Ages for gerber baby food

When Can Babies Eat Gerber?

Baby Milestones: Starting Gerber

It probably seems like you welcomed your little one to the world just yesterday, and now he’s ready to start solids. Any new food besides formula or breast milk is considered a solid. Exploring new foods is an exciting time for mom and baby as you help him check out all the new tastes and textures. Gerber makes some ideal starter foods for your little one. Keep a few things in mind as your little guy expands his palate.

Signs Your Baby Is Ready to Eat Gerber

How Long Should I Feed My Baby Gerber Cereal for Babies?

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Like any milestone, the age that little ones are ready to eat Gerber varies. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting until your baby is 6 months old to start solids, but some pediatricians say it’s OK to start between 4 and 6 months. Check with your pediatrician to see what age he thinks is best.

Experts consider more than just age when introducing new foods, though. Keep an eye out for some signs your little one is ready to dig in to some new tastes. Your baby should be able to hold her head up well and turn it smoothly from side to side. She should also seem interested in food. Does she seem eager to take a bite or grab your fork if you’re eating near her? If so, she’s probably ready to try her own food.

If you start solids too early, it's possible your little one will just push the food right back out. This is because babies are born with something called a “tongue thrust reflex.” When something unusual is placed on your baby's tongue, she automatically sticks her tongue out rather than back. This protects your little one from choking, but it also makes it unlikely she'll push any food back into her throat before she's ready. This reflex starts to go away between 4 and 6 months.

Before 4 months, your little one's tongue and swallowing mechanisms also may not be ready to work together. This means that while she may not push it right back out, she may just move food randomly around in her mouth.

Good Starter Foods

No specific rules exist as to which food to introduce first, but many moms start with a single-grain cereal. These are good starter foods because most cereals are loaded with iron, which is good for your little one’s brain development, and they’re fairly easy for baby to digest.

Baby rice, barley or oatmeal are all popular cereals. Mix the cereal with breast milk or formula to a fairly thin consistency the first few times you offer some. As your little one gets used to the texture, you can thicken it by mixing in less liquid.

If you don’t offer cereal, introduce meat purees fairly early to ensure your baby is getting the necessary iron.

Choosing to start with a fruit or a vegetable is up to you. Starting with vegetables doesn’t guarantee your little guy will prefer them over sweeter fruits because babies have a natural preference for sweets. However, meats and vegetables have more nutrients than fruits or cereals.

It’s best to stick with pureed foods until your baby can sit up and bring his hands or other things to his mouth. At this point, you can offer small, soft finger foods such as small pieces of banana, thoroughly cooked pasta, scrambled eggs or chopped chicken.

Making Eating Fun

When Can Babies Eat Yogurt?

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Actually feeding your little one the solids is the fun, but messy part. Put her in a high chair and put a bib on her. Better yet, strip her down to her diaper as long as it’s not too cold. Have a camera nearby so you can capture these firsts.

Put a dab of food on your little one’s high chair tray so she can explore it while you work on feeding her. She might surprise you and stick her fingers in it and then try it herself.

Pick a time of day when neither you nor your little one is tired and you have plenty of time to enjoy the experience. You might try nursing her or giving her a bottle first, so she’s not starving in case she doesn’t take to solids right away.

Use a baby-sized spoon to give your little one a half-spoonful or less of food. Don’t be surprised or upset if she makes funny faces or spits the food back out. It may take a few tries for her to get a feel for the texture. Talk to her while you’re feeding her to encourage her. Try some songs or zoom the airplane in to make the experience fun for her. If she cries or turns away, don’t push it. Try again in a week or so.

Allergy Considerations

As you introduce new foods, wait a few days to offer each one. This allows you to watch for any allergic reaction such as diarrhea, rash or vomiting. If you notice any of these reactions, stop giving the new food and talk to your pediatrician.

Once you’ve determined one food is safe, you can still offer that one even when introducing a new food.

Even highly allergenic foods, such as peanut butter, eggs, milk and fish, can be introduced to your baby early on as long as he hasn’t been diagnosed with any other food allergies, no siblings have an allergy, and he doesn’t have moderate-to-severe eczema.

The only things your baby should not have before age 1 are honey, which can cause botulism, and whole milk, which can be too difficult for your little one to digest.

Guide to Baby Food Stages (Purees and BLW)

Learn everything you need to know about Baby Food Stages in this easy-to-read, comprehensive guide. It explains the different feeding stages, going over what every stage — Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3, Finger Foods, and Baby-Led Weaning — is all about.

Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN)

Baby Food Stages

Are you finding the baby food feeding stages confusing?

Well, you are not alone!

Stages 1, 2, 3, table foods, finger foods, baby-led weaning… ahhh… help! What does it all even mean? 🤯

Don’t worry; I’m here for you!

I broke down each stage into an easy-to-digest (pun intended) guide. 👊

What is in this guide:

Baby Food Ages
When Can Baby Start Solids?
Overview: Purees – Stages 1, 2 and 3
Overview: Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods
Stage 1 Purees
Stage 2 Purees
Stage 3 Purees
Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods

Baby Food Stages Video

Watch this video to see how the different baby food stages compare.

Baby Food Ages

Stage 1 Purees: 4-6+ months
Stage 2 Purees: 6+ months
Stage 3 Purees: 9+ months
Finger Foods: 10+ months
Baby-Led Weaning: 6+ months

WHEN CAN BABY START SOLIDS?

When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development. Generally, it occurs between 4-6 months of age for purees and 6+ months for baby-led weaning. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). But remember, before you start baby on solids, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.

Purees – Stages 1, 2, and 3

So, to start, Baby Food Purees are grouped into 3 different stages — Stage One, Stage Two, and Stage Three. Without a doubt, they all consist of baby food purees. But they actually range from single-ingredient smooth purees to chunky combination purees filled with soft-cooked foods. Here’s a quick reference:

Stage One

the first stage of feeding
single-ingredient thin purees
smooth and easy to swallow

Stage One Products We Love

high chair
suction bowl
spoons
bib with food catcher

Stage Two

slightly thicker
combination purees made up of several different ingredients like fruits and vegetables
may also include yogurt, grains, and proteins

Stage Three

combination purees with soft-cooked chunks of food
perfect for babies that need to practice chewing and swallowing foods

A NOTE TO FIRST-TIME BABY FOOD PREPPERS

First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food – which goes over all the important information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, how to know when baby is ready for solids, how to introduce purees, the best first foods for baby, and more! If you are doing Baby-Led Weaning, then be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning – which covers what exactly is baby-led weaning, to every parent’s concern of baby-led weaning and choking, this guide goes over it all. I will also share how to know when baby is ready for BLW, the top 10 best first foods, a helpful sample blw feeding schedule, helpful tools to have on hand, and much much more!

Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods

Basically, Baby-Led Weaning and Finger Foods are the same types of food; they’re just served to your baby at different times. Baby-Led Weaning is a newer approach to feeding your baby where you skip the puree stages altogether. Rather, you serve baby chunks of cooked food. Whereas Finger Foods, or sometimes referred to as Table Foods, are typically served to your baby after they master Stage 3 baby food purees.

In short, finger foods are served at 10+ months and baby-led weaning starts at 6+ months.

You can read more here: The Ultimate Guide to Finger Foods for Baby-Led Weaning.

Baby-Led Weaning Products We Love

high chair or clip-on chair
mat for under high chair
suction plate
self-feeding spoons
long-sleeved bib

Stage 1 Purees

Stage 1 baby food is the first type of puree you will be introducing to your baby. Made with a single ingredient and pureed until smooth, these simple purees are perfect for your budding eater. Besides, they are nutritious and full of flavor!

age: 4-6+ months
single-ingredient recipes
smooth texture
can be thinned out (similar to a thick soup but dripping off the spoon)
first bites can be fruits, veggies, or grain cereal

Here are a few tips:

first, offer your baby one puree at a time to watch for any allergic reactions
also, consider offering different colors of food and flavors to start developing their palette

Stage One Recipes

15 Stage One Baby Food Purees (4-6 months)
4 Homemade Baby Cereal Recipes (4+ months)
36 Healthy + Homemade Baby Food Recipes (4+ Months)

Stage 2 Purees

Meanwhile, Stage 2 purees will make your baby’s mealtime more exciting with multiple ingredients. This time, you can focus on exposing your baby to various fruits, veggies, grains, and proteins. Plus, you can also add spices and herbs to come up with appetizing and unique flavor combinations.

age: 6+ months
combination of multiple-ingredient purees
smooth texture
can have a thicker consistency than stage one purees
great way to expose your baby to a variety of flavors and food colors
may include plain yogurt, grains, and proteins

Stage Two Recipes

18 Stage 2 Baby Food Purees (That Baby Will Actually Eat)
15 Fast + Easy Baby Food Recipes (made in under 15 minutes!)
18 Breakfast Ideas for Baby (6+ months)

