If you have a young baby, there are a lot of firsts you get to experience. Starting them off with solid foods is one of the firsts, as is introducing them to the magic that is summer. If both those things coincide, your baby is fortunate. Many of the best first foods are fruits and vegetables, and most hit their peak in the summer months. That means it is easy to find fresh-out-of-the-garden produce.
There is an additional benefit to this, as when you make your own solid foods, you skip all the baby food preservatives, and there are surprisingly a lot. With the wide variety of foods available, you can try a lot of different things to see what your baby likes the most.
How To Introduce Your Baby to Solid Foods
As a new parent, you probably have done a lot of research to find out how to keep your child as healthy as possible. You maybe bought baby bundles filled with the best organic products, and your house is more than likely filled with baby-friendly items.
Another thing to figure out is when to start with solid foods and then, on top of that, how to introduce them. In general, pediatricians recommend starting with solid foods around the age of six months. However, all babies are different. Some signs that your baby is ready include:
- Sits up with support or alone
- Is able to swallow food
- Has control of the neck and head
- Attempts to grab small objects
The key to introducing foods is to begin with one food at a time. This is especially important if the baby is younger, as there is a bigger chance of being allergic to certain foods. Put off trying the next food item for three to five days.
The first foods should be very smooth so they are easy to swallow. This means blending, smashing, ricing, pureeing, or straining the food. Some foods will need to be cooked before they are pureed or mashed.
What Do You Feed Babies in The Summer?
You can feed the baby whatever the recommended first solid foods are at any time of the year. However, summer is the best time for certain produce. Because of the heat, it is also good to introduce cooling and hydrating foods.
Some good options for fresh fruits that can be easily mashed or juiced include watermelon, muskmelon, mangoes, pineapples, papayas, cooked apples, avocados, bananas, and blueberries. Vegetables include pureed broccoli, tomatoes, green beans, and sweet potatoes as well as grated cucumbers. Some foods, including tomatoes, watermelon, cucumbers, and green beans, are better when the baby is a bit older, like around eight or nine months, as they may cause gassiness in younger babies.
Produce is not the only cooling items to feed you baby during the summer. Yogurt is great because it is easy to digest and it is cooling.
Do not worry if your baby is picky and you are having trouble finding something he or she likes. If you think you need to supplement, choose Wellements organic for vitamins and other nutrients.