Gerber baby food ages

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

The 3 baby food stages: What foods and when

Making the leap from breast milk or formula to solids and then eventually to table food is an exciting time. But it’s also a little confusing because there isn’t a one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to baby food stages. While one child may happily take to pureed carrots at 6 months, another may purse their lips at anything but a breast or bottle until 8 months.

To simplify the whole process, here’s a general rule of thumb to keep in mind: Most foods are OK to give to babies in the first year, as long as they’re properly prepared. And if you’re concerned about food storage, read more from our experts on how long baby food lasts.

Here’s the quick lowdown on what to feed baby and when:

Stage 1: Purees (4 to 6 months).
Stage 2: Thicker consistency (6 to 9 months).
Stage 3: Soft, chewable chunks (10 to 12 months).

“With the exception of raw or cooked honey, which shouldn’t be consumed until 12 months because of the risk of infantile botulism, babies can have any food that is texturally appropriate for their developmental feeding stage,” says Dr. Kristen Treegoob, a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

In other words, it’s perfectly fine to give both a 6- and 12-month-old peas, but for the 6-month-old, they need to be pureed.

In the past, parents have been advised to start their baby with single-grain cereals, such as rice cereal, but the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now says there’s “no medical evidence that introducing solid foods in any particular order has an advantage for your baby” — nutritionally or when it comes to long-term food preferences. (So, when your Aunt Joanne tells you that your baby will be a vegetable-hater for life if you start off with applesauce, she’s wrong. )

All of this said, there is a method to the messy madness that is the three stages of baby food. In order to make things less complicated — and more delicious — we tapped top experts and veteran parents to find out everything you need to know about feeding little ones at every stage (plus, we included a handy baby food stages chart). All you have to do now is serve the food and clean the high chair!

Stage 1 (4 to 6 months): What you need to know

The fun begins! Stage 1 baby food is typically for babies who are between the ages of 4 months and 6 months. But as with all things parenting-related, it’s important to keep in mind that each baby is different, and there’s no hard and fast rule for starting solids.

“While the AAP recommends exclusively breastfeeding from birth to age 6 months, it’s important to remember that not every baby is exclusively breastfed,” says Dr. Zulma Laracuente, a pediatrician in Alexandria, Louisiana. “Also, some babies show signs of readiness to start food earlier than others. You know your baby best.”

Solids that fall under the Stage 1 category are thin and smooth in texture — not much thicker than breast milk or formula — and contain a single ingredient. If you’re making your baby’s food at home, make sure it’s blended to an almost-watery puree.

“Stage 1 baby foods should have no chunks whatsoever,” says Jenifer Thompson, registered dietician and advanced practice dietician at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. “Formula or breast milk can be added to the purees to make them thinner.”

While there’s no specific food parents need to start with, many pediatricians recommend beginning with iron-rich foods, such as iron-fortified cereals or pureed meats.

“The reason we advise introducing solids at 6 months and starting with iron-containing foods is because iron stores that were built up during pregnancy are depleting, and iron is important for infants’ brain development,” says Dr. Melanie Custer, a pediatrician at Deaconess Clinic in Evansville, Indiana.

Custer also says that babies should “absolutely not” decrease their breast milk or formula when they first start off with solids.

“Infants still should receive 24 to 32 ounces of formula or breast milk each day,” she says. “Solids at this point are more of a snack, with baby eating about 3 to 4 tablespoons once or twice a day.”

How to tell your baby is ready for Stage 1

According to Treegoob, here are the signs your baby is prepared to start Stage 1 foods:

They’re showing an interest in what family members are eating.
They’re learning to open their mouths for a spoon.
They’ve outgrown the involuntary habit of pushing food and spoons out of their mouth with their tongue.
They have steady head control.
They have the ability to move food from a spoon to their throat and swallow without choking.

Stage 2 (6 to 9 months): What you need to know

Time to mix it up! While Stage 2 solids are still basically mush, food has a little more texture at this point, as well as a few soft chunks.