Stage 3 Purees

In contrast, Stage 3 is full of hearty meals with multiple-ingredient purees plus soft-cooked chunks of food. This stage is all about giving your baby time to learn how to chew and swallow small pieces of soft foods. Then the next step will be finger foods or table foods.

age: 9+ months
combination purees and soft-cooked chunks of food
also a great way to expose your baby to various food flavors and colors
features wholesome fruits, vegetables, grains, meats, yogurt, even spices
easy to make — simply pulse your own meal with a blender to turn it into a baby meal

Stage Three Recipes

18 Stage 3 Baby Food Recipes (Easy, Delicious + Homemade)

Baby-Led Weaning or Finger Foods

As mentioned, Baby-Led Weaning is actually a newer approach to feeding your baby where you skip the puree stages altogether. Instead, you serve small chunks or strips of cooked food right from the very start. Ultimately, you would be feeding your baby the exact food you are having at that meal.

However, finger foods can be served to your baby after Stage 3.

To sum up, finger foods and the food you serve to baby for Baby-Led Weaning are the same foods. But they are served at different times during your baby’s eating journey. Finger foods are served at 10+ months, while baby-led weaning starts at 6+ months.

If you want to learn more, check out my Ultimate Guide to Finger Foods for Baby-Led Weaning.

baby-led weaning age: 6+ months
finger food age: 10+ months
both include chunks of cooked foods
can be served in 2-3 inch strips or chopped to pea-sized pieces

Remember, avoid hard foods such as hot dogs, popcorn, dried fruit, nuts, etc., that can be choking hazards.

Baby-Led Weaning (Finger Food) Recipes

125 Baby Led Weaning Foods (Starter Foods + Recipe Ideas)
8 Baby-Led Weaning Meal Ideas for Baby + Toddler
6 Baby-Led Weaning Breakfast Ideas

What the baby looks like now from the Gerber baby food package

Miralanim

Author:

Miralanim

November 29, 2017 09:21

Tags: Gerber Appearance Age Children History Food People0003

Some faces are familiar to us from childhood (or just familiar) through their image on food packages, such as the boy with Kinder Chocolate or the baby with Gerber baby food. Looking at them for many years, we forget that they are real people and now they look completely different. However, if about two decades have passed since the photograph of the boy was placed on Kinder chocolate, then the child from the Gerber logo this year is already 91 years old!

nine0018 We were all children once and/or fed them baby food

A source:

Baby food can be anything from banana puree to meat. Most importantly, it should be nutritious and safe.

Chances are you've seen Gerber baby food before, and if so, you know the picture of this baby

A source:

This cute face has graced Gerber baby food jars since 1928. Artist Dorothy Hope Smith submitted this sketch to a Gerber competition when the firm was looking for a new face for their advertising campaign.

Dorothy Hope Smith said that if her drawing won, she would finish it, but Gerber liked the sketch so much that they decided to use it as they got their hands on it. nine0003

Although Gerber only looked for a baby face for one ad campaign, this sketch quickly became the face of their brand

A source:

For years, the identity of the baby from the Gerber baby food jar has remained a mystery, but that hasn't stopped some people from coming up with their own guesses.

Some thought it was little Elizabeth Taylor, others thought it was actress Jane Seymour. nine0003

The company still uses images of this child on the packaging of its products

A source:

But despite the fact that the child on the package has not changed much, the real woman who posed for the original sketch has grown up a long time ago.

She celebrated her 91st birthday last week!

nine0006 A source:

Her name is Ann Turner Cook and you should see what she looks like now. There she is! Adult Baby Gerber!

A source:

Ann Turner Cooke is a mystery story writer and retired English teacher.

When she was 5 months old, Dorothy's neighbor sketched her for a Gerber competition. The rest you already know. nine0003

Gerber revealed the identity of their famous baby in 1978

A source:

Then Anna was 52 years old and she was officially declared the face of Gerber.

Thus, the face of the company was not some celebrity, but the most ordinary woman.

Anna's father was also quite famous

nine0006 A source:

Her father was a famous comic book artist named Leslie Turner, who created a series of comics called "Captain Easy" that ran for over 50 years.

Many users can still notice the resemblance to her childhood sketch.

Whatever it was, she took her place in history and it's amazing.

nine0006 A source:

A source:

rating of the top 10 Russian and foreign brands with reviews according to the KP version

Goods for children are always under special quality control. Including food. After all, food for a baby is not only a way to satisfy hunger, but also acquaintance with different tastes and a guarantee of healthy development (1). Today there are many different brands. Among them, we selected the best manufacturers of baby food, based on the reviews of parents and expert opinions. nine0003

Rating of the top 5 Russian baby food manufacturers according to KP

There are many popular brands among Russian baby food manufacturers. Basically, various purees, juices, cereals and dairy products are presented on the market. There are also formulas for babies, but in smaller quantities. The popularity of food is due to high quality and rather low (in comparison with foreign analogues) price.

