Moms, it’s so wonderful to see our little ones grow, and one of the stages I personally like the most is when we start giving foods other than breast milk or formula. If the baby is exclusively breastfed or even if receiving formula, this typically happens in the 6th month. That’s when babies start eating fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, and meats. With my children, even though they were breastfed, I always followed the advice of my oldest daughter’s first pediatrician, who recommended introducing savory foods around the 5th month. These are purees blended in a blender, made with a variety of light foods that are easily accepted by little ones.
How to Start Introducing?
The pediatrician and a maternal and child nutritionist will provide guidance1, but even so, some moms may still have doubts, so I’ll share some tips on how to start introducing foods to your baby without worries or fear. Usually, you start with a fruit or a tuber, one food per day in the first week. In the second week, you can already start with a full lunch (1 vegetable, 1 leafy green, 1 carbohydrate such as rice or potatoes, 1 protein such as beef, chicken, egg, or fish, and 1 legume such as beans). In the third week, another fruit will be added to the menu, and after 7 months, or upon recommendation from the professional following your baby, you can begin offering dinner, just as complete as lunch. It’s best to offer foods well mashed or shredded at the beginning of food introduction. Never strain or blend foods completely, as they lose their fibers, nutrients, and also don’t encourage good motor skills needed for chewing. After about 8 or 9 months, it’s a good idea to adjust the texture and make it chunkier. There’s also the BLW method2, where the baby leads the meal, picking up food and eating independently. That’s why, at first, since babies haven’t yet developed the motor skills to pick up smaller pieces with their fingers (the “pincer grasp”), it’s best to offer foods in larger cuts and shapes so the baby can grab them with a closed fist and bring them to the mouth.
I also used to freeze portions of food in glass jars—I would sterilize the jars with hot water, put in the serving for each day, and place them in the freezer. Once frozen, I’d cover them, and this saved time in the kitchen and during those hunger moments, since I’d already have food ready. Just thaw in the microwave or in a hot water bath. The foods kids usually like the most are potatoes, carrots, parsnip (or arracacha), broccoli, and Japanese pumpkin. Of course, there are some foods like maxixe, yam, beetroot, that also should be introduced to the baby, so they get used to eating everything and, most importantly, start to like it—refining their palate, as my mom says. Keep trying and you’ll discover which foods your baby accepts best. Eating natural juices, fruits, and vegetables is very important at this stage. It’s very common to see videos of babies making faces during this stage—all due to the different tastes they’re trying for the first time. I laugh every time I see it—just look at that!
Babies making faces when trying new tastes!!
