Can you mix baby food with rice cereal
Can I Mix Baby Food with Cereal? We Have the Answer.
New parents often wonder: Can I mix baby food with cereal? The answer is simple—and a game changer for infants!
If you’ve ever walked down the baby aisle at the grocery store, you’ve probably noticed those containers of cereal—they tend to stick out from the seemingly endless rows of baby food jars. New parents can sometimes feel a bit intimidated by the thought of adding yet another texture and taste to their baby’s palate. And it’s easy to wonder: Can I mix baby food with cereal? We answer this common question once and for all.
Here are the foods you should (and shouldn’t!) start your baby on.
Can I mix baby food with cereal?
It can be a little intimidating, but yes. It’s totally safe, healthy and appropriate for parents to mix baby food with cereal. At around 4 to 6 months old, babies are typically ready to try solid foods. Cereal is a popular first choice, and a great first step for introducing babies to solid food.
Since cereal is already rich in iron, combining it with baby food—like fruit and vegetable medleys—provide infants with plenty of nutrients. And, mixing baby food with cereal gives babies a chance to try different textures and tastes.
Can I mix baby food with oatmeal cereal?
Yes, parents can—and should—mix baby food with oatmeal cereal. This sweet combination can help mask the taste of a baby food flavor that your little one would normally oppose, while also providing valuable nutrients. Prepare the mixture by combining 1 teaspoon of cereal with 4 or 5 teaspoons of breast milk, formula or water. Then, stir in 1 teaspoon of a pureed fruit or vegetable, or jarred baby food. Mix well, making sure to remove any strings or seeds to reduce the risk of choking.
These are the best iron-rich foods for babies.
Can I mix baby food with rice cereal?
Even though baby food can be successfully mixed with rice cereal, experts agree that exclusively feeding an infant rice cereal is not beneficial for his health or dietary needs.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infant rice cereal poses a risk for arsenic exposure—so it’s best to offer a variety of infant cereals instead, like oat, barley and multi-grain.
When do I stop mixing baby food with cereal?
It’s OK to stop mixing baby food with cereal once an infant begins refusing (or showing a severe lack of interest in eating) strained foods, pureed foods or jarred baby foods. This typically comes anywhere from 9 to 15 months, when a baby starts eating chopped, diced or mashed table foods—thanks to her further developed digestive symptom and newly sprouted teeth.
So, as your child approaches her first birthday, it’s usually common to stop mixing baby food with cereal (since Baby probably won’t eat it anyway!).
Pretty soon you’ll be making these tasty meals for toddlers.
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With a toddler in the house, I look for foods that are a snap to make.
Loaded with beef, cheese and a flavorful rice mix, these enchiladas come together without a fuss. But they’re so good that guests think I spent hours in the kitchen. —Jennifer Smith, Colona, Illinois
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This creamy mac and cheese definitely doesn't come from a box! Fresh veggies add crunch and color and will leave everyone asking for seconds. —Marsha Morril, Harrisburg, Oregon
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I love sneaking extra veggies into my kids’ dinners, especially with this skillet spinach pie recipe. With a flaky crust and extra cheese, the kids never know they’re eating a vitamin-rich dish and I’m not hovering over an oven for hours. Put the spinach and phyllo sheets in the refrigerator the night before or early in the morning for thawing. —Kristyne McDougle, Lorain, Ohio
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These gooey grilled cheese sandwiches taste great for lunch with sliced apples.
And they're really fast to whip up, too. Here's how to make grilled cheese the right way. —Kathy Norris, Streator, Illinois
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My kids and I love mac and cheese. We always get it in the bread bowls when we're at a restaurant, but with three cheeses, these white cheddar shells are filling on their own. —Steven Schend, Grand Rapids, Michigan
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This scalloped potatoes and ham dish is a crowd-pleaser with its creamy sauce, chunks of ham and potato slices. I always enjoyed it when Mother made it. I added the parsley and the thyme, and now my husband and five children request it. —Wendy Rhoades, Yacolt, Washington
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Garlic powder gives these speedy mini pizzas extra pizzazz. Not only are they a snap to put together, but best of all, the ingredient list is easy on your pocketbook. My husband loves them. And my toddler will soon enjoy them as an after-school treat.