1. "Agusha"

"Agusha". Photo: yandex.market.ru

Agusha is one of the most popular baby food manufacturers in Russia. The trademark appeared in 1992 and has a wide range of products for children of all ages. Newborns are offered powdered milk formulas, babies from 4 months - a variety of purees, sour-milk products, water, older children - ready-made cereals (both dairy and non-dairy), juices, fruit drinks, compotes and fruit bars for a snack.

Thanks to the availability and variety of products, the manufacturer is confidently holding onto the Russian market. The safety and quality of Agushi is also confirmed by some neutral studies. For example, fruit cottage cheese, as well as kefir from this brand, received the highest rating from Roskachestvo (2, 3). nine0157

There are mixtures in the product line; wide range of.

High price for some items.

2. FrutoNyanya

FrutoNyanya. Photo: yandex.market.ru

FrutoNyanya baby food brand products are distinguished by a wide range and wide distribution in stores. Among the products of the brand you can find: a variety of cereals (with additives in the form, for example, pieces of fruit or without them), vegetable, fruit and meat purees, water, dairy products, juices, fruit drinks and nectars, snacks. For children prone to acute reactions to certain products, a special line of hypoallergenic food is offered. nine0003

Some of the brand's products have received high ratings from Russian quality, such as biocurd, buckwheat porridge (4, 5).

Nutrition from this brand is designed for both the first complementary foods and for babies after a year. The composition contains salt and sugar, which are not recommended for children under one year old.

Main characteristics

Manufacturer	Progress
Assortment	purees, drinks, soups, snacks, cereals, snacks, water
Recommended age	from 0 months
Founded	2000

Pros and cons

There are hypoallergenic products.

May contain allergenic ingredients (eg sugar).

3. "Grandmother's Lukoshko"

"Grandmother's Lukoshko". Photo: yandex.market.ru

The manufacturer has been present on the Russian market since 1999. The main product is a variety of purees, which are available in glass jars and soft packs. For example, apple puree from this brand received the highest rating from Roskachestvo in all analysis criteria and was awarded the Quality Mark (6). nine0003

For older children, prepared meals, meatballs, healthy snacks such as fruit lozenges and biscuits are available. Also, "Babushkino Lukoshko" produces children's herbal teas. Salt in some products is not always welcomed by parents.

The main characteristics

Manufacturer	"Sivma"
Assortment	puree, finished dinner, drinks, fruit pastilles	Recommended Released Recommended Released Released Released0162	from 4 months
Founded	1999

Pros and cons

Relatively low price in the segment; varied products.

There may be undesirable auxiliary components in the formulation (eg salt).

4. "Subject"

"Subject". Photo: yandex.market.ru

"Theme" offers products for children from 4 months to 3 years. The assortment includes a variety of meat, fish and vegetable purees, dairy products, ready meals and juices. But fruit purees are not presented. Packaging 一 is one of the distinguishing features of the brand. Thanks to special tin cans, the products are reliably protected from sunlight, which prolongs the shelf life. Also, many products of the brand are available in non-spill packages, so it is convenient to take them with you on the road. According to the results of the research, cottage cheese and juice "Theme" received the highest rating from Roskachestvo (7, 8). nine0148 5. Diaper Diaper. Photo: market.yandex.ru

All ingredients for production come from our own farm. The manufacturer claims that thanks to this, it is possible to set fairly low prices for products.

Potential buyers are offered fruit and vegetable purees (some with cottage cheese), soups, various juices and fruit drinks, as well as water. Some of the products are hypoallergenic. The composition does not contain unnecessary components: salt, sugar and preservatives. Meat and fish products are not represented in the product line. nine0003

Rating of the top 5 foreign manufacturers of baby food according to KP

There are many foreign companies that produce baby food on the Russian market. A century of history, many years of experience and a good reputation helps to supply the market with quality products, which are preferred by many parents.

1. Gerber

Gerber. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The assortment of the American manufacturer includes products for children from 4 months. In supermarkets and online sites, you can find vegetable and fruit purees, cereals, healthy snacks, juices, and desserts (cottage cheese treats, smoothies, and others). Hypoallergenic food is also provided. For example, dairy-free buckwheat porridge of this brand is highly appreciated by Roskachestvo experts, who noted the safe composition of the product without dangerous and harmful substances, including no added sugars ( Founded 1927

Pros and cons

Hypoallergenic products; natural composition; high quality.

