Eat Play Grow

Babyfood - the first 12 months

Newborn to 6 months | 6 months to 1 year | Babyfood recipes

Newborn to 6 months
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your baby as it provides all the nutrients that your baby requires for healthy growth and development. The Ministry of Health recommends to exclusively breastfeed your baby for the first 6 months.

The first few days:
- Thicker milk called colostrum is produced - it is rich in antibodies to help build your baby's immune system and prevent against infection.
- By day three the milk will appear milkier which means the milk has arrived and time for supply and demand to be worked out.

How does it work?
- When your baby sucks a hormone called prolactin is released which allows for milk production.
- Ensure that the whole areola area is in your baby's mouth so the nipple is towards the back of the throat, the mouth should be wide open.
- The more frequent your baby feeds the more milk will be produced.

What if milk supply is low?
- Feeding your baby more often for a couple of days will increase the milk supply.
- A few extra milk feeds may be needed around 6 weeks and 3 months as your baby will have a growth spurt.

Breastfeeding is not always an easy task, especially as this is a new skill to be learnt by both the mother and baby. Some babies have trouble latching onto the nipple and this can create soreness. It takes time, your support and practice to achieve the goal. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Speak to a lactation consultant or check with your midwife.

What about formula feeding?
If it is not possible to breast feed the Ministry of Health recommends infant formula as the only alternative to breast milk. Cows or other milk should not be offered until at least 12 months of age.

It is important that Mum does not feel guilty that she can not breast feed. She will need your support and understanding that there are many reasons why she may not be able to breast feed.

There are many different types of formula so it is best to do some research to find out which one will be right for your baby.

It is important that the formula is prepared according to instructions and bottles are always sterilized. Check out the websites below for more information on formula feeding:

www.nurturebaby.co.nz

www.nutriciababy.co.nz

When is my baby ready for more solid food?
Your baby's digestive system is not ready for solids before 4 months and although there is no exact age that a baby will be ready most baby's are generally ready at 5 -6 months.

Six months - 1 year

Approximately 5 - 6 months
After 6 months as they get older, you may want to consider looking at places like www.wayfair.com kids furniture for tables and chairs that are the right size for your kids to sit down and eat at.

If you baby is at least 5 months (almost 6) see if you can answer yes to these questions:

Has your baby's birth weight doubled?
Can your baby hold his/her head up?
Does your baby watch you eat and open his/her mouth?
Does your baby put hands and toys in mouth?
Is your baby still hungry after the milk feed?
Gently touch your baby's lip with a spoon - does the mouth open easily?

If you answered yes to almost all of the above questions then your baby may be ready for solid food. This is the fun part because if your baby has been exclusively breast fed this means it is your turn to help with feeding.

Once your baby can sit and support him/herself you can use a highchair, a highchair is recommended as you will encourage good eating practice from a young age and your baby will become a better eater.

How do we get started?
It is important that breast milk and/or formula are still provided at this stage so the recommendation is to provide a milk feed before offering solids.

Start with one food ingredient in a small amount, approx - 1 teaspoon and increase to 2 - 4 teaspoons depending on appetite.

The food texture needs to be very smooth, liquid like or pureed and there is no need to go out and buy prepared baby food. As you are only offering one food ingredient at a time you have lots of option. It can take up to 10 tastes before your baby may like a food - so keep trying.

Take your fork and mash until smooth cooked food such as:

Vegetables: cassava, carrot, corguette, kamokamo, kumara, marrow, potato, pumpkin, taro, yams.

Fruit: apple, apricot, nashi pears, nectarine, peaches, pears.

Meat or alternative: beef, chicken, fish or lentils.

Or try uncooked foods like avocado or banana

You can purchase iron-enriched rice cereals which are prepared with breast milk, formula or cooled boiled water. Babies naturally have a sweet tooth so it is best to offer vegetables before fruit so they get a taste for both.

Test a piece of the food on your forearm to make sure it is not too hot, warm is good.
It is best to offer the same food for 3 - 5 days before offering a new food - this is to ensure that your baby is given time to get used to the food. This is also sufficient time for a reaction or allergy to occur so you can eliminate the food ingredient if it does. It is best to consult your doctor first if a reaction does occur.

Approximately 7 months+
It is important that breast milk and/or formula are still provided at this stage so the recommendation is to provide a milk feed before offering solids.

This is a good month to start getting used to new textures so food can be a bit thicker or with small soft lumps. It is also a great time to introduce new flavours so start mixing 2 - 3 different foods in the one meal.