-Stephanie Klos-Kohr, Moline, Illinois
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Mom fixed this Swedish meatball recipe for all sorts of family dinners, potluck suppers and PTA meetings. The scent of browning meat is intoxicating. Add to that the sweet smell of onions caramelizing, and everyone’s mouth starts watering. —Marybeth Mank, Mesquite, Texas
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Cauliflower gratin is a lower-carb side dish that pairs well with pork, ham or beef. It's so creamy and delicious that even the kids will ask for seconds! If you like a little crunch, sprinkle buttered bread crumbs over the top for the last five minutes in the oven. — Mary Zinchiak, Boardman, Ohio
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Since I found this quick-to-fix recipe a few years ago, it's become a regular part of my menu plans. Everyone loves the combination of sloppy joe ingredients, shell pasta and cheddar cheese. —Lynne Leih, Idyllwild, California
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I love pumpkin and my kids love pasta, so this pumpkin Alfredo recipe is a match made in heaven for us.
Plus, it's an extra way to get some veggies into their diet. Use dairy-free or gluten-free ingredients if needed. —Courtney Stultz, Weir, Kansas
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My husband loves my mini meat loaves, but this family-favorite recipe wasn’t very healthy when I first received it. The Taste of Home Test Kitchen experts slashed the calories and fat while keeping the original’s tender and delicious qualities. —Jodie Mitchell, Denver, Pennsylvania
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My muffins are a frequent request from everyone in the family. I usually make them on Sunday nights, so when we're running late on weekday mornings, the kids can grab these to eat on the bus. —Irene Wayman, Grantsville, Utah
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On busy days, it's a comfort to know that my family can sit down to dinner minutes after we walk in the door. Double it to wow at a potluck. This recipe works in a slow cooker, too.
—Virginia Krites, Cridersville, Ohio
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I adapted a ziti recipe to remove ingredients my kids did not like, such as ground beef, garlic and onions. The revised recipe was a success not only with my family but at potlucks, too. It's so versatile: You can use jarred sauce, double or triple the recipe, and even freeze it. —Kimberley Pitman, Smyrna, Delaware Field Editor
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Kids and dads alike will dive right into this hearty, comforting dish. With a crispy cheese topping on a warm corn bread crust, this chili dog casserole recipe is a keeper. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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I'm one of 13 children, so making a recipe that everyone likes can be a challenge. This chocolate peanut butter pancakes recipe was a Saturday-morning special that we all loved. —Keenan McDermott, Springfield, Missouri
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Everyone at my table goes for this feel-good soup.
It is quick when you’re pressed for time and beats fast food, hands down. —Darlis Wilfer, West Bend, Wisconsin
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I adjusted three different recipes to come up with this one. Kids like the tangy taste and request the sandwiches for birthday parties.—Anna Adams, Chatsworth, California
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You can prepare this snackable pizza in just 10 minutes! It's a fun way to sneak in those daily servings of fruit. —Dalynn Dowling, Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota
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One of my mom's favorite chicken recipes used fresh sage. Her version was smothered with gravy, but we like these panko-crusted tenders as they are. —Deb Perry, Traverse City, Michigan
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Take the classic peanut butter and jelly sandwich on the go with these skewers. They also make easy snacks. —Sara Martin, Brookfield, Wisconsin
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This is a fabulous slow-cooker ranch chicken recipe that we have passed around to all our friends, especially those who have young children.
It's wonderful for a cold winter night or a hot summer day when you don't want to turn on the oven. Serve it as a weeknight family dinner or for a large group. —Sonya Stark, West Jordan, Utah
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Kids love anything on a stick. Bite-sized French toast skewers make a fun breakfast for them to munch before heading out the door. —Mavis Diment, Marcus, Iowa
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Young relatives were coming for a Christmas party, so I wanted something fun for them to eat. Instead, the adults devoured my mini mac and cheese. —Kate Mainiero, Elizaville, New York
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Not only do my grandchildren love these cheese-filled hot dogs, they enjoy helping put the meal together, too. It's the perfect solution when you need a last-minute lunch. —Lyletta Searle, Morgan, Utah
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Sunday breakfasts have always been special in our house.
