First Fruits For Babies. It’s something you probably don’t think of every day, but it can make a significant contribution to your baby’s development. The fibre found in fruit can aid digestion and help to reduce the chances of constipation and haemorrhoids. Vitamin C is great for a growing immune system, as well as vitamin A for healthy eyes. Citrus fruits like oranges are full of vitamin C, which can be important to a small child who has yet to contact smallpox or measles.
First fruits to introduce to your baby
Fruits are some of the most nutritious food on the planet. They are rich in vitamin that help in boosting your baby’s immunity. Fruits are probably the first things that you introduce to your baby when weaning because they are easy to digest, readily available and have minimal chances of allergy. What are some of those first fruits that you can introduce to your baby? How do you prepare them? Check out the these recipes:
- Pawpaw/papaya puree
This was the first fruit to introduce to my baby and I serve it almost daily. Luscious and sweet papayas are filled will high amounts of folate, fiber, and vitamins A, C and E. If you are worried about constipation, serve pawpaw daily for those happy poopy moment.
Requirements
Slice of ripe pawpaw
Method
Wash papaya with cold boiled water. Rinse under running water and pat dry. Peel and slice the papaya in half and scoop out the seeds. Cut the fruit into pieces, and puree it. You may add water depending on the consistency you want to make. Serve the plain papaya puree to your baby
- Avocado puree
I really love avocados. They are excellent sources of unsaturated healthy fats and vitamin E. This is the most suitable healthy fat source to introduce your baby.
Requirement
Slice of ripe avocado
Method
Wash the avocado with cold boiled running water. Cut the slice enough for one feed. Peel and remove the pit of the fruit. Scoop its contents. Mash the meat using a fork or a blender. Serve the freshly prepared puree.
- Banana puree
Banana are mellow on your baby’s tummy. I prefer the yellow banana with brown dots. (coz my mom recommended and she says it does not cause gas.)
Requirements
1 ripe banana
Method
Wash the fruits with cold boiled running water. Peel the banana, and cut into small chunks. Mash them using a fork or in a blender. Process until the mix turns smooth. You can add a little water, make the puree thin. Serve immediately.
- Apple puree
They say, an apple a day keeps the doctor at bay. Apples are rich in Vitamin A, Vitamin C and Folate, Calcium, potassium and calcium. Potatoes contain Vitamin C and also rich in calories that your baby needs for growth and development. But just how do you serve an apple to a 6 months baby?
Requirements
1 apple
Method
Peel, core and slice apples. Add to the potatoes and boil for 5 minutes. Use a fork and mash. You can use the reserved water for thinning.
Those are the main first fruits I would recommend for a 6 months only baby for a start. They nutritious, easy to digest so no need to worry about constipation, do not trigger allergies and easy to prepare without much handling. Remember, the three days rule of weaning. Give one fruit for three days to see any reaction. In case of allergy and constipation, stop giving the fruits and reintroduce it at a later date. For the first two months of weaning, avoid mangos, oranges and pineapples as they may trigger tonsils due to the sugar and acidity that they contain. Watermelons are better introduced from 8th month. Some babies are not able to digests it and hence after giving you will find some red things on the stool. Passions fruits and tree tomatoes can be introduced from 7 months.
Day 7 – First Fruits for Baby – 365 Days of Baby Food
Is your baby just starting solid foods? Do you want to start baby off with fruits instead of veggies. it’s ok, go ahead and start with fruits! It’s a myth that introducing fruits before veggies will cause your little one to reject vegetables. Some pediatricians still say to introduce the vegetables first so that your baby does not develop a “sweet tooth” for fruits. For the breast fed baby, it’s too late, breast milk is a sweet food and therefore breastfed babies get to eat the sweetest food there is, straight from the beginning of life. You will find some pediatricians that say to definitely introduce fruits first as this approach will help baby enjoy her first foods and she will be less likely to reject the foods. And then there is the order of the color of the first vegetables recommendation – don;t think about it! Here’s the good news, there is no hard scientific evidence to prove that any of these myths are fact. In fact, humans have been hard-wired to reject bitter tasting foods (bitter = poisonous) over the sweet (non-poisonous, good for you) since the dawn of time. It was the only way they could keep from dying due to eating poisonous foods! Here are some great first fruit choices for babies, enjoy.
10 of the Best First Baby Puree Recipes
Just finished your 4- or 6-month well-baby checkup and got the seal of approval to start solids from your pediatrician? If you and your baby are ready for Stage 1 purees, you’re both in for an exciting adventure. There are some amazing baby puree recipes out there, with an endless variety of flavors!
When introducing solid foods to your baby, single-ingredient fruit and veggie purees are the best place to start. Also called Stage 1 baby foods, these purees are served in addition to breast milk or formula and play several important roles for your baby:
- Helping them adjust to something other than breast milk or formula
- Developing tongue control, gumming and swallowing capabilities
- Identifying any food sensitivities or allergies
- Encouraging an early acceptance of varied flavors, colors and textures
To help you and your baby get started on this important phase of discovery, here are 10 of the best first baby puree recipes—listed roughly in the order we’d recommend: first the sweeter orange veggies, then the more bitter green veggies and finally everyone’s favorite fruit. Bon appétit!
