[aclee]

For those that do this I have a couple questions (and I would love to swap recipes!)

Patti pan squash...we're getting this straight from the garden now and I have no idea how to cook it. I steamed it and peeled it and pureed it, and he took a bite and looked at me like I had 5 heads...this boy eats everything so I figured something was wrong, and tasted it. It just tastes like...nothing. I mixed it with his banana and he ate some but it just seemed so watery and blah. Should I be squeezing it out or something? Should I NOT have peeled it?

Beets. Everything I read is different on when he can have them and I just want some opinions on when you all started them. I boiled them in a tiny bit of water and then pureed them really smooth. I want to try them cause DH and I love them, but some books say not till 8 or 9 months

At what age and how many teeth did you start to let the food get a little chunkier. Some days if I put too much water in his cereal he gets mad, some days if I make it even a tiny bit to thick, he gags. It's a VERY fine line. Right now every batch of veggies I do, I make I make a smooth to freeze in one bad and a chunky to freeze in another. I figure it should only be another month or two and he will eat chunky but what do I know?

Carrots...again, mixed reports on making my own, so far I've done organic jarred and it kills me. Did you all make your own?

Applesauce/peaches. I made a bunch of applesauce and he's had some organic in the little containers (not baby food, just the organic snack packs) and he loves it. It seems like it gives him diaper rash though. I'm not sure if it was just eating (and pooping) more in general and he got used to it about the same time as I took him off the apples or if he was reacting to the apples. Anyone else have baby's with butts sensitive to apples? He is also teething so I have no idea.
When can he start fresh pureed peaches (they are frozen, in cubes, just not cooked) I've heard now (7 months), and I've heard 9 months.

Yogurt. I'm afraid. He tried rice cereal with apples and yogurt and it gave him diaper rash but again, no idea if it was the apples or the yogurt. Because of his lactose issues, I'm just cautious. Dr said we could when he was six months, I just haven't...lol. Anyone have a lactose intolerant baby that did well on yogurt? We're going to make our own once he starts eating it, but what did you all use?

I should have just bought ONE book. Like I can have just one of anything right?

[Whirled_Peas]

We did baby led solids so never did pureed. I think pureed food, for some kids, can lead to texture issues.

As if you didn't have enough conflicting info, here is the approach we followed:

Guidelines for implementing a baby-led approach to the introduction of solid food
Introduction

Implementing a baby-led approach to the introduction of solid foods requires an understanding of why this approach can be considered both logical and safe. The first section below explains the rationale and underlying principles which support this method of introducing solids and the last section, DO's and DON'Ts, provides a quick reference list of the key points. Following these guidelines will maximise the chance that both the baby and his parents will enjoy the transition to solid feeding, and will help to ensure the baby's wellbeing.

Most babies will be ready to start experimenting with solid foods from around six months of age. Parents of babies who were born preterm (i.e. before 37 weeks of pregnancy), or who have any medical condition which might affect their ability to handle food safely or to digest a range of foods, are advised to discuss with their health advisers when they should start to offer their baby solid foods, and before deciding to use baby led weaning (BLW) as the only method.
by Gill Rapley, adapted by Stefan Kleintjes, dietician

These guidelines have been adapted from the original, which were developed as a result of a small piece of research carried out by Gill Rapley as part of a Master's degree. Gill's interest in the introduction of solid foods is independent of her work for the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative.

* Richtlijnen voor het implementeren van een babygerichte aanpak bij de introductie van vaste voeding Nederlandse versie, door Gill Rapley
* Introduction
* Breastfeeding as the basis for self-feeding
* Understanding the babies motivation
* Won't he choke?
* Ensuring good nutrition
* What about drinks?
* DO's and DON'Ts for baby-led introducing of solids
* Lees ook
* Ervaringen uitwisselen

The baby is referred to as 'he' throughout these guidelines.
For practical information see the Weaning food introduction schedule for babies older than six months by Stefan Kleintjes, nutritionist.

Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of life. Breastfeeding is the ideal preparation for self-feeding with solid foods. Breastfeeding babies feed at their own pace – indeed, it is impossible to force them to do anything else! They also balance their own intake of food and fluid by choosing how long each feed should last. And, because breastmilk changes in flavour according to the mother's diet, breastfeeding prepares the baby for other tastes.

Normal, healthy breastfed babies appear to be quite capable, with the right sort of support from their parents, of managing their own introduction to solid foods. However, although it is the self-feeding which characterises breastfeeding that underpins the theory of baby-led weaning, many parents whose babies were bottle-fed have found that this method works equally well for them. The only significant difference is the need to ensure that the baby is offered drinks other than milk.
Understanding the babies motivation

This approach to the introduction of solids offers a baby the opportunity to discover what other foods have to offer as part of finding out about the world around him. It utilises his desire to explore and experiment, and to mimic the activities of others. Allowing the baby to set the pace of each meal, and maintaining an emphasis on play and exploration rather than on eating, enables the transition to solid foods to take place as naturally as possible. This is because it would appear that what motivates babies to make this transition is curiosity, not hunger.

There is no reason for mealtimes to coincide with the baby's milk feeds. Indeed, thinking of (milk)feeding and the introduction to solid foods as two separate activities will allow a more relaxed approach and make the experience more enjoyable for both parents and child.
Won't he choke?

Many parents worry about babies choking. However, there is good reason to believe that babies are at less risk of choking if they are in control of what goes into their mouth than if they are spoon fed. This is because babies are not capable of intentionally moving food to the back of their throats until after they have developed the ability to chew. And they do not develop the ability to chew until after they have developed the ability to reach out and grab things. The ability to pick up very small things develops later still. Thus, a very young baby cannot easily put himself at risk because he cannot get small pieces of food into his mouth. Spoon feeding, by contrast, encourages the baby to suck the food straight to the back of his mouth, potentially making choking more likely.

It appears that a baby's general development keeps pace with the development of his ability to manage food in his mouth, and to digest it. A baby who is struggling to get food into his mouth is probably not quite ready to eat it. It is important to resist the temptation to 'help' the baby in these circumstances since his own developmental abilities are what ensure that the transition to solid foods takes place at the right pace for him, while keeping the risk of choking to a minimum.

Tipping a baby backwards or lying him down to feed him solid foods is dangerous. A baby who is handling food should always be supported in an upright position. This ensures that food that he is not yet able to swallow, or does not wish to swallow, will fall forward out of his mouth.

Adopting a baby-led approach doesn't mean abandoning all the common sense rules of safety. While it is very unlikely that a young baby would succeed in picking up a peanut, for example, accidents can and will happen on rare occasions – however the baby is fed. The normal rules of safety while eating and playing should there be adhered to when the transition to solid foods is baby-led.

Babies who are allowed to feed themselves seem to accept a wide range of foods. This is probably because they have more than just the flavour of the food to focus on – they are experiencing texture, colour, size and shape as well. In addition, giving babies foods separately, or in a way which enables them to separate them for themselves, enables them to learn about a range of different flavours and textures. And allowing them to leave anything they appear not to like will encourage them to be prepared to try new things.

General principles of good nutrition for children apply equally to young babies who are managing their own introduction to solid foods. Thus, 'fast foods' and foods with added sugar and salt should be avoided. However, once a baby is over six months old there is no need (unless there is a family history of allergy or a known or suspected digestive disorder) to otherwise restrict the foods that the baby can be offered. Fruit and vegetables are ideal, with harder foods cooked lightly so that they are soft enough to be chewed. At first, meat is best offered as a large piece, to be explored and sucked; once the baby can manage to pick up and release fistfuls of food, minced meat works well. (Note: babies do not need teeth to bite and chew – gums do very well!)