It's fun to get in the kitchen and cook with the kids. No matter how many new recipes we try, they always rate this corned beef hash recipe No. 1! —Rick Skildum, Maple Grove, Minnesota
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When you have these fun-to-make mini pizzas, it's no challenge finding lunch fare that the kids enjoy. Plus they pack nicely in sandwich bags and travel well, so there's no mess. —Rhonda Cliett, Belton, Texas
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This chicken bacon ranch casserole is a dinner that both of my wonderful (but picky!) children will eat. I can easily make it ahead and then bake it right before serving. Sometimes I add 2 cups of cooked veggies, like peas or chopped broccoli, for a complete meal. —Rebekah Schultz, Mantua, New Jersey
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We serve these quesadillas as chili dippers or load them up with salsa and sour cream for a super starter. —Terri Keeney, Greeley, Colorado
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I made up this cowboy stew in the early 1970s when I was down to very little food in the house.
Because it's a combination of barbecue sauce, hamburger, hot dogs and beans, this one-skillet meal makes both children and adults happy. —Val Rananawski, Millville, New Jersey
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A few simple touches and a blast of heat enhance the natural sweetness of fresh veggies. —Donna Lamano, Olathe, Kansas
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Prepared sauce accents this warm chicken pesto pasta. Keep pesto in the freezer for the next time you have leftover chicken. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
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The whole family will love the fun, cheesy flavor of this ravioli casserole. It's like lasagna—without all the fuss! Timesaving ingredients such as prepared spaghetti sauce and frozen ravioli make it a cinch to fix. Children can help you assemble this one. —Mary Ann Rothert, Austin, Texas
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My children really look forward to dinner when they know I'm serving this—and it's easy to make.
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I wanted a healthier approach to fish sticks and developed a baked tilapia with a slightly peppery bite. My husband and sons love the crispy coating. —Candy Summerhill, Alexander, Arkansas
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I came across this easy and tasty snack while searching online for healthy munchies for kids. Great for after school, it's really quick to make and filling enough to hold the kids until dinner. To satisfy heftier appetites or to serve as a power lunch, cut each tortilla into fewer pieces or provide one per child. The recipe is easy to increase as needed. —Mary Haluch, Ludlow, Massachusetts
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Unless you plan to make two, don't count on leftovers. As an appetizer or side, this cheesy flatbread will be devoured in less time than it takes to bake. And that's not long! —Suzanne Zick, Maiden, North Carolina
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The best way to get kids interested in cooking and eating right is to let them help.
These apple and peanut butter "sandwiches" are one fun way to pique their interest and kitchen creativity. —Shirley Warren, Thiensville, Wisconsin
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My kids love sausages and pancakes but making them during the week was out of the question. I bought the frozen variety on a stick but wasn't keen on the calories, additives or price. This version of pigs-in-a-blanket is a tasty, thrifty alternative. —Lisa Dodd, Greenville, South Carolina
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This zesty chicken taco soup is loaded with corn and black beans in a mildly spicy red broth. As a busy mom of three young children, I'm always looking for dinner recipes that can be prepared in the morning. The kids love the taste of this easy soup. —Marlene Kane, Lainesburg, Michigan
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Want a family-friendly side dish? This colorful medley is kid-pleasing and a great way to encourage healthy eating.
—Sharon Ricci, Spooner, Wisconsin
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Whether I'm cooking for company or my own brood of five children, this delicious casserole is always well-received. —Eileen Nilsson, Plymouth, Massachusetts
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When our children were small and I was super busy, I would make this quick hot dog casserole. Kids love it.—JoAnn Gunio, Franklin, North Carolina
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How to Mix Cereal with Fruits or Vegetables for Infants | Healthy Eating
By Becky Bell, MS, RD Updated November 19, 2018
The transition from breast milk or formula to solid food is a huge milestone for an infant. Most infants enjoy exploring new flavors and textures as new foods are offered. Cereal, fruits and vegetables are among the recommended foods to offer your little one first. Mixing these foods can give your infant an opportunity to experience a variety of flavors as well as obtain a wide range of nutrients.
