Ive never been around babys b4 so this is new.I HAVE A 7 MONTH OLD BABY.i dont know what foods from home im able to give to my baby?...foods that contain iron and other important nutrients.. And exactly how to give it to him and how often..any advice will help thank you.
Haven't you been to a doctor in those 7 months?
Baby fruits and vegetables, baby cereal, cheerios, bananas, cut up apples, mango, pears... Really anything that is small and cut up.
At this age he should be eating oatmeal and rice cereals. You can get them at any store that sells baby food. You can also start any fruits or veggies as long they're mashed up and soft enough to gum. All my kids were on cereals by 4 months (because I was breastfeeding and let them take the reins, one went all the way to 4 months before I supplemented).
HTH!
Hi D.,
First of all, I hope you have access to medical care. If so, you should be taking your child to the pediatrician for regular well baby check ups and immunizations during the first year and beyond. Your pediatrician should be providing you with this information. If your ped doesn't spend time with you, find a different doctor who will. If you don't have access to medical care, look into California's Healthy Families to at least get coverage for your child. You might also want to look for a parenting class at the Y or something.
Second, there are a lot of good baby care books out there. Borders is going out of business and everything's on sale -- I suggest you make a trip to the book store and look in the childcare and development section, and stock up on ones that look like they'll be helpful as your child grows. I would recommend books like "What to Expect in the First Year", a good child health encyclopedia, the Ames and Ilg series ("Your One Year Old", "Your Two Year Old", etc.), "Games Babies Play", "Games Toddlers Play", and -- looking ahead to the elementary years -- "How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids will Talk."
In the meantime, my advice as a mom (2 kids, oldest is 22) and healthcare professional is below:
What's more important is what NOT to feed your baby. Top on the list is honey, as it can contain botulinum spores and make a baby under 1 very, very sick or even be fatal.
Most pediatricians recommend avoiding foods that can be major allergens until after the age of 1 if there is a history of allergies or asthma in your immediate family (you, the baby's father, your/dad's siblings or parents). Allergenic foods to consider are egg white, cow's milk, fish, tree nuts, peanuts, corn and soy. Some doctors also recommend holding off feeding berries until after 1, because they are high in salycilates that can trigger wheezing and an allergic response. Just to confuse you, though, newer theories suggest that feeding well cooked versions of must foods very early (like before 5 months) may help reduce the development of allergies.
If there's no allergic family history, you can feed a baby just about anything you eat, as long as it is well cooked and can be gummed. Be careful of giving large chunks of anything, because of the choking hazard. Foods like grapes need to skinned and cut into quarters, and never give a baby anything chewy, like raisins, until they have a decent set of upper and lower teeth.
Avoid sugary and fatty foods and high salt content -- there's no need to get the baby used to tastes that are generally unhealthy. Stick to fresh fruits (pureed) and veggies (pureed -- when my kids were babes, avocado was a big favorite), unsweetened yogurt (you can add fruit to sweeten), well cooked and pureed chicken, lamb, and turkey, and only a little fish. Try to stick to wild-caught varieties but only feed fish like tuna infrequently as they have the highest levels of mercury, which has been shown to contribute to neurological problems, such as poor memory development (or loss in adults), attention span problems, etc.
As another general rule, as you're introducing foods to your baby, only give a single type of food for several days to make sure it's well tolerated. If the baby develops a runny nose, wheezing, or hives within several minutes to a few hours after eating a newly introduced food, this could be an indication of intolerance or allergy. Back off from that food for several months before introducing it again. It can be helpful if you keep a food diary if you notice that there are several foods your child reacts to, as this can help a doctor diagnose food intolerances or allergies more easily later on.
In general, avoid jarred baby food. It's expensive and is often loaded with added sugar and salt. It's super easy to make your own. Buy a Baby Bullet and just puree whatever you're having, following the guidelines above, unless you keep a diet of fast food (which I highly recommend you get off of as well).
