Guide to Healthy Baby Food

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Healthy Baby Food and When I Started Solids
Wellness Mama » Blog » Motherhood » Guide to Healthy Baby Food

Healthy baby food is a topic I feel very strongly about and will definitely step onto the soapbox for! Like many aspects of life, convenience doesn’t equal quality (although I argue homemade baby food can be very convenient if you take a simple approach) and many of the current pre-made baby food options are definitely NOT the best first foods for babies!

What Do Babies Need?

Nutrition for the wee ones is a favorite talking point of mine, mainly because it is so important. Since babies and kids have much smaller bodies, any harmful foods can do much more proportionate damage, but this also means that healthy foods can do wonders for them.

I also must confess, on this note, that I did follow the recommendations for first foods with our first child, and I think this is part of the reason why he was our pickiest eater for a long time (though he now happily eats most foods thanks to our “food rules”).

First let’s look at the food nature designed for babies and use it as our guide for which solid foods to introduce and when.

Begin With Breast Milk (If Possible)

I truly believe (and the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics agrees) that the healthiest first food for babies is breast milk. It is a truly perfect and complete food for babies.

Breast milk is full of fatty acids, antibodies, nutrients, protein, fat, and protective bioactive molecules. The fat and protein content adapts to baby’s needs as they grow and breast milk contains a much higher whey to casein ratio that cows’ milk and formula which makes it more digestible.

Research also shows that breast feeding drastically reduces the instance of SIDS (of every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed babies). Studies also show numerous benefits to the mother, including decreased risk of cancers (breast, ovarian, cervical, endometrial), lower incidence of postpartum depression, and reduced chance of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.

Unfortunately, in the United States breast feeding until at least 6 months as the AAP recommends only happens about 35% of the time.

What If You Can’t Nurse?

I completely understand that there are cases when breastfeeding is not possible and I don’t ever want to make any mom feel guilty for needing to feed formula. Breast feeding may be best for baby but there are cases when breast feeding may not be possible or best for Mom.

Thankfully, it is possible to make a real-food substitute for formula that comes close to imitating at the least the nutritional profile of breast milk. This is what I would use if I’m ever unable to nurse a baby.

Radiant Life even makes it easy to purchase the special ingredients to make it with this formula kit.

When to Feed Baby Solid Food (& Common Mistakes)

While breastfeeding is the perfect food for baby, at some point baby will want or need solid food. This may happen around 6 months or when baby can sit up well, grasp small objects, and shows interest food. (They have their ways of making it obvious!)

Motor development of course varies for each baby, so follow baby’s signs that he/she is ready to eat solid food rather than waiting for a certain day on the calendar. This post from Mama Natural is a great guide and takes some stress out of the process of knowing when baby is ready.

With my last few babies, I waited until at least 6 months before introducing solid food.

Problems With Conventional Baby Foods

Ask your mother what you ate for a first food or ask most pediatricians what they recommend as first foods for babies and most will say oatmeal or rice cereal.

After that, the usual recommended choices for the next stage are often fruit purees, starchy veggies like squash, various watered-down mixtures of processed meats, over-steamed veggies and eventually a nauseating array of fluffy, puffy, sweetened grain-based snacks.

This is what I did with my first child because I didn’t know any better, and this is the advice that many new moms get daily for baby food. It turns out that not only is this not what mothers do in many parts of the world (including countries with much lower rates of obesity and allergies) but research may not even support it!

Don’t Start With Rice

The most common recommended first food in the U.S. is iron-fortified rice cereal. This seems logical at first glance, because babies naturally need more iron than they receive from breast milk at around age six months. At the same time, iron-fortified processed foods are a relatively modern invention and many moms question the idea of giving a fortified food rather than a food that naturally contains iron and other nutrients.

It also seems logical that the fact that babies have an increasing need for nutrients like iron at around 6 months should be a clue both to what first foods should be and as to their actual need for these nutrients. If a baby is going to need a certain nutrient at a certain time that isn’t supplied by breast milk, it makes sense that there would be a built-in way for baby to get this nutrient that doesn’t involve modern fortified foods.

And it turns out that there is!

Need for Iron Gives a Clue

As Heather of Mommypotamus explains in this comprehensive post, there are several important reasons for the iron need at this age and a logical and natural way that babies get it:

  1. Many pathogenic bacteria (including E. coli) need iron to survive and the missing iron may be a way of protecting baby from these bacteria as he or she starts eating solids.
  2. Babies also at age 4-6 months start wanting to spend more time on the ground on their bellies in preparation for crawling. In a non-sterile world, this put babies in contact with dirt on a daily basis, and dirt is a natural source of iron and zinc!