There is no need to cut food into mouth-sized pieces. Indeed, this will make it difficult for a young baby to handle. A good guide to the size and shape needed is the size of the baby's fist, with one important extra factor to bear in mind: Young babies cannot open their fist on purpose to release things. This means that they do best with food that is chip-shaped or has a built-in 'handle' (like the stalk of a piece of broccoli). They can then chew the bit that is sticking out of their fist and drop the rest later – usually while reaching for the next interesting-looking piece. As their skills improve, less food will be dropped.
What about drinks?

The fat content of breastmilk increases during a feed. A breastfed baby recognises this change and uses it to control his fluid intake. If he wants a drink, he will tend to feed for a short time, perhaps from both breasts, whereas if he is hungry he will feed for longer. This is why breastfed babies who are allowed to feed whenever they want for as long as they want do not need any other drinks, even in hot weather.

This principle can work throughout the period of transition to family foods if the baby continues to be allowed to breastfeed 'on demand'. A cup of water can be offered with meals as part of the opportunity for exploration but there is no need to be concerned if he doesn't want to drink any.

Babies who are formula-fed need a slightly different approach, since formula has the same consistency throughout the feed and is therefore less thirst-quenching. Offering water at regular intervals once the baby is eating small quantities of food is all that is needed to ensure a sufficient fluid intake.

Continuing to give milk feeds 'on demand' during the weaning period will have the added advantage of allowing the baby to decide how and when to cut down his milk intake. As he eats more at shared mealtimes, so he will 'forget' to ask for some of his milk feeds, or will take less at each feed. There is no need for his mother to make these decisions for him.
DOs and DON'Ts for baby-led introduction of solids

* DO offer your baby the chance to participate whenever anyone else in the family is eating. You can begin to do this as soon as he shows an interest in watching you, although he is unlikely to be ready to put food in his mouth until he is about six months.
* DO ensure that your baby is supported in an upright position while he is experimenting with food. In the early days you can sit him on your lap, facing the table. Once he is beginning to show skill at picking food up he will almost certainly be mature enough to sit, with minimal support, in a high chair.
* DO start by offering foods that are baby-fist-sized, preferably chip-shaped (i.e., with a 'handle'). As far as possible, and provided they are suitable, offer him the same foods that you are eating, so that he feels part of what is going on.
* DO offer a variety of foods. There is no need to limit your baby's experience with food any more than you do with toys.
* DON'T hurry your baby. Allow him to direct the pace of what he is doing. In particular, don't be tempted to 'help' him by putting things in his mouth for him.
* DON'T expect your baby to eat any food on the first few occasions. Once he has discovered that these new toys taste nice, he will begin to chew and, later, to swallow.
* DON'T expect a young baby to eat all of each piece of food at first – remember that he won't yet have developed the ability to get at food which is inside his fist.
* DO try rejected foods again later – babies often change their minds and later accept foods they originally turned down.
* DON'T leave your baby on his own with food.
* DON'T offer foods which present an obvious danger, such as peanuts.
* DON'T offer 'fast' foods, ready meals or foods that have added salt or sugar.
* DO offer water from a cup but don't worry if your baby shows no interest in it. A breastfed baby, in particular, is likely to continue for some time to get all the drinks he needs from the breast.
* DO be prepared for the mess! A clean plastic sheet on the floor under the high chair will protect your carpet and make clearing up easier. It will also enable you to give back foods that have been dropped, so that less is wasted. (You will be pleasantly surprised at how quickly your baby learns to eat with very little mess!)
* DO continue to allow your baby to breastfeed whenever he wants, for as long as he wants. Expect his breastfeedingfeeding pattern to change as he starts to eat more solid foods.
* If you have a family history of food intolerance, allergy or digestive problems, DO discuss this method of weaning with your health advisers before embarking on it.
* Finally, DO enjoy watching your baby learn about food – and develop his skills with his hands and mouth in the process!
* Finally, join us on the Dutch Bijvoedingsforum if you have queries and if you wish to deal your experiences with other moms and the nutritionist en lactationconsultant.

