Baby Food Tips 4 – 6 Months
A few handy tips when getting started are:
- Ensure pips and seeds are removed from fruit and all of the skin
- Steam where possible to retain nutrients
- Potato should be pureed or pressed through a sieve, do not use a food processor as this breaks down the starch and can result in sticky pulp
- Do not add sugar or salt to baby food
- Use formula milk or breast milk to lighten the consistency if required
- Baby foods are in addition to formula or breast milk at the start
- As baby gets used to eating solid foods, you can start to offer thicker purees and eventually mashed fruit and vegetables
- Feel free to add smooth purees of well-cooked chicken, meat and fish (check carefully for bones). Babies can tolerate these foods and they are an important source of protein and iron
- Babies need to move from purees to mashed foods to soft lumps and be eating family meals (chopped up!) by about 1 year. Just remember that different babies move at different speeds so always make the right consistency for your baby
- Do not reheat baby food once partly eaten, discard as bacteria can form.