It also makes sense that as a baby does have a dietary need for more minerals like iron and zinc, we should give them foods that naturally contain these nutrients without the need for fortified and artificial nutrients. As rice is not naturally a source of these nutrients … perhaps it isn’t intended to be a first food for baby!

All About That Amylase

Another reason that rice cereal and other starchy foods aren’t the best first choice for baby is that at age 4-6 months, babies don’t make enough of an enzyme called amylase to break down most carbohydrates. This means that starchy foods like rice can be irritating to baby’s digestive system and lead to discomfort in some babies.

In fact, without enough amylase, these foods can literally sit and start to decompose in the gut, which may increase the likelihood of allergies to this particular food!

Given the lack of amylase, it seems odd that starchy and sweet foods like grains and fruits are recommended as first baby foods. Logically, habituating a baby to the taste of sweet foods first would make it difficult to introduce less sugary (yes, fruit does have sugar) foods like vegetables later. This is one reason that in countries like France, these foods are introduced later after baby has learned to like a wide variety of healthy foods.

So, if rice and other starches aren’t a natural source of iron and babies don’t have the enzymes to digest them properly, why are we encouraged to give them as a first food?

As a wild guess, I’d suggest that it has more to do with rice being one of the most subsidized crops in the U.S. (along with corn and soybeans), but that is a (long) post for another day.

A Different Approach to Healthy Baby Food

Baby food doesn’t have to be complicated, and in most places in the world, it isn’t. Many cultures don’t have entire corporations devoted to producing watered-down purees for baby, or a whole market for machines, containers, and gizmos to make your own baby food.

In some cultures, mom just chews a bit of her food and feeds to baby (sounds gross but it can actually help digestion). In countries like France, babies are given non-starchy foods first and it is said to spoil baby’s taste buds to give starches first. Many foods in France are broth based, and baby receives quite a bit of broth and meat as first foods.

That being said, here are some good choices for introducing real food to babies:

Healthy Baby Foods I Recommend

In many parts of the world, starches and sweet foods are not given as a first food at all. Instead, in many places, they give animal foods like broth and tiny pieces of meat.

Surprised?

If we look at the enzymes in a baby’s digestive system at the age of first foods, proteins and fats are a logical and much safer choice. After much research, the first baby food that I’ve given to all of my children has changed drastically over the years.

This is the order that I personally introduce foods now. At first I don’t mix foods but introduce them one at a time for a period of a week or two to see how baby reacts.

1. Broth

This was never suggested with my first child and while I am grateful he doesn’t have any allergies and is a great eater now, I wish I’d known what I know now to be able to give him more nourishing first foods.

Broth may seem like an odd first food for a baby, but after my third child struggled with eczema and dairy intolerance (after being born via c-section) and we used the GAPS diet to help reverse his problems, I realized that the same reasons broth is a superfood for gut health during GAPS makes it a logical first baby food as well!

Babies are naturally born with a leaky gut because this allows beneficial antibodies and enzymes from mom’s milk to pass into the bloodstream and increase immunity. Eventually, the gut needs to seal so that particles from foods and pathogens don’t enter the bloodstream as well. Broth seals the intestinal wall as a great source of gelatin, amino acids, bioavailable minerals, and other nutrients. As a liquid, it is also an easy transition for baby!

I typically feed my babies broth as their only “real food” for about a month before adding in any other food to help make sure the gut is ready.

What I Do: Serve small amounts of warmed broth in a bottle or with a spoon. I made my own broth for my babies but now there is a quality brand of pre-made broth on the market that is shelf stable and has all the good stuff homemade broth does. Find out why it’s different here.

2. Meat + Liver

Next, I’ll introduce pastured grass-fed high quality meats and liver that have been cooked and very finely grated to the broth. Again, this seems counter-intuitive as a first food, but meat is a complete source of protein and amino acids and liver is nature’s multivitamin.

If it seems strange to feed a baby meat as a first food, think about this:

Meat is a natural source of iron, which babies naturally need. It also doesn’t require amylase to be digested, making it a logical first baby food and the choice of many cultures around the world.

Meats are a complete source of protein, unlike rice, beans, and vegetables and provide more calories and nutrients per ounce than other foods. While this is common sense in much of the world, in the U.S., meats are some of the last foods to be introduced. “Kid-friendly food” given to growing toddlers may even often be processed foods like hot dogs!

