Introducing your baby to solid food is not as tricky as it may seem. During their teething period a baby’s gums are strong enough to chew soft food and hence this is a good time to start feeding your baby semi solid food. It goes without saying that your baby’s diet must be nutritious and healthy. It is important to consider some things while choosing baby foods. During this stage, a baby is comparatively more active than she was and needs additional strength. Hence, make sure your baby’s diet includes fresh fruits and vegetables and steer clear of processed food and empty calories.
Also, make sure the food you serve is neither too hot nor chilled. The best temperature to serve boiled or steamed vegetables would be lukewarm. If you are feeding your baby fruits or something which has been in the refrigerator make sure you first bring it to room temperature and then serve. Serving food too hot can scald the baby’s sensitive tongue and food that is chilled can give the baby cold.
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How To Make Feeding Easier For Your Baby
Here are some tips to make feeding easier for your baby:
Invest In Fancy Utensils
Babies are attracted to bright colors and bold prints. Use this to your advantage and invest in some colorful plates and spoons. Fancy cutlery will help to hold your baby’s attention and get him to look forward to his meals.
Play With Colors
As mentioned earlier children begin to understand and respond to colors at an early stage. So make sure you incorporate a variety of colors and textures in your meals.
Be Patient
It is likely that the baby might not eat semi-solid food initially; the important thing to remember is not to force the child. You want to formulate the habit of eating and it is a big milestone for a baby, especially considering the fact that the baby is in the teething stage. Hence be patient and make gradual changes in the eating patterns so that it’s easy for the child to adapt.
20 Baby Foods Your Baby Can Have Without Teeth
Most mothers often get confused as to what to feed their baby. To make things easier, below are 20 baby foods that you can feed your baby:
1. Potatoes
Potatoes are a universal favorite of babies. You can boil the potatoes, smash them and feed them to the baby while they are slightly warm. Potatoes are rich in vitamin B6, vitamin B3, and vitamin C. They are also a great source of potassium.
2. Bananas
Smash a medium size ripe banana in a bowl with the help of a spoon and feed it to the baby. A ripe banana is easy to swallow and is healthy as well. Bananas are a natural source of fiber, potassium, and iron. Avoid feeding bananas if the child has a cold.
3. Avocados
Avocados are rich in potassium and vitamins. It is one of the nutritious baby foods. Pick a ripe avocado and smash half of it in a bowl. You can feed it directly to the baby or you could add some banana or boiled eggs to the mixture and squash it further and feed it to the baby.
4. Porridge
Another healthy option would be to serve porridge. You could whip up some porridge with Ragi and a fruit of your choice or you could even make oats porridge for your baby. Remember to opt for grains and vegetables that are not too hard and easily digestible.
5. Khichdi
One of the most nutritious and fail-safe baby foods is khichdi. Khichdi made with rice and dal is rich in proteins and carbohydrates. It is soft enough for the baby to chew and easily digestible as well.
6. Tofu
Tofu is a rich source of protein. You can smash a few cubes of tofu in a bowl and serve it to the baby as it is or you can even add a steamed or boiled vegetable of your choice to the mixture
7. Apples
It is a known fact that kids love apples, but since your baby doesn’t have teeth, it could get a little difficult for him to chew the apple. Instead of feeding the apple as is to the baby you can whip up some apple stew or mash the apple with the same bananas and feed your child
8. Chicken
Chicken is packed with proteins. You can boil a few pieces of chicken and feed it to your baby with mashed potatoes or mince the meat and feed it with mashed vegetables. Make sure the chicken is cooked well and is soft and tender
9. Chapatti/Flatbread
Chapattis made of wheat is rich in potassium, magnesium, copper, iodine, and many other minerals. Break small chapattis into pieces and let the pieces soak in lukewarm milk for a few minutes. When the chapatti has softened you can feed it to the baby
10. Sweet Potatoes
Packed with Vitamin A, copper, potassium, and dietary fiber, sweet potatoes can be a wholesome meal for your baby. Since it is relatively softer it becomes easier for the baby to chew as well.
11. Vegetable Puree
One of the best ways to incorporate a lot of vegetables into your baby’s diet is by feeding your baby vegetable puree. You can puree boiled tomatoes, peas, carrots, beans, and many other vegetables in a blender and feed it to your baby as it is
12. Carrots
Carrots are fibrous and ensure smooth bowel movement. Also, they are rich in antioxidants. You can either boil or steam a few pieces of carrots and feed them slightly warm to the baby or you could puree them with some peas, either way, the baby is going to love it
13. Broccoli
Broccoli is known for its health benefits. Feeding broccoli to your baby at an early age can be a good practice. You can serve it to the baby in different forms, be it steamed, boiled, or even pureed
14. Mango
If mango is in the season, don’t hesitate to feed some to your baby. You can cut a ripe mango into tiny pieces and feed it to the baby or make some mango pulp. Since mango is very cooling not made sure you feed it to the baby in a small quantity.
15. Cauliflower
It is a great source of Vitamin C, folate, and omega acids. You can steam or boil the cauliflower and feed it to the baby. Make sure you clean it well and wash it thoroughly before cooking it.
16. Hard Boiled Eggs
Eggs are a good source of Vitamin D, B2, B6, and 12. Mash some boiled eggs in a bowl and feed them to the baby. Make sure you do not leave big solid chunks in the bowl, it is good to be a choking hazard if you do not smash it well. You also need to watch out for any allergic reactions as eggs are top allergens. When should eggs be introduced to the baby?
17. Vegetable Stew
Vegetable stews are a great way to incorporate the goodness of many vegetables into your baby’s diet. You can make a stew by boiling vegetables of your choice in a saucepan and cooking it till it becomes extremely soft. Do not add salt or spices to the mixture since it is meant for your baby.
18. Beetroot
Beetroot has many nutritional benefits and it can be a wholesome meal for your baby. Boil or steam a beet root and then make very tiny pieces of it. Feed it to the baby while it is still slightly warm.
19. Watermelon
Watermelons are packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, Vitamin A, and Vitamin B6. Since watermelon is quite soft you can feed it directly to the baby just make sure you remove all the seeds and cut it into very tiny pieces.
20. Meat Stew
You could even make a meat stew for your baby if you are a non vegetarian. Add some ground chicken or fish meat to the vegetable stew and cook it well. Avoid red meat since it can get a little difficult to digest. When is the right time to introduce meat to your baby?