[Whirled_Peas]

Regarding the yogurt. I can't remember when we gave some to our son, but he ended up with diarrhea. He doesn't have a lactose issue. The diarrhea finally cleared up so we gave him more. That was the same day I read it can take a couple weeks for their guts to recover from yogurt/dairy. So we started on 2 more weeks of diarrhea. We kept him off yogurt until well past a year.

[aclee]

Holy wall of text whirled peas!

I did a lot of research and spoke with several pediatricians about solid introduction specifically. I'm pretty comfortable with the approach I'm taking, but thank you.

[binkybear]

Squash is really good (flavorful) when it's baked or roasted...way easier for you to prepare too!

My niece was 8 months over Thanksgiving I went as far as to puree the turkey I cooked. Never pureed meat before..it was wierd. Thanksgiving was her first time with meat and the poor thing gagged the biggest gag we've ever seen. I did Sweet potato too, she loved those. She's been a yogurt kid from the pediatricians ok, she's a dairy kid. For a little while if it didn't have a cheese sauce she didn't care! My sister used Yobaby and kiddo loves the smoothies now too.

I'm hoping to do as much homemade as I can with our kids.

[Whirled_Peas]

Originally Posted by aclee

Holy wall of text whirled peas!

I would have just given you the link to the site, but the last time I tried it got deleted. It's a Dutch site. They have different standards than Americans and there is a cartoon with bare breasts. Doesn't meet standards for this site so figured I'd just give you the text.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by binkybear

Squash is really good (flavorful) when it's baked or roasted...way easier for you to prepare too!

My niece was 8 months over Thanksgiving I went as far as to puree the turkey I cooked. Never pureed meat before..it was wierd. Thanksgiving was her first time with meat and the poor thing gagged the biggest gag we've ever seen. I did Sweet potato too, she loved those. She's been a yogurt kid from the pediatricians ok, she's a dairy kid. For a little while if it didn't have a cheese sauce she didn't care! My sister used Yobaby and kiddo loves the smoothies now too.

I'm hoping to do as much homemade as I can with our kids.

Doing homemade is really easy once you get a "system" down, at least I think so. Course my "system" also included buy a new freezer. We needed it anyway though Our daycare makes the food he eats there too, so it encourages me. She did it for all 11 of her kids

Sweet potato was Ty's first food. He still loves it! That's why I'm wondering about beets. They are both roots, and sorta starchy. I guess maybe beets are just harder on the stomach so some books say to wait maybe?

I haven't done any pureed meat! A good friend spent the day making a tiny organic beef stew...little tiny onion, some carrot, some organic beef, pureed it all...he son gagged and gagged and would NOT eat it...she was so ticked

[manni28]

Try Gerber's 3rd step food. It's pureed but has texture like finger food, use it to introduce him to finger foods. What you can do is serve them both( finger food and Gerber’s) when feeding him.

[aclee]

Originally Posted by manni28

Try Gerber's 3rd step food. It's pureed but has texture like finger food, use it to introduce him to finger foods. What you can do is serve them both( finger food and Gerber’s) when feeding him.

Sorry this makes me chuckle a little. I don't judge those that use jarred food...not even a little. To each there own and all that. I know the jarred stuff without added sugar and what not, is very similar to what I make, just mine is frozen and the jarred is jarred...

Honestly though, did you see the title? the whole question I was asking was for help with making my own...hehe...

[mommamarci]

Here is a site I used the first time. It was really helpful: Make Homemade Baby Food Recipes, Homemade Baby Food Recipes, Solid Food Baby Tips, Baby Nutrition & more!

I am undecided if I will try again with Spencer to make it. Cameron has a TON of feeding issues. Most days I blame myself and think it is because I screwed up when making the food. The OT says it is not my fault, but mommy guilt... I cannot switch Cameron back to homemade because of his issues. (I cannot even switch him to a different brand. He eats one brand and gags and vomits if I try and switch...)

Maybe I will give it another try when it is time for Spencer to start...