Of course, you want to make sure that these are extremely high quality meats from ethical and healthy sources, but even a small amount of these foods will help provide baby the iron and zinc they need at this stage and these foods are less likely to be allergenic than many other foods.

What I Do: Cook grass-fed or pastured meat or liver and let cool. Grate into small pieces with a grater or baby food grinder. Mix into broth and serve. Can also freeze in small portions to add to other foods as baby grows. I get my meat and liver from U.S. Wellness Meats or Butcher Box when it’s not available from a local farm I trust.

3. Mashed Banana + Avocado

At this stage, I’ll add in some low-allergen fruits and vegetables like bananas and avocados. I often mash these into the meat or broth. Bananas (though I don’t personally like the taste of them) are one of the few fruits that contain amylase, making them easier to digest for most babies. I don’t like to give them straight since they are sweeter, and mix them with meat or liver so baby doesn’t get too used to sweeter flavors right away.

Avocado is packed with beneficial fats and are a natural source of folate, iron, fiber, potassium, and even magnesium. It’s one of the best first fruits (or vegetables) to serve baby, plus it’s soft and easy to cube or mash.

What I do: Serve diced or pureed, or mix with a little banana for the amylase.

4. Butter + Other Vegetables

At this point, I will add in a grass-fed pastured butter (for the healthy fats and Vitamin K2) and other non-starchy vegetables. I add vegetables one at a time and usually about a week apart.

Vegetables have a much higher nutrient content than grains and less chance of an allergic response, so I introduce almost all vegetables before any grains, including rice, are introduced.

What I do: The easiest way I’ve found to do this is to start adding tiny bits of chopped veggies to baby’s broth and boiling until soft. At this point, I strain out the soft veggies, let them cool and let baby feed herself.

5. Present Mixed Foods, Textures, and Finger Foods

By this stage, baby is able to share most of the meat, veggies, and fruits we’re already eating at the dinner table. I’m not a big fan of feeding purees for long (feeding a baby with a spoon is not a quick process) so I tend to just make a quick “hash” with small enough pieces to be safe for baby but thick enough to pick up and eat on their own.

Here are some ideas for healthy finger foods for older toddlers to keep the real-food tastebuds going!

A Healthy Storebought Baby Food Option (2019 Update)

When I first wrote this post, there were literally zero pre-packaged convenience options I could recommend. Sure, organic baby food pouches are everywhere and super convenient, but pretty much all of them contain close to zero protein or healthy fats — which we just established baby needs.

I’ve been watching and waiting for someone to catch on to the huge disconnect between demand and supply in the healthy baby food market… leave it to a mom to figure it out! This new line of baby food uses only quality grass-fed or pastured meats, organic veggies, and (newsflash!) will actually satisfy a hungry baby with protein and healthy fats. They are a great family company and I look forward to seeing more from them in the future.

I’ve even sampled it, and it’s delicious!

Update: Why Early Allergen Introduction Is a Good Idea

Some landmark studies (that came out well after I had my babies) is changing how we think about childhood food allergies. The latest research suggests introducing allergenic foods starting at 4 months to lower a child’s chances of developing an allergy to those foods. Peanut, egg, and milk represent >80% of the most common childhood food allergies, so these would be foods to introduce early rather than delay.

I know it may seem scary to offer a baby peanuts since this seems like the opposite of what doctors have advised in the past, but think about this way: in many countries such as Israel where peanut is a staple in their meals, there’s a much lower incidence of peanut allergies because infants are introduced to peanut-containing foods much earlier on.

Of course, you should check with your doctor to make a plan that’s right for your situation, but make sure to reference the LEAP, EAT, and PETIT studies and get their thoughts on the new American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations as a result of these studies.

What I Would Do

Leave it a mom + allergist to develop a convenient and safe way to act on this research. She and team of allergists developed a product called Ready, Set, Food! that contains safe amounts of the top allergenic foods in a convenient powdered form. Simply open the packet and add to baby’s formula or expressed breast milk. I’ve looked in-depth at the science and the team behind this product and I’m very impressed. It’s organic and non-GMO as well. Get all the details about how it works here.

Reasons to Make Homemade Baby Food

At this point, you’re probably getting the sense that I recommend most if not all of baby’s first foods be made at home rather than store-bought. It’s not as much trouble as it sounds!