Your baby's digestive system is starting to develop further so you can add new foods to the menu such as:

Vegetables (cooked): green beans, broccoli, cauliflower, parsnips, puha

Fruit: melon, plums

Meat or alternatives: tofu

Dairy Products: cheese, cottage cheese

Carbohydrate Foods: crackers (rice or water), pasta, white bread, white toasted soldiers

Once your baby has tried a wide variety of foods you can offer foods at different times of the day to eventually get into a 3 meals a day routine.

Approximately 8 months+
It is important that breast milk and/or formula are still provided at this stage but the recommendation is to offer solids before the milk feed. If your baby needs more fluids try to use a feeding cup rather than a bottle and only offer water.

Now you can offer food that is much chunkier as your baby will be developing good chewing and biting skills. Foods can be chopped, minced, grated or even offered as small finger food portions.

Your babies menu can now include:

Vegetables: cabbage, creamed corn, spinach, tomatoes

Fruit: blueberries, kiwifruit, orange, peas, pineapple, strawberries

Meat or alternatives: seafood, peanut butter

Carbohydrate Foods: breakfast cereals, porridge

As your baby reaches 12 months they are becoming a toddler so will be ready to eat most of the family meals. Cow milk can now be introduced. It is important that you offer your toddler milk and water in between meals rather than at meals. The reason for this is the fluid will fill your toddler up and they may not want to eat their nutrient filled meal.

Baby Food Recipes

How can I make baby food at home?

Very easily - you have so many options so why buy baby food when you can make it at home!

Make food ahead of time and freeze using ice cube trays to create an approximately 6 teaspoon portion size. To do:
1) Take pureed/mashed food and add to ice cube tray as you would water
2) Cover tray with glad wrap or lid if tray has one
3) When food is frozen remove from tray and store in freezer bags
4) Label freezer bag with food ingredient and date of preparation
5) When you want to use take out correct portion amount, thaw and reheat.
6) The baby food cubes should be used within one month of making.

HINT: If you have left over vegetables from your family meal, blend together and freeze for your baby.

First foods around 6 - 7 months

Rice Cereal:
1/4 cup of brown rice powder (to make take brown rice and ground in food processor)
1 cup of water

In a saucepan bring water to boil and add the rice powder stirring continuously. Simmer for 10 minutes whisk constantly. You can mix in breast milk, formula or fruits. Serve warm.

Steam and stew individual vegetables or fruit:
To steam vegetables or fruit:
- peel, core and slice fruit e.g. apple, pear, peach
- peel, deseed and cut into cubes vegetables e.g. pumpkin, potato, kumara

Add approx 5 - 8cm of water in a pot, add a steamer basket. Bring water gently to boil and then steam either the vegetable or fruit until soft and cooked. Slowly steaming will retain nutrients more than boiling. If you don't have a steaming basket just add enough water to cover the vegetables/fruit. Puree or mash as needed for your baby.

Remember to introduce a new food every 3 - 5 days and only one flavour at a time. With all the vegetable and fruit options you shouldn't have a problem finding a new food to try!

Bananas and Avocado - peel and mash with a fork or pop in blender till pureed.

More texture and taste around 7 - 8 months

Porridge with apple and pumpkin:
1/2 cup of stewed apple
1/2 cup of pumpkin puree
1/2 cup of cooked porridge

Mix apple, pumpkin and porridge together and stir thoroughly until blended.

Banana with peach and pear:
1 pear - peeled, cored & diced
1 peach - peeled, pitted and diced

Combine pear and peach and gently steam until soft - let cool. Mash banana and mix with the pear and peach.

A fruity blend:
Take natural unsweetened yoghurt and mix with:
- mashed banana
- grated apple
- peach
- pear

A vegetable blend:
Slow boil the following vegetables and mash together:
- potato and kumara
- carrot and parsnip
- broccoli and carrot
- cooked egg and peas

Basic chicken (or other meat):
1 cup of cold and cooked boneless chicken
1/4 cup of cold boiled water

Place chicken chunks in blender and puree until a crumbly mix is formed. Slowly add water and puree until a smooth consistency. Either add vegetables to this mix or serve separate.

More challenging finger foods around 9 months

Colourful finger foods - talk about colours and arrange to mix colours on a plate:

- 1/4 slices of ripe banana
- round kiwifruit slices
- strawberries
- small chunks of ripe pineapple
- cooked carrot sticks
- cooked broccoli pieces
- cooked green beans
- soft cooked colorful pasta spirals
- chunks of soft cheese
- scrambled eggs
- slices of cooked meat
- seedless grapes
- slices of avocado
- dried apricots
- grated cheese
- slices of cucumber
- mini meatballs
- cooked peas
- plain rice crackers
- wine biscuits
- sticky white rice

If you would like to find out more about Eat Play Grow and how Play and Nutrition Consultant Alissa can help you and your family click here.