Baby's First Bites: A Guide to Introducing Purees
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As a first-time mom, introducing my baby to solid foods was both exciting and intimidating. I wanted to make sure I was doing everything right and providing my little one with the best possible start to their food journey. That’s why I’ve put together this solid food guide to help other new moms navigate this milestone.
One of the first things I learned was that making your own purees can be a cost-effective and healthy option. For example, one apple that cost $1.19 to purchase can make 8 or more servings of baby purees! Not only can you control the quality of ingredients, but it also allows for more variety and customization to suit your baby’s tastes.
First, you’re going to need some cute little baby spoons, stick-on bowls, and bibs, because things get messy! If you care about what your little one is wearing, I recommend double bibbing: one cloth bib underneath the plastic bib.
Also, make sure to have a high chair for your little one. It would be best if your little bean can sit up for their food, but not entirely necessary. As long as they are in a safe place where they can be in a supported sit where they eat, you’re good to go! High chairs don’t need to be fancy. We have an Evenflo convertible one for his grandparents that he loves. At home, we have a Tripp Trapp that is also fantastic for him to use for years to come (albeit a bit more high end).
To make purees at home, you’ll need a good blender or food processor. There are some all-in-one baby food makers that I have heard are amazing to work work. I personally use the NutriBullet, which has been a game-changer in my kitchen. It’s powerful enough to blend even the toughest fruits and vegetables into smooth and creamy purees. You can purchase a NutriBullet or similar blender on Amazon or at your local home goods store.
When it comes to choosing the best fruits and vegetables for purees, I recommend starting with easy-to-digest options like sweet potatoes, avocados, bananas, and apples. These foods are rich in nutrients and can be easily mashed or blended into a smooth consistency. Talk with your pediatrician, but ours recommended to also start with peanut butter to try to curb the potential for an allergy. Additionally, baby oatmeal is a great starting place (my bean boy loved it!)
For any fruit or veggies that are crunchy or hard, I recommend steaming them first. Simply add your chosen food to a pot on the stove with a little bit of clean water and get to softening on some high heat. Once your food is ready to go, blend away until it is nice and smooth. At this point you’re ready to move your fresh food to containers for your little one to have for their next few meals. One route you can go, is storing in these cute little food containers. Another route is storing in pouches. Pouches are great for on-the-go and squeezing out one spoonful at a time (so saves on messes too!). If you want to go the pouch route, be sure to check out this squeeze station to make filling a breeze. If you have more than you think your babe will be able to eat for a while, feel free to freeze, but be sure to bring the food to room temperature first before freezing!
Another tip for saving money on purees is to buy in-season produce or opt for frozen fruits and veggies. Frozen produce is often more affordable and is just as nutritious as fresh produce.
“What if I don’t want to make purees?”
I hear ya, it’s time consuming and as much as some moms may want to make their baby food, it may just not be possible. There are a ton of baby food options at your local store and subscriptions online. That being said, almost every mom has heard some horror story or watched some news story about heavy metals in commercial baby food. So where how do I know which commercial baby food is right for my little one?
First, let’s look at how those heavy metals get into baby food. I always heard those recalls and thought “how could these companies that care so much about babies allow such horrible heavy metals in their food??” but it’s not usually something that these companies are actually adding. Heavy metals are not uncommon in produce because they are introduced in the soil the produce is grown in. So when the produce gets to the manufacturing plant, the metals are already in the food.
With all that being said, I am not giving these companies a pass for having metals in our baby’s food. It’s their job to ensure the food they are providing has been tested for heavy metal content and provides a product to be proud of. So with that, I have put together a list of the brands that I look for when I get commercial food for my little one.
Back to those puree-making Mama’s: if you’ve made it this far and are now concerned about heavy metals in the food you’re making, it’s an unfortunate reality that your purees may have some metals. As I said, produce at the grocery story will most likely contain heavy metals already by the time they make it to your kitchen. Those metals pose more of a threat to your baby than to you though as your little one is so much smaller.
For better produce options, look for local produce versus produce shipped in from those massive farms. Your local, smaller farms are more likely to take care of their soil than those mega farms dishing out thousands of pounds of produce for profit. Also, look for the organic and non-GMO options wherever possible. (Your local farms will also probably be a better pick for organic and non-GMO as well)
Lastly, it’s important to note that every baby is different and may have unique preferences when it comes to taste and texture. So, be patient and keep trying new foods and combinations until you find what works best for your little one. Also, keep in mind, their tastes may change the more they are introduced to the food. My boy loves peanut butter now but hated it for the first month of trying it.
Introducing your baby to solid foods can be a fun and rewarding experience. The phrase I like to keep in mind is: “Food before one is just for fun!” Try to enjoy this exciting new exploration with your baby and remember to keep it upbeat and light!