Here’s some compelling reasons to make homemade baby food instead of buy it:

Not Processed = More Nutrients Intact

Nutrition is so important at this early age and unfortunately, the convenient jars and squeeze packs of baby food on grocery store shelves don’t have anywhere near the nutrients of fresh steamed vegetables and meats made at home.

Know What’s in It

Ever read the labels? Besides the token vegetable or fruit, jar baby food contains mostly water and small amounts of added fillers to keep everything the same consistency. Plus even if the label has real food ingredients, there is no way to know the ratio of vegetable to fruit used in the formula (except maybe to look at the grams of sugar!).

Economical and Convenient

This is one case where it truly is, hands down, cheaper to make your own baby food. What you pay for in the store is so much water and filler that you could make huge amounts of fresh vegetables for your baby for less.

All you need is vegetables and water or broth to steam or boil them. If you’re having meat and vegetables for dinner, chances are you don’t need to make anything special for baby. Just mash, cube, or puree.

Want convenience? There are many convenient reusable containers on the market now that make storage and freezing of homemade baby food a snap, even without plastic. I loved these stacking and freezer-safe baby food jars or this reusable silicone version of the squeeze packs you see in the store.

Limits Contact with Plastic (Endocrine Disruptors)

Much of the baby food packaging today has moved toward convenient squeeze packs instead of jars. I have concerns about using plastic especially around food. Making it at home skips the plastic packaging (and saves the Earth!).

The Baby Food Bottom Line

There are, of course, many ideas of what makes a correct “first food” as there are so many options. Mine is simply this: Start with nutrient-dense and non-starchy whole foods that have a low chance of causing an allergic response and let baby be as independent as possible when eating. Hopefully, this will help set up a lifetime of healthy eating habits for kids!

This article was medically reviewed by Madiha Saeed, MD, a board-certified family physician. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.

What type of baby food do you use? Share below!

Healthiest baby food options and recipes
Katie Wells Avatar

About Katie Wells

Katie Wells, CTNC, MCHC, Founder of Wellness Mama and Co-founder of Wellnesse, has a background in research, journalism, and nutrition. As a mom of six, she turned to research and took health into her own hands to find answers to her health problems. WellnessMama.com is the culmination of her thousands of hours of research and all posts are medically reviewed and verified by the Wellness Mama research team. Katie is also the author of the bestselling books The Wellness Mama Cookbook and The Wellness Mama 5-Step Lifestyle Detox.

Comments

413 responses to “Guide to Healthy Baby Food”

  1. Chris Avatar

    Very thankful our pediatrician recommended veggies first, my kids love them and so do I.

  2. Emilie Avatar
    Emilie

    Weston A Price recommends egg yolks as first food at 6 mo. What are your reasons for waiting till 7-8m??

  3. Natalie Jacobs Avatar
    Natalie Jacobs

    Have you ever heard of a baby having a bad reaction to egg yolk? I gave it to my 7 month old and we ended up in the ER. He would not stop puking and we were scared and afraid of dehydration.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I’ve never heard of it, but a food allergy is always possible. Is he ok now?

    2. Emilie Avatar
      Emilie

      Did he have even a tiny piece of the white? That is the part that has the most allergens. Reaction to egg yolk is highly unsusal.

    3. Lara Avatar

      Hi Natalie,
      I’m not sure how old this post is, but after reading Nourishing Traditions, my little guy (then 6 months) had the same reaction to egg. He was vomiting and lethargic. It was terrifying. I waited until 8 months as per my pediatrician’s recommendation and the same thing happened. I had him tested for an allergy and it was inconclusive. I followed my maternal instincts and realized what I suspected- he is NOT allergic. It’s just that the egg was a bit too soft. The runnier/less cooked, the harder it is to digest the protein. Unfortunately, WAPF and Nourishing Traditions don’t go into details about this. My little guy just turned one. He eats cooked eggs (whites and yolk) every day with no issues. Despite what the books said, I think 6 months was too soon. According to my doc, you don’t even need to start feeding them at 6 months unless they are showing telltale signs of being ready for food. Hope this helps.