Signs of Readiness
Before you introduce any solid foods, make sure that your infant is ready for solids. The American Academy of Pediatrics, or AAP, gives several guidelines to determine whether your baby is ready for the transition. If your baby is ready for solids, he should be able to hold his head up, open his mouth when food comes near, and move food from a spoon to the back of his throat. In addition, most babies will have doubled their birth weight by the time they are ready for solids. This usually happens around four months, although the AAP recommends breast-feeding exclusively for the first six months.
Check for Allergies
Always give an individual food by itself before mixing it with another food. After introducing a new food, wait several days before introducing another to check for allergies. If your little one shows no signs of allergic reaction, then you can introduce another food or mix foods together.
Mixing Foods
To mix foods, start by preparing cereal as usual with breast milk, formula or water. Stir in a small amount of pureed fruit or vegetables or jarred baby food to the cereal. Add additional breast milk or formula to create the desired consistency for your infant.
Creative Combinations
Once your child has tried a wide variety of individual foods, the possible combinations are endless. You can choose multiple fruits or multiple vegetables to mix with the cereal, or you can mix a fruit and a vegetable into the cereal. Combine foods that are different colors to get a wide variety of vitamins and minerals in a single meal. For example, mix pears and green beans with rice cereal, or combine green beans, carrots and apples with oatmeal.
After your baby has been eating solids for a month or two, try experimenting with flavor and texture a little bit more. Add a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg to pureed sweet potatoes with rice cereal, or try blending avocado and banana with oatmeal.
- HealthyChildren.org: Switching to Solid Foods
- KidsHealth: Feeding Your 4- to 7-Month-Old
- WholesomeBabyFood.com: Creative Baby Food Combinations and Meal Ideas
Becky Bell is a registered dietitian with experience in the areas of diabetes, chronic kidney disease and general nutrition. Bell holds a Bachelor of Science in dietetics from Olivet Nazarene University and a Master of Science in human nutrition from the University of Alabama.
Porridge with milk formula: is it possible to cook porridge with infant formula?
09/23/2019 Reading time: 3 min 115486
nine0011 Article content- Benefits of using formula
- What kind of porridges can be cooked on the mixture
- How is porridge cooked with a mixture?
- Myths about infant formula
When a baby appears in the family, parents want to give him only the best: love, care, attention and, of course, proper healthy nutrition.
At first, the mother's milk is enough for the child, but when he grows up a little, an important period of introducing complementary foods begins. The kid begins to try new foods, one of which is cereal. At this time, parents immediately have a number of questions: how to feed a child so that his diet is balanced, does not put an extra burden on the gastrointestinal tract and does not cause allergies? And is it possible to dilute porridge with a mixture familiar to crumbs? nine0010
Benefits of using formula milk
This is important!
It is possible and even necessary to breed porridge with a mixture that a child who is on artificial and mixed feeding receives. It is only important to remember that only dairy-free porridges can be diluted with a mixture, since commercially produced milk porridges already contain a milk base.
Weaning begins, as a rule, with dairy-free cereals. nine0010
This is important!
Ready-made instant cereals of industrial production have an absolute advantage.
Groats for them are specially selected and tested for contamination with antibiotics, pesticides, which is not guaranteed by ordinary cereals from the store. Additionally, ready-made cereals are enriched with vitamins and minerals. If for some reason you still decide to cook porridge yourself from ordinary "adult" cereals, you should cook it with water, because the most common allergy at this age is to cow's milk protein. Therefore, pediatricians do not recommend whole cow's milk for children under one year old. nine0010
Breastfed babies can add mother's milk to dairy-free porridge.
And for a baby on artificial and mixed feeding, you can add infant formula to porridge cooked on water. Porridge with infant formula will be not only tasty for the baby, but also a healthy treat, because there are more nutrients in it due to the mixture, compared to dairy-free porridge.
