DIY Baby Purees (4-6months+)

Does your little one no longer seem to be content with his or her bottle anymore and wants something more? Is he/she not sleeping thru the night always wanting more and more to eat? Maybe it is time to start solids. As long as your baby is showing signs and your pediatrician signed off on it, give it a shot! Some common signs of baby readiness are: your baby can sit up, hold his head steady, opens his mouth or leans forward when food is offered in front of him, and lastly, swallows instead of pushing the food out with his tongue.

I personally made all of Daniel’s baby purees in my simple easy to use, NutriBullet 12-Piece High-Speed Blender/Mixer System, Gray. Depending on the vegetable or fruit, I would steam it first until tender and then place it in the bullet. You can use some of the leftover water from steaming/boiling to smoothen the puree depending on its consistency. Whenever introducing new ingredients, it is best to stick with single ingredients first and space new ingredients four days apart so you can identify an allergy.

I hope you enjoy this process as much as I did, watching your baby discover all the new textures and flavors food has to offer! Here are some great thought starters for beginner options. They are all so easy to make.

1. Avocado & Banana: (4-6m+) Easy mashing option when you don’t have your blender at hand. Avocados, also known as “Natures perfect food” are perfect for babies. They are loaded with healthy fat, vitamins and minerals that a baby needs for complete nourishment. Bananas too are full of vitamins and also rich in potassium
2. Sweet Potato & cinnamon: (4-6m+) Sweet potatoes are a great source of Vitamin A & potassium
3. Applesauce: (6m+) Sweet and delicious. Full of Vitamin C, fiber and contains a plethora of phytochemicals (Flavonoids) which have a major role as antioxidants.
4. Lentils & Sweet Potato: (6-8m+) Lentils, which are packed with protein, taste delicious when mixed with sweet potato
5. Butternut squash & Apple: (6m+) Butternut squash has ample amounts of potassium and are filled with Vitamins. Apples are packed with vitamin C and fiber and considered the easiest food for little tummies since they are easy to digest
6. Zucchini & Carrot: (6-8m+) Zucchini is packed with folate, potassium and vitamin C. To gain all the nutritional benefits you should cook it with the skin on. Carrots are also an excellent source of beta carotene, rich in fiber and contain iron and calcium
7. Kale & Apple: (6-8m+) A tasty way to introduce this superfood to your little one while hiding it within the delicious taste of apple. Kale supplies essential vitamins and minerals such as Vitamin A, C, Iron, calcium and potassium
8. Mango: (6-8m+) Besides tasting delicious, mangos are loaded with Vitamin A and high in fiber. This was definitely my sons favorite fruit!
9. Spinach & Pear: (8-10m+) Mixing these two ingredients taste delicious. Spinach is high in zinc and protein and full of Vitamins. Pears are high in fiber, potassium and vitamin C. Pears also help alleviate constipation
10. Beets: (8-10m+) The natural sweetness of beets make this a baby favorite and Mama’s favorite too with all its health benefits. Beets contain important nutrients such as protein, zinc, fiber and many vitamins too. Beats also help with digestion… 

Food Storage:

The great part about making your own food is realizing the quantity lasts for several meals. Once you have made some delicious food your baby will love, you need to consider your storage options.  Always look for the labels BPA free, Microwave safe, Freezer safe and dishwasher safe.

Tidd Bits for Feeding Time:

One best practice that has worked for us is having our son sit at the table with us while we eat.  Let your children sit at the table while you eat your meal so they gain interest in what you are doing.

My son initially hated wearing his bib but we would explain to him that if he wanted to eat, he had to wear it. Soon he learned that the bib meant food is coming and he now puts it on himself!

Throwing food was a hard one to overcome but we would always take it as a sign that he was done. A hungry baby will focus on eating and not on throwing anything. Once they start playing, they are done eating removing anything left on the tray worked well for us. We also followed this action by taking the highchair table away and say “all finished”.  It’s is so amazing on how quick they pick up things like “all finished”.

If anyone needs exact recipes on how to make any of the above mentioned purees, feel free to email me at info@livinglavitamama.com