“Stage 2 baby foods are thicker in consistency than Stage 1 purees, and many of the jars you find in stores have some small mashable bits in them,” says Treegoob. “These are great for infants who have done well with Stage 1 but who are not quite ready to chew. The typical age for Stage 2 is between 6 to 9 months.”

Treegoob also notes that the 7 to 9 month time frame is also when many babies begin modifying their breast milk or formula intake.

“As long as an infant’s weight remains on track and they’re drinking enough to stay hydrated, there isn’t a reason to worry if baby is showing interest in smaller or less frequent bottle or breastfeeds,” she says. “Infants typically take in somewhere between 24 to 32 ounces a day when they’re between 6 to 9 months.”

Whether you’re making your little one’s food on your own or getting it pre-made at the store, you have a little more room to play once you hit Stage 2.

“In addition to being thicker in consistency, Stage 2 foods usually have multiple ingredients, including some spices,” says Custer. “At this point, baby is usually taking in more food than they were in Stage 1, so it’s important to make sure they’re being introduced to a wide variety of foods from different food groups.”

According to the AAP, babies should be eating about 4 ounces of solids — about one small jar of baby food — at each of their meals.

How to tell your baby is ready for Stage 2

Once your baby has consistently been eating Stage 1 foods, they’re likely ready for the next step. Here are other signs to look for, according to Thompson:

Their oral skills are continuing to develop.
They’re consistently taking food in and swallowing when you offer it (and not spitting it out).

Stage 3 (9 to 12 months): What you need to know

Now, the true culinary adventure begins — Stage 3 foods! While some babies will still happily have mom and dad spoon-feed them mashed food at this age, many babies will have what you’re having at this point — and they’ll do it themselves, thank you very much.

“As soon as we thought he was ready — at about 9 months — we started giving my son softer, cut-up versions of whatever we were having for dinner,” says mom of two Jennifer Reilly, of New York City. “There was more cleanup, but I actually got to sit down and eat my meal!”

Once babies hit the age range for Stage 3 foods, most have the oral and fine motor skills to self-feed.

“Between 8 to 12 months, babies develop the pincer grasp ability and should be able to pick up small pieces of finger foods with their finger and thumb and bring it to their mouth,” says Thompson.

Technically speaking, Stage 3 solids are thicker, more sophisticated versions of the baby food your little one has already been eating (think vegetable and beef pilaf or tender chicken and stars), but also, they’re not necessary for everyone.

“Stage 3 food is starting to have chunks mixed in, in order to prepare baby for table foods,” says Custer. “But some babies wind up skipping this stage altogether and go straight to soft table foods. ”

While it’s perfectly fine to continue with Stage 3 foods up to your child’s first birthday, Treegoob advises letting your baby try their hand at “real food.” “Well-cooked veggies, ripe fruits, shredded meat, scrambled eggs, soft cheese and cooked pasta are all great options for babies this age,” she notes.

Between 9 months and 12 months is also when you’re likely to see a significant drop in how much breast milk or formula your baby is drinking.

“As babies continue to eat table foods, I’ve seen their breast milk or formula intake drop to as low as 16 to 20 ounces per day,” Treegoob says. “That said, some infants continue to show a heavy preference for breast milk or formula despite months of solid introduction. If you feel like your baby may be drinking excessive amounts of breast milk or formula, and they have no interest in food, I would recommend speaking with your pediatrician.”

How to tell your baby is ready for table food

Your child’s readiness to start table food will likely be more discernible than any other baby food stage. As long as they’re continuing to hone their oral skills, as well as their ability to pick food up and bring it to their mouth, you can count on them to let you know they’re ready for “big kid” food.

“My daughter looked like she was ready for pasta, eggs and basically anything we were eating shortly after she started solids,” says mom of two Julie Cortez of Brooklyn, New York. “We waited until about 8 months, when we knew she knew how to properly eat, and sure enough, she ate her whole plate on the first go! We completely skipped the Stage 3 jars of food.”