Adding breast milk or infant formula that is familiar to the baby to the porridge will make the taste of the dish more familiar, which means it will reduce the likelihood of the baby refusing to eat.
nine0010
What kind of cereals can be cooked on the mixture
On the mixture, you can cook cereals such as:
- rice
- buckwheat
- corn
- wheat
- oatmeal
It is recommended to start with rice, buckwheat, corn porridge. If the baby responds positively to complementary foods, you can introduce oatmeal and wheat porridge into the diet. But semolina porridge, beloved by grandmothers, even cooked with a mixture, is not recommended to be given until the child is one year old, because, unfortunately, it has a low nutritional value. And even after a year, include it in the child's diet no more than 1-2 times a week. nine0010
How is porridge cooked on a mixture?
Porridge on the milk mixture is prepared very simply. To do this, you need to know the main thing: the milk mixture cannot be boiled or heated strongly. When boiling, the components contained in it will change their structure, which will adversely affect the beneficial properties and taste.
Prepare the porridge mixture in the usual way indicated on the package, as for feeding a baby. nine0010
This is important!
Most often, on the packaging with infant formula, manufacturers indicate the temperature of the water, above which it is not recommended to heat this product. Usually it is 35-40 degrees Celsius.
How to cook ready-made instant porridge on the mixture:
- Wash your hands before preparing baby food!
- Use clean dishes.
- Pour 140-160 ml of ready mix at 40-45 degrees Celsius
- Gradually pour, stirring continuously, 25g of dry product (approximately 3-4 tablespoons).
- Stir until completely dissolved and cool to a comfortable temperature for feeding a baby (36-38°C). The porridge is ready to eat.
For self-preparation, you will need cereals, water, infant formula.
- Water is brought to a boil, then cereals are added to it and simmered until fully cooked.
Usually this time is 15-20 minutes. Proportions: Approximately two parts of water to one part of cereal. You can cook the porridge thicker, because then the mixture will be added to it. nine0015 - When the porridge is cooked and cooled a little, the mixture is added and the porridge is brought to the desired consistency.
You can add a little butter (3-5 g) to ready-made instant or self-cooked porridge.
This is important!
And yet, pediatricians recommend using ready-made cereals of industrial production for feeding a child. Their most important advantage is their additional enrichment with vitamins and minerals, which are so necessary for a growing organism. nine0010
And, of course, convenience!
Porridge on infant formula is a very necessary and healthy dish in the baby's diet. It contains the whole complex of minerals, vitamins and trace elements, so necessary for the full growth and development of the child.
Porridge cooked with a balanced milk formula will please the baby and, perhaps, even become his favorite treat.
Myths about infant formula
(18 ratings; article rating 3.9)
Sixth week of complementary foods - Rice porridge
Levchuk Victoria ©The sixth week of complementary foods began with the last days of introducing pumpkin into complementary foods, and rice porridge was introduced from November 1, 2018, Thursday.
Rice was grinded in advance at her mill, skipped it about 3 times. I cooked thin porridge and gave one spoonful in the morning before buckwheat porridge. Today is the seventh day of taking rice porridge, so I can say that rice has been introduced into complementary foods without allergies, and we also like it more than buckwheat. nine0010
I was expecting a chair to be fixed, but no, we continue to go to the toilet with a sour cream chair.
Because we keep a balance, we continue to eat vegetable puree with vegetable oil for lunch. It is noticed that at the sixth week the child began to eat more than 60 grams, about 80 grams. I measure with a jar of baby food.
Pumpkin goes with pleasure, mixes of vegetables also go with a bang. Pumpkin began to interfere with other products, as well as zucchini, broccoli and cauliflower I interfere in different proportions and options. I give two vegetables, then three. Mixes went well, but I do not forget about one-component purees. More often I give one-component, and mixes 2-3 per week. Since a small amount of food is introduced into the child's diet, this is enough. nine0010
We are gradually accustoming to multi-component purees, but until we mix no more than three products, we do not count vegetable oil. In principle, there was no difference in the reception of single-component and multi-component ones. Our chair hasn't changed at all. Only periodically poops not every day, but once every two days, but then there’s a lot, forgive me for being frank.
I add vegetable oil to the pumpkin, but not three drops, just one, I don't want to spoil the sweet taste.
