This post contains sponsored guest content.
I can’t believe it’s almost time to start gently introducing Rory to weaning. Food-caked floors and babies – oh yes.
Purees, baby led weaning, a bit of both, waiting past 6 months, starting earlier…. there are so many different ways to go about introducing your baby to food – my attitude has certainly changed in between having Arlo and Rory, and will no doubt change again in hindsight of my experiences weaning Rory.
I started weaning Arlo the day he turned 6 months. I had the best intentions to do baby led weaning only, then I saw how much food helped him sleep that bit more at night and I got a bit over eager. It became less about tasting and trying out new flavours with no pressure about how much he actually eats, to spoon-feeding purees and three set meals per day. Of course, the sleeping better at night was only temporary as he adjusted to the introduction of food into his system, and actually I think that the speed in which he went from no food to three meals per day was perhaps more detrimental to his sleep and routine than anything.
So, with Rory I have the best intentions to take things really slowly, maybe not even bang-on 6 months, and try to remember that it’s not about filling him up (we all know the mantra “food is fun before one”, after all), but learning about tastes and flavours.
Arlo had a real mix of purees and finger foods. I don’t yet know which Rory will prefer. If purees are your baby’s thing, my guest post today is all about making and storing your own baby food.
———————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
How to make your own baby food:
Mums and dads want to know exactly what they’re feeding their baby, which is why more parents are making their own baby food rather than picking up mass-produced jars. That way, they can be sure that their little ones are getting the right nutrition without encountering any nasty chemicals.
Because babies are growing and developing so quickly, giving them the right nutrition is absolutely crucial. Below are some top tips to ensure you get it right every time:
Baby nutrition
Using the right ingredients in the correct quantities is crucial to providing your child with all the vital carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, minerals and more that they need. The NHS Start4Life campaign website has some useful advice for each stage of your baby’s development.
Inbetween milk feeds and moving on to solids, you should provide your little one with soft foods. Mashed bananas, pureed vegetables and softened cereals make for great snacks and breakfasts. Organic Jumbo oats are a great cupboard staple for porridge and other weaning recipes.
Baby food recipes
Replicate those meals in a jar you find on the baby aisle by cooking up a nutritious meal using fresh ingredients, and blending it with a food processor or similar. You could also save time in your already-busy day by using an all-in-one baby food maker like the Beaba Babycook.
Reduce the amount of salt in your cooking, and your baby can eat just the same meals as the rest of the family. You can puree any meal to introduce your baby to new flavours.
Storing baby food
Another way to save precious time is to make your baby food in bulk. Kleeneze stocks freezer-safe food storage boxes that are the perfect size for a portion, so you can freeze batches and thaw whenever necessary.
Label them with the name of the dish – distinguishing them can be difficult! Add the date too, making sure the meals are consumed within one month. Foodsafety.gov has more information for safely preparing, storing and reheating baby food.
