Stopping Breastfeeding – Solid Food Suggestions for Your Little One
For most women, the topic of weaning, breastfeeding baby and issues about being a working mom are all too much that it puts a strain on their creativity when it comes to choosing solid food for the ever-growing baby.
Alas, it should not be a damper to having fun in making homemade food though.
Baby rice cereal or even plain baby cereal is fine. But wouldn’t you love to see your child gobbling up homemade baby food that you made for him? Baby food making and processing should be fun, especially for the mother who will get first-hand experience in giving her baby the most nutritious foods of all – fruits and vegetables of all sorts, so that they get the nutrition their bodies need and at the same time, they won’t get to be picky eaters when they grow up.
Now, isn’t that a nice thought? Your baby all grown up and eating everything you prepare for him just because you were able to feed him and let him get used to fruits and greens from the time he started eating solids? You would be the envy of all mothers, let me tell you. (My, even I would be envious of you then.)
It is suggested that your baby be given solids when he reaches 6 months of age. This would allow your baby’s digestive system to develop. Giving him solid foods at this time would also be sort of like practice for his digestion in preparation for other solid foods they will eat in the future such as meats and poultry. Giving solid foods later than 9 months though may pose potential problems, as the digestive system may become used to milk that it may either reject the solids outright (and not give your child the nutrition he needs) or it may develop as gastrointestinal problems for your child – tummy aches, diarrhea or constipation, and the like.
Tried and tested baby foods are purees of the following (can be given to your baby as is or as a combination of 2 or more vegetables/fruits):
- Carrots (Note: Too much carrot intake may give your child a tan due to its beta-carotene content. It is not dangerous; just stop giving him carrots for a while to eliminate the tan effect. May happen with adults too.)
You can make a small bowl of it, or if you are up to it, you can make a whole batch and store it in the refrigerator. One friend makes a lot of pureed carrots and apples – she put it in ice trays. When it sets, she gets the ice cubes, puts it in small, individual sandwich bags and stores it in the freezer for easy usage.
Baby food making should be a fun and stress-less activity for you. Let your baby enjoy the many ways on how to feed, and be there to guide him as he does so.
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