Contents:
As soon as rice porridge is introduced into the child's diet, you can mix rice and buckwheat flour and boil the porridge, perhaps the baby will like the new taste and he will be delighted. Without trying, you will not know what your baby likes. You can also try to make morning porridge two or three components, for example, by adding pumpkin puree to the finished porridge.
Over time, the child will develop a love for certain foods that will be most often found in baby food. A child's eating habits will constantly change. Therefore, if now the baby does not eat or eats poorly, for example, like us, buckwheat porridge, this does not mean that he will not love her in a year or two. Therefore, we unobtrusively offer the product, if the child refuses, we do not insist. A child needs to be offered a new product up to 15-20 times before he falls in love with it.
Sometimes the child refuses. Even a 7-month-old baby can refuse and sob over a spoonful of complementary foods. nine0010
We remove the product for a while, perhaps he will eat it later. At first, they take a break for 2 weeks, if they refuse again, for 4 weeks, then for 8 weeks, etc. The maximum period of our break is 1 year, exactly so much we did not eat porridge, and now our favorite dish. The elder is now in the stage of giving up buckwheat porridge, when he will love it again, I don’t know, at the moment we are overeating oatmeal.
Sample menu for a 7-month-old baby
Compiled a menu for a week. She wrote in articles about pumpkin, zucchini and other products that one should not give a lot of one product per week. 6 products have already been introduced, from which you can make a good varied menu. nine0010
I remind you that after the complete introduction of one product into the diet, it can be given several times a week at 100-120 grams, see the complementary foods table for more details, namely, how many grams at what age.
For more information on how much to give once a week, also see the article about the product. For example, pumpkin and carrots can be given 1-2 times a week in large portions, or 30 grams every day. For example, when carrot puree fades into the background, and we start cooking soups, then 30 grams of carrots can be given to the baby every day in soup, borscht, with meat, etc. I hope it's clear. nine0010
If you like it, I will make a menu for the week all the time. To be honest, it's more convenient for me. And then recently with our weather, I didn’t go to the market, as a result I fed from a jar. Of course, my conscience kicked me a little, but then I calmed myself, after the words of my husband: “You know, it blows me away!” It turned out that we did not have flying weather, not only for planes, but also for mothers with strollers, too. We stayed at home for two days, walked for an hour, jogging around the house. So in an instant I found myself without fresh vegetables. Therefore, a couple of jars from the "bins" were used, and of course, frozen homemade food.
And a little more about him. nine0010
Frozen homemade baby food
When you start introducing complementary foods, there is often a lot of cooked homemade food left, because only a couple of spoons are used at first. Leftovers are always frozen. I have an ice mold, as well as cling film, small freezer bags and a refrigerator with a blast freezer system. The remains of baby food are laid out in an ice mold, which I cover with cling film. We put everything in the refrigerator for shock freezing. As it is frozen, we lay it out in packages with ZIP fasteners. Be sure to sign, as it will turn out like in my photo. nine0010
Guess what I thawed? That's right, milk. I store homemade fat milk for coffee in the refrigerator. Here I thawed it along with broccoli cubes. I stood over the jar for a couple of minutes until it dawned on me what it was. It's good that a jar of vegetable puree was in stock, I had to open it. So there are force majeure circumstances because I forgot to sign the package with frozen baby food cubes and everything is in the same freezer.
Therefore, we put the name of the cube and the date of freezing. Shelf life of three months for almost all complementary foods in the form of baby purees. Read more in the articles about the product. nine0010
Now I have frozen a lot of zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, etc. and the zucchini is fresh, as I have it from my grandmother's garden. Almost all bags of mashed potatoes should be thrown away in mid-December. I still have time to spare. So I take out a couple of cubes, leave them in a plate in the refrigerator for a couple of hours, warm the child in hot water before serving, it is very convenient to leave everything in a small glass, I have one with a lid, or a jar of baby food. Be sure to close it, since we have everything that is not stored in the refrigerator, and cubes of frozen baby food absorb sharp and pungent odors well, especially if they stand all night. nine0010
Complementary feeding chart
It is also important to note that the food introduction schedule should be displayed in a visible place.
