Starting Baby Food Help

It is my understanding that unless you are exclusively breastfeeding, baby needs solid foods to help make up nutritional gaps in formula once they reach about 6 months. We started with cereal at 6 months, then added in veggies, single ingredient to start. Once we got through the basic veggies we started fruits. from say 6-8 months we introduced a new food every week, and once he was doing well with eating in general we went from one meal a day to 3 meals a day. At 10 months he gets 2 snacks (puffs or cheerios or baby biscuits). fruit and cereal for breakfast, veg and cereal for lunch and dinner, and he still takes several bottles during the day.

Oh and we do juice or water in a cup when he eats.

I tried making my own baby food, but the texture was always off nomatter what I did and he wouldn't eat it so we gave up. I buy organic stuff when I have to buy baby food or snacks but I also get WIC and they provide food (beechnut brand) and we've had no problems with it, I actually really like that they have a stage 2.5 that is smooth but has little bits that are thicker in texture. My little guy has a sensitive gag reflex so we are a long way from anything lumpy.

I'm skeptical that the WIC lady is an expert on baby feeding, though it sounds like she acts like it!

Feed your baby when she's hungry. Breastfeed as much as possible. Use formula when you can't. Your baby is ready for solids when she starts stealing them off your plate! If she's not interested, don't push it. She'll get there on her own. If she has not developed any interest in solids by 12 months, talk to a doctor.

When she does start swiping solids, start offering her solids. Start with things that are pretty runny, like a smooth applesauce consistency. If she's okay with that, move to things that are more thick, like the consistency of mashed potatoes. Commercial baby food is overpriced and unnecessary. Take something soft, like a banana or veggies cooked until mushy. Mash it with a fork. Feed it to baby. No special equipment is required.

Introduce new foods one at a time. Wait several days to watch for allergic reactions, then add in a new food. Try and do lots of fruits and vegetables so your baby develops a taste for them. Avoid potential allergens, especially if you have a family history of allergies. Otherwise, anything you can mash easily with a fork makes terrific baby food.

Gerber isn't really bad, but it's tasteless and expensive. It's probably better not to get your baby too attached to tasteless and expensive food! Use it as a convenience, but don't depend on it.

That woman should not be working at WIC if she thinks 6 month old should be having baby food 3 times a day plus snacks. Please don't listen to her, you know your baby. She doesn't.

Just because WIC will be providing you with baby food doesn't mean you need to use the checks. You get fresh fruit and veggies with WIC also, right? So make your own! It really isn't that hard or time consuming.

For the first year of life all your baby needs is breast or formula.
Food is not for nutrition it is for experiment.
My children never ate cereal.
And they weren't too keen on baby food either.
Gerber is ok. I prefer to make my own. It is really not that hard to do. But if WIC is giving you food...it is fine.
If your baby wants nothing but to nurse all day-that is perfectly fine.
Remember, it is all an experiment right now.
HTH! GL!

Breastmilk or formula should still be most of her food intake at this point. I started cereal at 4 months but it's better to wait intil 6 months like you are doing. I would really give your baby all organic if you can. Earth's Best is a good brand that you can get anywhere. If you can't afford it, don't feel bad as many kids eat Gerber and they are fine! Definetly try to breastfeed as much as possible but don't feel pushed into feeding the baby "babyfood" 3 times a day. Start off with one and see how it goes.

NO.
at this age, solids is only an "introduction" to 'eating.'
Feeding solids 3 times a day, is GRADUALLY worked up to, during their 1st year.

For the 1st year of life, breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition, and to feed breastmilk/Formula ON-demand. 24/7, day and night, especially at growth-spurts. Of which, 6 months is a growth-spurt period.

Solids... is NOT as nutritionally dense, as breastmilk or Formula.
AND, breastmilk/Formula, should be given, BEFORE giving solids. Otherwise the baby will be too full, to nurse and they will wean, from breast or bottle.

All of this, is per our Pediatrician.

DO NOT listen to the lady at WIC.
she is wrong.

Breastmilk/Formula is a baby's PRIMARY source of nutrition, and should constitute, their primary intake. Daily. 24/7.

Ignore the WIC lady!!!

If your baby is happy without food, don't bother with the food. Talk to your pediatrician about nutrition instead. My oldest was ready and rearing to go with food by 4 months, my second did not want any solids until well into 7 months, and my third just started at 6 1/2 months. He is now eating cereal about twice a day with some fruit or veggie (starting one kind at a time for a few days to watch for food allergies) and he loves it. Not all babies are ready for it at 6 months and if not, then breastmilk is more than adequate for your baby's nutritional needs.

It might be "typical," but it is NOT a hard and fast rule. Let your baby tell you when she is ready and how much she wants to eat.