Feed 5 small meals/day (breakfast, lunch, dinner and a couple of snacks. Use a baby spoon (available at Walmart, Target, CVS, Rite-Aid, etc.) and place the food in the front of the upper palate (behind where the two front teeth come in); this encourages the appropriate swallow reflex. You should continue to nurse or give formula for fluids and additional nutrients, but only after the meal. You can also give water and start training to a sippy cup at about 8 - 10 months. Avoid full strength fruit juices, as these can cause diarrhea and are high in calories that are better gained by eating fruit.
At about 9 months, most babies will start to develop a decent pincer grasp (fore finger and thumb) and you can start feeding finger foods, like Cheerios and pieces of food cut to the size of Cheerios along with what you're feeding baby. Never give hard foods like carrots or celery until your baby has the molars to chew them. An exception to this is, I used to give my kids frozen carrot and well-skinned celery sticks to gnaw on when they were teething (helped with the pain and need to chew), but only when I was watching them closely. As soon as the stick got mushy, I took it away.
As far as other nutrients, if you're feeding healthy foods and nursing/giving formula, there really shouldn't be a need to supplement. If you're concerned, though, talk to the pediatrician about multivitamin drops.
D.:
I'm sorry- have you not been to your pediatrician since the birth of your baby? They give you insight at each visit...what he should be doing, how much he should be eating, etc.
At 7 months - I'm sorry - it's been almost 8 years since I've had a 7th month old to feed....
There are baby spoons at the store you can buy as well as little bowls that have thumb holes to help you hold the bowl easier.
When you go to the store - the baby isle is filled with fruits, veggies, jarred meats, finger foods, etc. I don't know how your son is developing or where he is on the chart...I know that my boys 7 to 8 months were putting EVERYTHING in their mouth.
Good luck
Go to the local library and borrow the following books. I loved them so much after checking them out over and over that my hubby finally bought both of them for me.
Baby and Toddler Meals for Dummies
Idiots Guide to Feeding you Baby and Toddler
Have you started giving me any foods other than formula or breast milk? Like baby cereal or any jarred foods?
You need to introduce foods one at a time to test for any allergies. (no nuts, strawberries, honey - ok to give foods made with milk and eggs that have very little, but do not give milk or eggs until after a year old)
If you heat foods, make sure they have cooled down. What may seem like warm to you, is actually hot to your baby.
Some ideas....
baby cereal mixed with formula or breast milk should be the starting point
fruits mashed up - bananas are great (stay away from berries and watermelon) for firmer fruits like apples and pears you can cook them and then run them through the blender
cook carrots and mash up or cut into very tiny pieces
cherrios (has lots of nutrients your baby needs)
low salt saltine crackers
potatoes - you can boil and cut into tiny pieces / or baked is easier
at 9 months
pasta cut into small pieces
rice chex or corn chex
chicken, cut into very small pieces or shreaded
ground meat
You really should check with your peditrician as he/she knows your baby and what he is ready for.
Go to www.babycenter.com This website will give you a lot of insight as to your baby's growth pattern, and feeding needs.
At 7mos old, your pediatrician should be making you aware of what you need to be doing. If he/she isn't, then you seriously need a new pedi doctor. You also need to alert your pedi doctor that you are a new mom and need guidance.
At 6 months old... your baby should have had a well-baby check-up with the Pediatrician.
Did you do this????
At this check-up, the Pediatrician would have, gone over the feeding of "solids" per your baby.
Now, even when a baby is on solids, breastmilk or Formula, is STILL a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition, for the 1st year of life... and STILL nurse baby on-demand. Day and night. Especially at growth-spurts.
Solids, for the 1st year, is NOT a baby's primary source of nutrition. Breastmilk or Formula is. Breastmilk or Formula is more nutritionally dense, than solids.
AND your baby has to be ready, for solids.
Get the book "What To Expect The First Year", and "What To Expect The Toddler Years."
Again, your Pediatrician, is the one that should be telling you this, and ask him/her all your questions.
Solids, does NOT 'replace' nursings or Formula feedings.
You do not feed solids to a baby, 3 times a day, like an adult. It is gradually worked up to, over the course of their 1st year.
