Whole-grains, lentils are some of the best food to feed your baby when they start solids. They provide good nutrition. Here are 5 best food to feed our baby before he turns one.
Feeding a baby can be a struggle for every mom. Some kids eat when they are in mood and some just turn out a fussy eater right from the start. When you are introducing solid food at six months of age you still have many restrictions on what foods you can and you can’t give to your baby. Baby’s taste buds start developing at one year age mark and sometimes it is best to introduce foods according to your diet or family before your baby is turning one – typically between 8 and 12 months. Let’s discuss the 5 best foods to feed your baby before he turns one. The faster you introduce these foods the better are the chances they’ll adapt to these tastes.
When and how to introduce solid food to your baby?
According to WHO, a baby should be exclusively breastfed till he /she is six months old. You don’t even need water. After six months introduce liquids like boiled rice water, boiled lentil water, boiled apple juice gradually – few spoons each day. When the baby has taken it well start with rice cereal puree, vegetable puree, pureed fruits. But the rule of thumb is to introduce one new food in every three days and build gradually.
By end of 8 or 9 months you can introduce almost everything that you eat – vegetables, chicken, turkey, fish and even eggs. Variety always helps when it comes to food for infants and toddlers.
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5 best foods to feed your baby before he turns one
#1 Wholegrains
Carbohydrates are easily digestible and are required for baby’s energy. Wholegrains are one of the best food to feed your baby when they have started with solids. Traditional foods like daal chawal (boiled rice and lentils), milk and oats porridge are good food for your baby.
#2 Lentils
Lentils are best plant based proteins that you can give your child. They are packed with iron and are easily digestible. Start with boiled lentil water at 6months and gradually give lentils cooked with vegetables.
#3 Fruits
Fruits are not just important for us adults but for kids too. At six months age you can give boiled apple juice and gradually introduce boiled apple mash, banana mash. By the time they are 8 or 9 months old introduce fruits like berries, grapes (kids prefer peeled grapes), avocado, plum, pear etc.
#4 Vegetables
Introducing vegetables early on is a great way to boost their health and prepare their taste buds. You can introduce almost all kind of vegetables – specially the root vegetables that are known not to give any allergies like carrots, sweet potatoes, potatoes. Also you can introduce greens like spinach, peas, broccoli etc.
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#5 Fish, Meat and Eggs
Chicken, turkey, fish, eggs are all safe for babies when they are cooked well. and mashed. They are very good sources of protein. I started giving fish along with rice since my son was 7 months old.
My son’s doctor had hold me, for first one month blend his food in a food processor or blender – specially things like vegetable purees. Later on he suggested to pressure cook it and break it down with a masher so that he is introduced to new textures. Else babies tend to like the smooth texture for longer period of time.
How did you start introducing solids to your kids? Did you use any of these best foods to feed your baby?
