When the babies are born, they are completely dependent on breast feeding and absorb all the nutrition that their body required to grow through the milk only. When baby grows a bit, it comes into the stage of baby weaning, this implies that the baby body is stopping to depend on their mother’s milk and is staring to consume all the nutrition from other sources i.e. the solid foods.

Having your first baby means that you’ve signed yourself up for years and years of surprises, new experiences, sleepless nights and superhero duties. This blog will guide you through one of those challenging stages of your new mommy life and your newborn’s step to eating solid foods.

As a result of many studies, the most ideal age to get your baby started on solids is 6 months. The baby can easily absorb all the nutrition needed through the mother’s milk exclusively until 6 months. After that time period, breastfeeding isn’t sufficient to cover all their nutrition needs.

If you’re wondering why you should wait till your baby is 6 months old to start on solids let me shed some light on the topic here. The baby’s digestive system isn’t very strong in the starting months and chances of them picking up an infection from the food are higher. Same applies with the immune system. When the baby is 6 months old, their immune system is stronger too. This will lessen the chances of them having a bad reaction to new foods.

If you do think that your baby is healthier and stronger for some reason then you may start feeding him other foods gradually. Don’t get him started on anything other than milk or formula until the end of the fourth month.

If you’ve decided on adding solids in their diet when they turn four months old than you shouldn’t avoid feeding them solids the baby can react too.

• anything that have gluten
• citrus juices and fruits
• dairy products & cow's milk, especially unpasteurized or soft cheeses
• eggs
• fish and shellfish
• liver
• nuts, peanuts and nut or peanut products
• soya

Do take special care when beginning baby weaning when you had a premature baby. It is better to discuss it with the baby’s doctor before feeding him/her solids. When it comes to the health of the little ones, care and safety is essential.

1. Take a banana and peel it.
2. Use a fork to mash it in a bowl.
3. If your baby is just starting to wean, use milk to make the puree thinner.
4. This can also be served with breast milk so your baby tastes something familiar. 

1. Take one avocado
2. Cut the avocado in half and throw away the seed.
3. Use a tablespoon to extract the fruit from its skin.
4. Put it in a bowl and use a fork to mash it or you can also use a food process and blend it.

If you want to freeze the puree

1. Mash the fruit or blend it.
2. Use an ice cube tray to divide the batter. Cover it with something and put it in the freezer.
3. Take out the number of cubes you’re going to use and put it in a bowl and hour before feeding so that it will defrost.
4. Mix in milk, formula or breast milk to get it to a consistency that’s suitable for your baby.

You can skip the mixing with milk/formula step once your baby grows old a bit.

1. Take small sweet potatoes
2. Make sure that your over is preheated to 400 F.
3. Put the sweet potatoes in the over to bake for around 45 minutes. The ideal texture is when it looks tender and wrinkled.
4. Take it out from the over and cut the potatoes in half. Use a tablespoon to scoop out the insides and use a fork to mesh it into a puree.
5. You can also put it in the food processor to blend until its smooth.
6. Mix in milk, formula or breast milk to get it to a consistency that’s suitable for your baby.

1. Finding the sweetest carrots is the key here! Try looking for the slim carrots that has the green leaves still attached with them as with my experience, they’re the sweetest type.
2. Cut these carrots into 1 inch circles after trimming and peeling them.
3. Take a saucepan and add in water or broth and bring to boil after adding in the carrots. It should take around 20-25 minutes.
4. Take it off the heat and let it cool down.
5. Once in room temperature, purify it in a blender or food processor.
6. Freeze it in small portions.

1. Take a medium sized papaya
2. Extract the fruit in a bowl.
3. Use a steamer to steam it so it’s tender.
4. You can add in a bit of sugar so the baby can enjoy its flavor.
5. Use an ice tray to make edible portions and freeze it.
6. Take out the number of cubes you’re going to use and put it in a bowl and hour before feeding so that it will defrost.
7. Mix in milk, formula or breast milk to get it to a consistency that’s suitable for your baby.

1. Take a medium sized mango
2. Wash it as the germs on the outside shouldn’t make their way into the puree.
3. Cut the mango in slices.
4. Take a bowl and extract the fruit using a knife or spoon.
5. Use a fork or food processor make into puree form.
6. Taste the puree before feeding it to the baby. If the mango was sour, there are chances for the baby to get throat infection. Better safe than sorry!
7. If you’re introducing your baby to new flavor then you can also add a little bit of the puree in the feeder and notice their reaction to the new taste.

1. If you want to freeze it then use an ice tray to make edible portions and freeze it.

8. Take out the number of cubes you’re going to use and put it in a bowl and hour before feeding so that it will defrost

You have to keep in mind that even if the baby is of the age of consuming solids, his/her digestive system hasn’t completely matured yet. You need to be extra careful about the foods you’re choosing to feed the baby so that your baby grows healthily. The key here is to easing your baby’s way into consuming all sorts of foods. Start with extremely light foods and gradually work your way up. Here is a chart that will help you in the process.

4-6 MONTHS	6-8 MONTHS	8-10 MONTHS	10-12 MONTHS
FRUITS
Banana Peer Apple Avocado	Pumpkin Mango Apricot Nectarine Plums Peach Prunes	Blueberry Cherries Coconut Fig Kiwi Papaya Persimmons Melon Citrus Cranberries Grapes	Strawberries Citrus
VEGETABLES
Sweet potato Green Beans Butternut Squash	Carrots Peas Squash-Zucchini Parsnips	Asparagus Beets Cucumber Leeks Peppers Turnip Broccoli Cauliflower Eggplant Onions Potato-White	Beans Corn Tomatoes Spinach
GRAINS
Rice Barley Oatmeal		Buckwheat Millet Quinoa Flax Pasta
MEAT
	Turkey Chicken Tofu	Pork Beef Eggs	Fish
DAIRY
		Yoghurt Cottage Cheese Cheese Cream Cheese	Cow Milk

I hope that by this time, you know a lot more about your baby’s first meal and I was successful in making you feel a little more confident on your journey of this new stage in your baby’s life. Before ending the blog, here are a few steps that you can take when beginning the baby weaning. The very first meal is important and one after which you should really be observant about your child’s reaction. You can start off by their regular milk routine at around 11 am than the solid food with the gap of about an hour or two. If you don’t feed them their regular feed of milk than there are chances that they will be too hungry and eat more than their digestive system can handle. Another thing to take notice of is that if you’re starting earlier than 6 months than their milk intake should be affected at all since its important for a new born to feed on milk till they are 6 months old.