Common questions on how to make baby food

When can I start to introduce baby food? Around 6 months around the same time your baby can sit up

What type of food? organic is best, fresh in season vegetables or fruits, introducing one type of food at a time every 2 to 3 days to avoid allergy.

How to make my first baby food? Mix a whole grain organic cereal with water or breast milk and a soft fruit or a vegetable ( steamed if its a hard) Important tip make sure it is very water and soft the first times until your baby is used to the different texture.

What foods do I avoid in the first 1 to 2 years of life?
peanuts, fish and shell fish and eggs

Are the Nitrate Levels in Vegetables too high and what is he harm?
Nitrates are natural constituents of plants since they are their main source of nitrogen required for growth.
If high levels are reached in young babies usually less than 6 months methemoglobinemia may occur (a type of anemia)
There are a few things you can do to protect your baby from nitrates.
Nitrates increase with storage time unless frozen.
When using fresh vegetables for your baby food, prepare it as soon as possible.
Freeze extra servings right away or better make small portions.
Nitrate fertilizers are not used on land where produce is grown organically, so the risk of nitrates is much lower with certified organic produce.
Foods that tend to accumulate large amount of nitrate include spinach, beets, cabbage, broccoli, and carrots. Recommendations for home preparation of high nitrate containing foods are: Freeze vegetables immediately after harvest. Do not use vegetables which have been frozen longer than five months. Thaw vegetables no longer than 15 hours at room temperature
Do I need to add salt or sugar on the food?
No salt or sugar and for sure no honey for the first year of life

Remember when introduce the first pure food, your baby has to learn a whole new way of eating dynamics and may splash and spit and spray out the food while making cute faces so don’t just assume that your baby did not like the taste,
you may want to water down the food more or just plain try it again the next meal.
Bon apetite Bebe.

Please email me if you have any questions or comments. Good luck and enjoy.
Dr. Bar
Boutique Pediatrics
359 San Miguel suite 200
Newport Beach Ca 92660
tel 949 706 1212