In the first year of baby's life, they try and discover many things for the first time, including various types of food. Until the age of 5 months it is recommended that infants consume only breast milk or baby formula, and in fact, you should continue to give them to your baby after this period, but at this stage, you can start incorporating solid foods to reveal new flavors and textures.
In order to help your baby develop properly, it is necessary to choose foods that will benefit their body, however, their sensitive digestive systems present us with many limitations, which fortunately can be overcome.
Here are 10 solid foods to start with when introducing solids, and the recommended ways to prepare and serve them. Introduce your baby to each type of food separately and in small portions. Each food should be given in a test period of 3 days, this way you can make sure your baby isn’t allergic to them. Also, don’t forget to consult your pediatrician about your child's diet before you start making such changes.
Apples can be introduced to your baby between the ages of 6-8 months, and are the best-recommended fruit for babies and young children. One of the most important elements in apples is fiber, which helps improve digestion processes. Among other things, apples have other healthy nutrients such as vitamins A and E, folic acid, phosphorus, magnesium, and selenium.
1. Peel the apple and cut it into small cubes.
2. Cook the apple cubes in a pot with a cup of water over medium heat for 15-20 minutes.
3. Let the apples cool off, mash them with a fork and serve.
Just like apples, bananas are also considered one of the most recommended foods for babies, and you can start giving it to them at the age of 5 months. Bananas are rich in potassium and therefore help the body maintain fluid balance. Potassium also helps muscle function, especially in relaxing the heart muscle and regulating pulse rate.
If you let your child eat bananas from an early age, this will reduce the risk of kidney stones or bone depletion later in life. In addition, bananas will provide your baby with a proper amount of carbohydrates, which will help maintain their energy levels, as well as fiber that will benefit their digestive processes.
For young babies - mash the banana with a fork into a puree and serve it to your child.
For older babies who are able to eat on their own with their hands (usually 7-10 months old) - you can serve small pieces of banana.
One of the healthiest fruits you can give your baby to eat is avocado, which can be given to them at the age of 4 months. Avocados have monounsaturated fat, which aids in brain development and provides energy. In addition, avocados have nutritional fibers that help foods move easily in a baby's digestive system, and in general, this fruit has a very delicate taste and smooth texture, and therefore most babies enjoy eating it.
1. Mash the avocado with a fork.
2. Add a little breast milk or formula to the avocado mash.
3. Mix well until you have a puree texture and serve it to your baby.
Pears, like apples, are recommended for babies aged 6-8 months. They are high in fiber and many doctors recommend using them to relieve constipation in babies. They also contain vitamin C and copper, which protect the baby's cells from damage and strengthen the immune system.
There is no need to cook pears as you would apples. When ripe, they are very soft and you can easily turn them into a puree with a fork and serve to your baby.
Babies can eat carrots between the ages of 6-8 months. This root vegetable contains beta-carotene, which aids in the healthy development of the baby's skin, eyes and immune system. In addition, carrots have high amounts of vitamins C, K, and B8, along with calcium, folic acid, potassium, iron, copper, and manganese.
For babies who don’t yet have teeth, it is recommended to cook the carrots in water or steam and mash into a puree. The mash should be mixed with breast milk or formula and mixed until it reaches a smooth consistency.
For infants who have already started to chew foods, you can serve carrots boiled or steamed and cut into small, soft pieces.
Note: Always peel carrots when you serve it to your baby since their stomach is not yet able to digest the peel.
As with most foods listed, it is recommended to serve your baby sweet potato for the first time between the ages of 6-8 months. Most babies love the sweet taste of sweet potato, and it is one of the richest sources of beta-carotene you can provide your baby, which as mentioned earlier, helps the healthy development of the skin, eyes and immune system.
1. Peel the potato and wash it thoroughly with water.
2. Place the potato in a pot with water that completely covers it, and cook until softened.
3. Mash the potato into a puree, add a little water, breast milk or formula to thin it out and serve it to your baby.
Squash is very popular with babies and can be served for the first time between the ages of 6-8 months. It is a great source of vitamin A that helps to develop eyesight and skin, as well as vitamin C, which is needed for the development of the immune system. In addition, squash also contains potassium, calcium, folic acid, proteins, carbohydrates, and fiber.
1. Cut the squash in half, remove the seeds and bake it in the oven until softened.
2. Remove the flesh with a spoon and transfer it to a blender. Add a little breast milk or formula and blend until smooth.
3. Serve your baby and in time, when they become accustomed to solid pureed food, you can stop adding breast milk or formula.
Greek yogurt is considered a very healthy food for us and for our children, and most pediatricians recommend serving Greek yogurt for the first time between 7-8 months. It is a great source of proteins that help the baby's body maintain healthy cells, tissues, and organs. In addition, the fat found in Greek yogurt helps baby grow properly. It also contains vitamins A and D, calcium and phosphorus, and because it is a fermented food it is also considered to be probiotic and helps the baby's digestive processes.
- Feed your baby Greek yogurt without any added sugar
- For older babies, you can combine bananas, boiled apple or pear puree with the yogurt.
Broccoli is recommended to first be introduced to baby at a relatively late age, 8-10 months. Broccoli contains a high amount of vitamin C which strengthens the baby's immune system, calcium that improves eyesight and prevents damage to cells, fiber that helps the digestive process and a number of B vitamins, which improve the function of the nervous system. In addition to all these broccoli contains iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc and folic acid.
Broccoli has a very different taste than the other foods on the list, so it is recommended to introduce it to baby as early as possible in order to get them used to the flavor early on, hopefully preventing problems in the coming years.
- Serve broccoli steamed and mashed to younger babies.
- For older babies, steamed broccoli can be served in its original form as finger food.
While parsnips are not easily come by in the supermarket, it’s a shame to not give them to your baby as their taste is very special and they contain a host of nutritional benefits for your baby. This root vegetable can be introduced to baby at the age of 6-8 months, and it is rich in vitamin C that helps the immune system function, calcium that helps build bones, and proteins that help baby's entire body.
- For young babies, it is recommended to peel, cut, and steam the parsnips until soft. Then mash and serve.
- For older babies, you can serve steamed and cut parsnips and as finger food.