      1. Roxy Avatar

        The same thing happened to me, but it was very strange. I introduced the egg yolk (runny, as per most WAPF recommendations) at 6 months, she had it a few times with no issue and then one day, two hours after she ate she started throwing up and didn’t stop. We ended up in the ER & she had to get an IV put on with zofran and liquids for her.It was horrible. But I just thought it may have been a bad egg, undercooked or that I had just introduced a new probiotic. I waited until 10 months to introduce again and then it happened again. Same exact way. 2 hours later, she woke up from her nap vomiting her life out. Ended up ER again 🙁 Needless to say the mom guilt was horrible. They said to avoid all egg and egg products. Vomiting was her only symptom (no difficulty breathing, no hives/rash) and they say it’s no a true allergy if that’s the only symptom but you never know. They also suggested for us to see an allergist but I’ve heard they are not truly accurate, especially at this age. Regardless I am going to wait until way after she’s one to try and introduce. But wanted to share to be very careful and possibly just wait till they’re a little bigger to introduce. Also give it to them early in the day in case they do have reaction.

  4. Lana Avatar

    I have sensitivities (not allergies..but more of an auto-immune response) to asparagus, egg yolks, broccoli, etc. Wondering if I should be hesitant to introduce these foods to my baby? Im still only breastfeeding, but will be introducing solids shortly.

  5. elenska Avatar

    No, there are no resources on this, at least not in english. I was soooo dissapointed when I came to N.America. Where I come from (Europe), veggies are the first thing you give to baby (or were 10 years ago). then fruits. then meat, eggs, and then somewhere at the end grains.

    As for the purred veggies in the jar from the stores, have you ever tasted it? it really tastes horrible. When I ask other mums, they do not like it either, but think their little one is just “fine” with it. If you make your own veggies, they taste delicious, provided you buy good quality.

  6. Marleena Avatar

    Do you have any food / supplement recommendations for our 8 month old? He is currently on a soy formula because the dairy one was making him sick. We know that formula is awful, but we do not have primary custody of him and his mother stopped breastfeeding. He is constantly ill with runny nose or congestion, but we only have him on the weekends right now. We are sort of at a loss as to how to try to help nutritionally. When he’s here we give him organic egg yolks, avocados, other pureed veggies and a probiotic supplement. Is there anything you’d recommend adding? Is he too young for coconut milk/cream?

  7. Alanamd Avatar

    I say skip the purees! Baby led weaning is healthiest! And, my daughter has a spinach allergy among many others. It’s high in nitrites. She didn’t eat Anything before 8 months and spinach was one of the first things she had, but broke out in hives!

  8. Shawna MacEachen Nelsen Avatar
    Shawna MacEachen Nelsen

    I know these comments and post are older but I had a question concerning protein. My 11 month old is ebf with veggies, fruit, egg yolk, coconut oil and raw butter making up her solids. I have no intention on introducing grains. But one holistic Dr. wanted me to wait to introduce proteins until 1 year. I really feel like she is ready for meat and I know you mention here 8 months. If we are using your plans is she old enough to eat to meals I’m cooking (ie: meatballs in the crockpot?) Thank you so much!

  9. MrsAré Avatar

    I was wondering what your opinion on food containers are for real food eating on the go or preparing food ahead of time to freeze. Do you ever use the BPA free small portioning containers or do you stick to the wide mouth glass containers for freezing? The BPA free portioned containers seem convenient for food variety and keeping the food fresh through the week in the freezer but I’m wary of the BPA plastics and nylons as I believe they can contain other substitute chemicals that are equally disruptive. Your thoughts would be appreciated! Thank you!

  10. Taylor Avatar

    My only comment, and i otherwise LOVE this post: vegetables have protein. And great proteins at that! We use protein from food (amino acids) to rebuild our own proteins – and we process plant-based protein much slower than animal proteins – BUT studies show that it is just as effective. I know i know, im opening a can of worms here. No need to start a big debate, just want everyone to know that their baby IS getting protein via plant-based foods (vegetables) – especially the dark green leafy kinds!

    🙂 That’s all.

  11. sarah Avatar

    I just read that the FDA has now approved canola oil as an ingredient in baby formula. If they start putting that poison in our infants’ food, what are we to do? Especially with that being the only food they eat. I am ex pecting my second child and would like tp nurse, but I don’t know if I will be able to since I wasn’t able to nurse my daughter because I produced very little breastmilk.

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      That’s awful! I’d google the recipe for “Nourishing Traditions Homemade Formula Recipe.” It is more work, but much healthier!

  12. Melanie Fisk Avatar
    Melanie Fisk

    My 8 month old eats masses of avo, it’s one of his favourites! Kumera – sweet potato – pumpkin and broccoli also feature highly on his list. I tend to give him unsalted, baby friendly versions of what we are eating, as otherwise he looks so indignant. Solids are going well for us, and he’s still getting a lot of breastmilk 🙂 My only concern is that he’s got constipated in the last 3 weeks… I don’t feed him a lot of bread, but he does have the odd bit, as I do… something tells me you might think the constipation and the wheat are connected!

