powders – well atleast avoid

You could keep stage 1 gerber for travels and as backup.

My advice is to start with fruits and vegetables rather than cereals. Rice is binding and can lead to constipation and the baby’s first food.

By NO means should you be giving cows milk.

I started mixing a little expressed milk with the fruit/ vegetable puree. You could use formula too to mix. This is essentially for the first 1 week.

Do not try to feed more than a spoon or 2 the first week. You dont want to replace a feed, you are only trying to introduce- please pity the tiny tummy!

You can take as many advices from friends and family, and from me , but you are your baby’s best judge. Do what your mommy heart says is right- essentially its always right!

 

When to start solids / semi solids

It is usually recommended that babies should be able to sit unassisted before introducing them to solid foods. If your pediatrician has recommended starting solids at 5-6  months, your baby may not be able to sit unassisted – he should, however, be able to sit well with support. This is important as it enables him to swallow food efficiently.
He should have lost the ‘tongue thrust’ reflex – his natural instinct to push everythingoutof his mouth that you putin! It can be frustrating to try to give your baby solid foods if the tongue thrust reflex is still strong and may be one of the clearest indications that he is not ready for solid foods.
An increase in appetite – your baby seems dissatisfied after milk feeds.
An increased interest in watching YOU eat (although this is often just simple curiosity and doesn’t necessarily mean that he NEEDS solid foods).

Why start at 5-6 months of age?

Your baby’s digestive system is more mature, making it easier for him to digest food and avoidconstipation and other digestive discomforts.
The risk of allergic reactions is lower.
Your baby is more developmentally advanced, meaning that the tongue thrust reflex is usually absent and your baby can cope more easily with swallowing ‘food’ as opposed to milk.
Your baby has received a full 6 months supply of milk! Breastmilk or formula are nutritionally complete for the first 6 months of life, but the quantity of milk your baby consumes may be affected by his starting solid foods. For breastfeeding mothers, the amount of milk your body makes may reduce, possibly leading to early weaning from the breast.

1 Cooked Fruit Puree

Fresh fruit (use apples, apricots, peaches, pears, plums, prunes)

Wash and peel fruit if necessary.Steam over low heat with a small amount of water until tender

Do not overcook
Cool and press through the baby food grinder or small processor like magic bullet

Serve.

2.Steamed Vegetable Puree.

1 cup fresh vegetables, diced (use carrots, squash, beets, beans, or peas)
1/4 cup water
Wash vegetables and peel only if necessary.
Steam over low heat until tender.Or Pressurecook
Keep saucepan tightly covered adding additional liquid if necessary.
Puree it!

 3. Mashed Banana

Mashed Bananas + breastmilk/ formula milk is great stage 1 food. Once you baby gets used to it, give just the banana paste by itself.

4. Sweet potato puree.

Steam sweet potatoes.

grind it into paste , use water if required.

Sieve through thoroughly

5. Peas soup – 5-6 months

Steam peas or pressure cook it

Grind with little water if required.

Sieve through

6. Beans soup

7.Rice Cereal – 6 months +

2 tsp rice powder ( rice ground mixer or food processor)
1 cup water

1. Bring liquid to boil in saucepan. Add the rice powder while stirring constantly.
2. Simmer for 10 minutes, whisking constantly, mix in formula or breast milk and fruit puree  if desired
3. Serve warm.

8.Oatmeal cereal -6 months

2 tsp ground oats – quick cooking ones. Yes its low on fiber but easier to digest.

1 cup water

boil and simmer till very well incorporated.

You can grind 1 cup of oats and keep in airtight container. use as required.

9. Ragi cereal  - at 7 months

We use Silver Spoon ragi powder, cooked as per packet instructions. cooked in water.

Use breastmilk or formula if requrired. Give at 7 months

10. Mango puree – at 7 months

1 Ripe Mango

Peel, de- seed and chunk the mango
Place mango chunks in a blender or food processor
Add Formula, Breast Milk, or Water and blend in blender

A lot of times you just cant boil have a carrot or minimal quantities. I would take part of the puree and freeze the rest in baby food storage containers. You get very good baby food storage containers these days. We used the airtight fisherprice ones. Just thaw it to room temperature before feeding.

After the 1st month you could try using 2 vegetables or fruit combos, or cereal and vege combo, more stage 1 recipes coming soon!!!!!!

Stay tuned for PART 2 of stage 1 recipes.

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