[ChromaKelly]

Try just oven roasting the squash. All you have to do is basically cut it in half longways with the seeds scooped out, put it in the oven for like 45 min (depending on the size of the squash). Then when it's done, let it sit for a bit to cool off, and it falls right off the peel/rind. It will have a more hearty, sweeter flavor. He might like it better than steamed.

I did a combo of making my own and using jarred (I know, gasp, horrors ). I didn't have a food processor at the time and we were moving during this whole solids intro time.

[binkybear]

Originally Posted by aclee

Doing homemade is really easy once you get a "system" down, at least I think so. Course my "system" also included buy a new freezer. We needed it anyway though Our daycare makes the food he eats there too, so it encourages me. She did it for all 11 of her kids

Sweet potato was Ty's first food. He still loves it! That's why I'm wondering about beets. They are both roots, and sorta starchy. I guess maybe beets are just harder on the stomach so some books say to wait maybe?

I haven't done any pureed meat! A good friend spent the day making a tiny organic beef stew...little tiny onion, some carrot, some organic beef, pureed it all...he son gagged and gagged and would NOT eat it...she was so ticked

I'm looking forward to it! I have a pretty strict (well to me it's just normal, I've been doing it so long) diet and make all of my own foods pretty much. I love to cook and experiment, it's a stress reliever for me

My folks gave me a Champion Juicer they didn't use a whole lot. Talk about an awesome machine! It's suppose to be great for baby food (will probably do peas better than my Thanksgiving peas..the "shell" never fully pureed away in the processor and gave a rougher texture than jarred). This machine makes chilled "ice creams" that you wouldn't believe. Take a really ripe banana, freeze it and then push through the juicer....it's like ice cream without all the junk in it!

I hope your friend saved the stew in the freezer!! They do get use to it and if nothing else you can super puree it and use it as a sauce for other foods, foods they're not as excited about.

(l have the deceptively delicious cookbook on hand too, just in case! )

[aclee]

I'm glad you are all suggesting roasting! I bought a couple different squashes at the farm today, so I think I'll try it. With the beets, we roast ours, but I didn't roast his...I just wasn't sure how they would puree if I roasted them? I guess if you are all suggesting it, it must be okay. I'm going to give a shot to roasting a Patti Pan, Acorn and Butternut squash and making a mixed squash puree. Pretty fancy for a 7 month old

Anyway, I puree my food in a baby processor, or whatever they are...the ones they sell at babies r us (such a scam, but it was one of the 50 thousand baby gifts and I just got so sick of returning stuff) anyway, so I use that, but I don't mill it afterward for any chunks. I sort of feel like if he got a little chunk he would be ok with it, and if it's too large, I would catch it on the spoon. Did anyone mill after pureeing? Seems like a lot to do...lol

I bought a container of stoneyfield farm yogurt today. DH likes the whole milk version, so I figured I would make that, and then just add the stuff he already eats like Bananas and cereal instead of buying the YO-Babies. I just didn't know if he was even going to like yogurt, so they they would have all gone to waste since I don't see DH or I sitting down to enjoy a Yo-Baby with added cereal I'll let you all know how it goes...

[ChromaKelly]

As far as yogurt goes, I say go with the plain whole milk and add your own fruit (or even veggie) purees and a little rice or oatmeal cereal to it. The "baby" yogurt has added sugar that's not necessary.

Oh, and don't forget avocado! It's a great first solid, and really easy to mash.

I didn't mill any baby food I ever made, but I never was real serious about making baby food either.

[Fran27]

Yeah yogurts have too much sugar, although yo baby has reduced sugars so there isn't much more than in fruit stuff now... but still, that stuff is so crazy expensive... but it's not bad (yeah, I've tried it lol).

I bought a hand blender to make my own food... haven't started yet though, as we're just starting. I'll use some jars but not once we start mixing flavors (and adding meat). But we used it to make guacamole and the texture was pretty good.

Any tip on where to get cheap fruit? Can it be bought frozen? I'm just bummed because with the price of fruit it's just as expensive to buy the jars...