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      If my kids get constipated it is usually either from refined foods or from too little fats. Usually adding bone broths, coconut oil, etc to every meal fixes it easily.

      1. Arina Avatar

        When should you start introducing baby to coconut oil?
        And what does ” real butter” means?!
        Thanks!

    1. Emilie Avatar
      Emilie

      fennugreek, Mothers milk tea, and lots of pumping and feeding from the breast as often as you can. Three days of this and your supply should go up!

    2. Lea Avatar

      Make sure you are getting adequate sleep, drinking enough, eating well. And when you nurse, give you baby lots of attention. It flips hormonal switches in your body to really enjoy and give all of you to baby for just those few minutes as you nurse.

  13. Miriana Sickle Avatar
    Miriana Sickle

    I remember friends telling me to start putting cereal in the breast milk in the evening when my son was 5 months old. I tried rice cereal but it upset his stomach really bad and that night he threw up and didn’t sleep at all. I should’ve known that he was too young for solids and had to wait another month. Anyway at 6 months I gave him steamed carrots. I cut them in chunks, steamed them and just put them in front of him. That’s what I did with all other veggies and fruits. The only times when I had to spoon feed was avocado or soups. By the time he was 15 months old he mastered the fork. Now at 19 months he is doing really well with the spoon and I don’t have to feed him. Hi gets occasionally grains , mostly gluten free since I can’t eat gluten. He especially likes my quinoa pudding which I prepare with water and quinoa flower and use organic apple sauce as sweetener. I also add some berries. Actually the whole family loves it. I think starting our son on veggies and not spoon feeding him helped a lot for his development and also learning to eat real food.
    Thanks for this blog there are awesome information and recipes which I’ll use here soon.

  14. Amy Avatar

    Wow!! So nice to have someone share the same opinion about grains and babies. My family and friends have been horrified that we don’t feed our little girl cereals. She eats so many avocados that we call them “Ava-cados” in our house. She’s 11 months old now and is beautiful and healthy and eats a diet of organic veggies, fruits, and healthy proteins (including egg yolks that nearly send her dr. over the edge). Thank you for your website and for sharing the “Wellness Lifestyle.”

  15. Sarah McCrory Avatar
    Sarah McCrory

    I plan on starting my baby with avocado next month for his first food. Such a great idea! What is a typical serving size for a 5 to 6 month old? Also when is it appropriate to start adding new vegetables or maybe mixing in some banana?

    1. Wellness Mama Avatar
      Wellness Mama

      I just let them eat as little or as much as they want at that age… I typically start with other foods a couple weeks after the avocado.

      1. Sarah McCrory Avatar
        Sarah McCrory

        Thanks so much! I can’t wait to have a great little veggie eater, and I never would have thought of it without this blog!

  16. Wellness Mama Avatar
    Wellness Mama

    We’ve never done oatmeal with our last two kids and just started them on the avocado, veggies and meats at 6-8 months. If you’re going to try to be grain free I’d remove the oatmeal now as it will be a lot easier. That’s great that you make his food, though to make it easy, you wouldn’t even necessarily have to puree, just cook really soft and cut into tiny pieces for him to pick up himself. He will be able to feed himself soon and it’s good for dexterity…

  17. Olivia Avatar
    Olivia

    Ahhh…my son is 7 1/2 months old and I’ve already started oatmeal.  I try to follow wholesomebabyfood.com for advice and such.  I make his food, but I use a lot of frozen veggies to puree.  Is that bad?  Also, I’ve tried avocado many times and he does not like it.  I’ve tried different thicknesses of puree, but no luck.  He literally squints and spits it out.  Should I just keep trying?  It was the first food I gave him and he’s been like that from the start.  Also, should I just stop giving oatmeal alltogether?  Thank you for your help…I’m definitely following your blog.

  18. Loretta Avatar
    Loretta

    It makes me so happy when people feed their babies real food (and that includes the best of all, breast milk; the original baby food!) My baby didn’t start any solids until about 10 months and even now at 12 months, she likes a taste here and there. It’s been good for us, because if I won’t let her eat it, I have to really question if I should be eating it too! Another ‘food’ she’s been getting a lot of is dirt! She’s got the immune system of an ox and has never been sick. I only wish I had been raised this way as well…

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