Our 10 Favorite Baby Puree Recipes
1. Carrot Puree
With a sweet taste and smooth consistency, pureed carrots are typically one of the most well-accepted first baby foods from 4–6 months of age. High in beta-carotene (which turns into vitamin A in the body), carrots help keep little eyes healthy.
Parent tip: If your baby doesn’t seem on board with the carrot puree, it may be the concept of solid food itself that’s confusing. Help your baby learn how to eat solids by giving them a chance to examine it themselves; dab some on the high chair and let them play around before offering it on a spoon.
2. Yam or Sweet Potato Puree
Sweet potatoes and yams are not the same, but when it comes to starting solids, they may as well be! Both are good sources of vitamin A, B6, C and E. These nutrients contribute to healthy eyesight and immune system function.
Parent tip: Yams and sweet potatoes are great to prepare in bulk. Simply set your oven to 450°F, pierce each sweet potato a few times with a fork and place in the oven on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil for approximately 50 minutes. When you take them out, the skin will peel right off, and the insides will be perfectly mashable! To extend the life of your mash or puree, batch some out and put it in the freezer. When you’re ready to use it, simply place in the fridge overnight, and you’ll have perfect puree by morning.
3. Acorn or Butternut Squash Puree
Butternut squash and acorn squash are packed with folate, calcium and vitamin A, an antioxidant that aids with vision and fights free radicals. Plus, their sweet taste and smooth texture make them an instant favorite for many babies!
Parent tip: You can make raw squash easier to cut by microwaving the entire squash on high for about 2 minutes. The skin and flesh will be much smoother, allowing you to smoothly slice through. Then scoop out the seeds and roast or boil before pureeing.
4. Green Pea Puree
In terms of green veggies, peas are one of the best first baby purees to start with, as they provide interesting texture and taste but aren’t bitter. Peas are also high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K and protein, making them a great source of many important nutrients for your baby’s early development.
Parent tip: Because they’re such a starchy vegetable, even pureed peas may be too densely textured for very young babies. If your baby is having trouble with the thickness of the puree, use breast milk, formula or water to thin it out.
5. Green Bean Puree
Another hit with babies, green beans are a good source of vitamin K, vitamin C and manganese, which play an important role in a healthy immune system, eyesight, blood clotting and bone development.
Parent tip: If you’re pureeing your own green beans, we recommend straining the puree after blending to extract any fibrous parts. The best first baby purees should be soupy enough to drip off a spoon, but thicker than liquid.
6. Avocado Puree
Avocados are rich in a variety of nutrients including fiber, vitamin K, folate and vitamin B6. This creamy green fruit is also packed with heart-healthy fats, which are helpful to your baby’s brain and nervous system development.
Parent tip: Look for ripe avocados that are soft to the touch and easy to mash. To see whether an avocado is ripe, check the nubby stem; if it wiggles, the fruit is probably ready to eat! Keep ripe avocados in the refrigerator so they last longer. Once the puree is made, we recommend feeding it to your baby right away to avoid browning and to offer the freshest experience.
7. Apple Puree
Apples’ sweet flavor makes them another well-accepted option for first baby foods from 4–6 months of age. Along with dietary fiber for digestive health, apples serve up vitamin C, which is known to help fight free radicals.
Parent tip: For an apple puree that your baby will love, try sweeter, smoother varieties such as Pink Lady, Gala or Golden Delicious. Any apple that bakes well, such as Granny Smith or Fuji, is also a good choice.
8. Pear Puree
Like apples, pears also contain dietary fiber and antioxidant vitamin C, helping to support a healthy immune system for your growing baby. Although our favorite is Anjou, babies love the sweet flavor of all kinds of pears!
Parent tip: To introduce a little variety without any added salt, sugar or seasoning, try mixing up how you cook the pears before pureeing. Start with a simple steam or boil and then move onto the richer, more caramelized flavor of baking or roasting.
9. Plantain or Banana Puree
The mild flavor of bananas and plantains is appealing to most babies, and the texture is easy to manipulate. Both of these fruits offer a variety of nutrients, including fiber for healthy digestion, potassium for blood function and antioxidant vitamin C.
Parent tip: Make your own easy banana puree by peeling, slicing and then mashing the fruit with a fork. For a thinner consistency, toss the banana in a food processor and add water, formula or breast milk as necessary.
10. Peach Puree
Boasting plenty of vitamins C and A, peaches are delightfully sweet and another one of the best first baby foods. Their bright yellow-orange color is complemented by powerful antioxidants along with a healthy serving of fiber to aid in your baby’s digestion.
Parent tip: Boil peaches for about 45 seconds to soften before blending. If the peaches are ripe enough, you can skip the boiling and the blender altogether and use a fork or potato masher instead.