Your pediatrician can give you a good month by month check up list of what to expect development wise.
On babycenter.com you can register for free for week by week updates of your baby's age. It will give you developmental and physical milestones and ideas you can do for your baby's health, like foods for that month, games they would enjoy for their age, health things to watch out for... read this link, and scroll down for the links to feeding tips:
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-7-month-old-week-1_1143....
For 7 months old, avoid peanut butter, honey, and milk (yogurt is fine though).
I HIGHLY recommend the What to Expect the First Year and What to Expect the Toddler Years as well. Most half price bookstores have them for very cheap, as well as amazon and ebay:
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3...
The first three foods to start with that are safe, full of vitamins low in allergens and easy to digest are smashed up ripe bananas, smashed up avocado and steamed well sweet potato. Only give the baby a tablespoon or so at a time. And only add one food per week to make sure the baby has no adverse reaction.
I bought the Super Baby Food book, which is really helpful. It talks a lot about making your baby food, which I did and is really easy, but it also has a lot of information on what to feed a baby, when, how much, and all of the nutritional value they get from it. Definitely great just for that, but if you do decide to follow the directions and make your own baby food, even better.
banana, avocado, cooked sweet potato,
You want to start with easy to digest choke free foods such as applesauce, mashed bananas, Gerber pureed pears, yogurt etc. Some of the other posts mentions some great resources for ideas.
Here are some of the baby foods I made at home. You can buy baby food sized jar to make a large batch and freeze for convenience or make a little everyday:
1. Khichdi (rice and lentil dish): Pressure cook or cook for long time in lots of water equal parts rice and lentils (split green lentils is what I used) till both are falling apart and have a semi solid consistency. You can add minimal amount salt. I also put cumin tempered in oil as we are Indian to get her used to the flavor. This dish is a great source of calories and protein and freezes really well.
2. Mix veggie: Use whatever you got at hand but green beans, carrots, zucchini etc work really well. Again, pressure cook or cook for long time in lots of water they are all mushy. You can also puree and strai n this if your baby is very picky.
2. Creamy spinach: I used 2 parts fresh spinach leaves (washed really well) and 1 part frozen creamed spinach and pressure cooked for 1 whistle and 5 more mins on low heat. My baby loved this and it is a great source of iron.
At about 9 mos, my daughter could use her gums to eat small pieces of crackers, so you may want to read more on how to keep adding foods to your baby's meals and which signs indicate they are ready.
If you are breast feeding your baby is getting plenty of every thing he/she needs. If you are looking to introduce solids, start with things that are easy to smoosh - like avocados and bananas, butternut or acorn squash, and avoid things that are potential allergens like eggs and peanut butter.
Roma L put it perfectly!
My 7 month old loves fruit. Bananas, strawberries, rasberries.... You can also simply boil a potatoe and mash it, or boil carrots and mash them. I would stay away from artificial things. Kids also don't need supplements. That's a bid business in the US, but European studies are by now confirming that people who take supplements die earlier and are not healthier. Nature offers all your kid needs.
My boy likes holding puffed cereal chips, and he eats a bit of bread by now. Don't worry too much!
ok, well first we need to know how old your baby is.....
Is your question about how to transition your baby to solids? I recommend you check out this website: www.wholesomebabyfood.com. There are schedules and menus for all infant ages. Great overall guide for this transitional period.
In general, you want to try single ingredient foods to check for allergies or other reactions. Don't feed too much - about a tablespoon per feeding (2-3 times a day). This is also about a social experience, so feed your baby these foods at the same time as your meals or snacks. They will imitate you.
My ped recommended starting with cereals like rice cereal, oatmeal, and barley. When you test one, feed it for 2-3 days then switch. Then, we went to yellow/orange veggies like sweet potatoes, carrots, butternut squash. Then green veggies like green beans, spinach, peas. Then go to fruit purees. Many commercial brands will have age-appropriate stages which are a good guide to follow. We like Earth's Best and Gerber Organic.
My lil man loved cream of wheat the brown sugar kind and still does at 12mths old. I started a few bites here and there at seven mths