High price in the baby food segment.

2. HiPP

HiPP. Photo: yandex.market.ru

German manufacturer's products are suitable for children from birth. Infants are offered hypoallergenic powdered milk formulas enriched with vitamins. For feeding - various purees, cream soups, cereals, and as a snack for older children - snacks and dairy desserts. nine0165 Country of origin Germany Year founded 1957

Pros and cons

Natural composition; There are baby formulas in the assortment.

High price of products.

3. Fleur Alpine

Fleur Alpine. Photo: yandex.market.ru

Natural baby food of premium quality. The range includes purees, cereals, cookies and juices - both regular and for children prone to allergies or intolerant to gluten. In addition to the usual products, the manufacturer offers olive oil (from 6 months) and sauces (from 3 years). nine0003

From time to time, the products of this brand come under the attention of experts from Roskachestvo and Roskontrol. For example, Three cereals porridge showed excellent results: a good composition with dietary fiber and no foreign impurities, the appropriate taste, color and smell (10), and buckwheat porridge meets the advanced standards of Roskachestvo, except for the increased protein content (11).

Not all products on the official website can be purchased in a regular store. However, they can be purchased on marketplaces. nine0003

High price; Not all brand products are easy to find on offline sites.

4. Semper

Semper. Photo: yandex.market.ru

The Swedish company offers a wide range of products for children of all ages. Dry milk formulas are suitable for newborns, and there are even specialized ones that are best used for constipation. Some of them are designed for babies older than six months. For crumbs older than 4 months, the manufacturer offers a variety of vegetable, meat, fish and fruit purees, cereals, juices and children's tea with vitamins. In addition to the usual products for children, there are wellings — oatmeal and multi-cereal porridges with natural additives, cookies, and meatballs. nine0165 Country of origin Sweden Founded 1963

Pros and cons

There are mixes in the product line interesting combinations of flavors.

High price in the segment; the presence of starch in the puree; the product according to BJU may differ from that stated on the package.

5. Heinz

Heinz. Photo: yandex.market.ru

American food company presents a wide range of products at affordable prices. There are fruit, vegetable and meat purees, cereals (dairy and non-dairy), soups and drinks. As a healthy snack for babies from 5 months, special cookies are suitable, and fruit and cream puddings will be a great dessert for older children. You can also find a special vermicelli that will suit crumbs from 6 months. The manufacturer's porridges received the highest rating from Roskachestvo (13). However, some products contain sugar and starch, which many parents of babies do not approve of. nine0003

Some products contain sugar and starch.

How to choose the right baby food

A child's menu may differ from another baby's diet, not only due to age, but also due to health conditions (for example, a tendency to constipation or a dairy allergy) and personal preferences. However, the first thing to consider is age. It’s also important to keep in mind that babies under one year of age should be free of salt and sugar additives (14). Certain positions deserve some explanation. nine0003

Milk formulas

Designed for feeding babies. In fact, they are designed to become an alternative to mother's milk. For the full development of the crumbs, it is necessary that vitamins and trace elements are present in the composition.

Canned puree

Introduced from 4 months. There are fruit, vegetable, meat and fish options. Combinations are also possible. For the first feeding, it is recommended to choose one-component purees from vegetables or fruits.

Porridges

Porridges, as well as mashed potatoes, are recommended to be offered to a baby from 4 months. Thanks to the special processing of cereals, baby porridge is easily boiled, which significantly saves cooking time. nine0003

Nectars, juices

You can give your baby juice or nectar from the age of 4 months. As long as it doesn't contain sugar. If available, it is better to wait at least up to 1 year.

Reviews of doctors about manufacturers of baby food

一 Baby food is becoming an object of special attention on the part of the state and parents, 一 says pediatrician Ekaterina Mikhaltsova . - The main advantages of industrial products and dishes are ease of use, balanced composition and minimal cooking time. However, you must strictly follow the age recommendations and cooking rules indicated on the labels. nine0003

- Dairy products and baby food in particular are complex products where quality control is essential at all stages. Therefore, it is better to trust large manufacturers, - explains sanitary doctor Nikolai Dubinin . - It is important to pay attention to the composition and, before offering the child, taste the food yourself. In general, doctors agree that commercially produced baby food is no worse than home-cooked. And some are even better, due to supplements in the form of vitamins and trace elements. nine0003