10 Foods You Should Avoid for Your Baby
The idea of feeding your baby tasty foods would seem pleasing initially, but there might be exceptions; which is why you would want to keep a few food items on hold. Beginning with solids is one of the biggest steps in a baby’s first year of life. Since babies are curious by nature, they would have a tendency to put everything they can hold with their hands, in their mouth. As a parent, you could let the baby try new foods, but it is important that you do not feed some foods as they could cause medical issues at least in the first year of weaning them out. This is because babies have delicate digestive systems, and foods that don’t suit their system might lead to the development of food allergies. As a new parent, it’s necessary for you to know which foods are safe and unsafe for your child. Let’s take a look at some food items that you might think are safe for babies, but in reality, they are not. Read on to know more.
10 Foods You Should Avoid for Your Baby
As soon as your baby reaches the age of 6 months, it is time to introduce him/her to a variety of textures and flavours. Since this is an age of curiosity, both for the parents and the baby, do not feed the baby every fancy food you have access to. Here’s a list of the foods you should avoid feeding your baby:
1. Honey
Honey is sweet and natural! Yet there are chances of it harbouring the bacteria Clostridium botulinum, which produces a toxin called botulinum that can cause lethargy, weaken the suckering, weaken the muscles and cause constipation in babies. And the entire time, your baby will show signs of irritation and dizziness. The infection is rare but affects infants under the age of 1, which is why you must refrain feeding your little one honey until the first birthday bash.
2. Cow’s Milk
As widely known, breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your baby. With all the nutrients and enzymes, breast milk is an absolute healthy meal for your little one. Cow’s milk, however, has a higher lactose content that might affect your baby’s little tummy. Therefore, cow’s milk can be avoided until the baby turns a year old. After that, it is better to use cow’s milk as it is easy to digest and have nutrients that are important for your baby’s growth.
3. Peanut and Peanut Butter
Tasty, healthy, and full of protein! Peanut butter is every kid’s favourite, but it all depends on how early the parents want to introduce it. A good suggestion would be to go through an allergy test in case the family holds a nut allergy. Peanuts are a choking hazard. If you do want to feed peanuts to your baby, you may ground them into a smooth puree to make peanut butter and then feed it to him/her in small quantities. This needs to be followed stringently for all children under the age of four.
4. Sea Food and Shellfish
Seafood, especially shellfish like shrimps, lobsters, etc. can cause allergies in infants. You can feed seafood to your baby after they turn 1 or 2 years old to avoid a reaction. Some fishes like tuna, shark, and mackerel have high levels of mercury. These should be avoided completely no matter how old your baby is. When your baby has crossed the 2-year mark, and if you wish to feed him/her seafood, you may try beginning with white fish such as cod, and flounder. Always check for reactions and hygiene before giving it to your baby, and be careful about how frequently you feed your baby; once a week is ideal. Consulting a paediatrician is strongly suggested to prevent any allergies.
5. Chocolate
Chocolate is one of the most unsafe foods for babies, as it contains caffeine. You would never want to feed your infant caffeine, would you? Digesting solids is yet another milestone babies go through in their first year, and you need to make sure that the little ones are far from any tummy-trouble. Also, chocolate has a lot of sugar content, which is not suitable for your baby until he/she turns a year old, after which it should be fed in moderation.
6. Egg Whites
Egg Whites are full of vitamins, proteins, and minerals. They can be fed in moderation to your baby if he/she does not develop allergies. Gulping down egg whites at an early age can cause irritation, rashes and even trigger the digestive system and lead to diarrhoea. Having said that, egg whites can be started after 1 year of age, after checking for allergies.
7. Canned Fruit Juices
Fruit Juices contain a plethora of healthy elements and come in delicious flavours. However, canned fruit juices have preservatives which are not safe for your baby to consume. A good practice is to consult a paediatrician before introducing fresh fruits/ fresh fruit juices to infants and completely avoid canned juices.
8. Berries/Citrus Fruits
Although citrus fruits and berries are essential for our bodies, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, oranges, limes, etc. have high levels of acid and Vitamin C which can cause an iffy stomach and even lead to rashes in the diaper area. A good suggestion is to wait for a year or so, or maybe juice up the fruits and dilute them well to prevent allergic reactions or upset stomach.
9. Wheat
Wheat can be given after your baby completes 7 to 8 months and starts tolerating weaning foods well. You must, however, check for wheat allergy or gluten allergy (Celiac disease) in the family or check for signs of allergy in your baby after feeding him/her wheat after the age of 7 or 8 months.
10. Raw vegetables
There are two major reasons why you should not feed raw vegetables to your baby.
- They are a choking hazard.
- They contain high levels of nitrates.
Raw vegetables and strong-flavoured foods should be avoided for babies less than 1 year old. Light and seasonal vegetables can be given after 6 to 7 months of age, but only if your baby tolerates weaning foods well.