Follow these safe feeding must-knows

Even though your baby’s eating skills will continue to progress as they gain more experience, it’s important baby is always sitting upright, strapped in a high chair and never left unattended while eating. Also, make sure table food is always soft and cut into small pieces to avoid choking hazards. When first starting out with solids, be sure to wait a few days before giving them something new.

“This allows for observation for any adverse reaction or intolerance to the new food,” Thompson says.

And finally, be sure to give your baby a wide range of healthy food in order to expose them to a variety of tastes and textures — and don’t be discouraged if they don’t take to a specific food at first.

“If baby refuses a food or makes a strange face when eating, this may simply mean that it is a new food and unfamiliar to them,” Thompson says. “Try again. It may take 10 to 20 exposures of a new food before they accept it.”

Here’s more on every baby food stage:

Stage 1 baby food.
Stage 2 baby food.
Stage 3 baby food.

Baby food Gerber | About the most beloved and beautiful

Every mother who cares about the health of her baby faces the problem of choosing baby food. Which baby food is the most useful, what products it is made from, whether the baby will like it - these are questions that concern any mother. Much in the production of quality food for children depends on the integrity of the manufacturer. Therefore, when choosing baby food, you should trust more proven companies that have managed to establish themselves in the world market. nine0005

Gerber has been making baby food for over 80 years. The company's products are distinguished by a wide range, high quality raw materials, the use of the most advanced technologies for the production of tasty and healthy baby food. Gerber offers its customers fruit juices, fruit, fruit and cereal, meat, vegetable, meat and vegetable purees, fruit and milk desserts.

Gerber fruit and vegetable purees

From 4-5 months, pediatricians recommend introducing vegetables and fruits into the child's diet, which are important for the health and development of the child, because are a source of potassium, iron, organic acids and plant fibers. nine0005

Complementary foods are a big step in your baby's nutrition. It is very important to choose the right products at the very beginning, as the health of the child also depends on this in the future. There is a lot of opinion and disagreement about the timing of the introduction of complementary foods. There are supporters of complementary foods for babies from 4 months. Some mothers introduce complementary foods when the child is 1 year old.

Doctors recommend introducing complementary foods from 6 months. The first complementary foods are usually started with fruit juices, vegetable and fruit purees. It is at this stage that the baby begins to get acquainted with the variety of new tastes. Quality baby food accelerates the physical development of the baby. But how, among the variety of manufacturers and names of companies producing children's products, to choose, and not be mistaken, high-quality nutrition, rich in all the necessary trace elements and vitamins?

Pediatricians recommend introducing complementary foods for children with low weight in the form of cereals, and for overweight children - vegetable and fruit purees. It is recommended to introduce complementary foods gradually, starting with small doses of 1-2 teaspoons. It is better to give complementary foods at the beginning of the day, so that during the day you can monitor the condition of the child, to exclude allergic reactions. nine0005

Gerber one-component vegetable purees from carrots, cauliflower, white potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli and fruit purees from prunes, apples, pears, peaches are ideal for the first feeding. A little later, the baby can be offered multi-component purees: Cauliflower and Potato, Apple and Pear, etc. Gerber vegetable and fruit purees are made from environmentally friendly ripe fruits and vegetables without starch or preservatives.

Vegetable puree is recommended to start with one-component puree. It is better to start with cauliflower or broccoli. If the child refuses some types of puree, it can be recommended to add fruit pieces that the baby likes to the puree. But, if the child categorically refuses the dish, in no case should you force-feed him. It is better to take a break and offer new food when the child comes from a walk and is hungry enough. nine0005

Now baby food in the trading network is presented in a huge amount and assortment. Well, thank God, there are plenty to choose from! Let's take a look at some of the popular and best-selling food products that are produced by Gerber.

Fruits, vegetables and meat from which baby food is produced do not contain genetically modified products, dyes, preservatives, flavor and aroma enhancers, stabilizers. The company produces almost 70 types of baby food - fruit juice, fruit and vegetable purees, vegetable stews, fruit purees with cottage cheese. Gerber products are varied, tasty, natural, healthy nutrition for children. nine0005

The company produces one-component and multi-component vegetable and fruit purees, which is very convenient to gradually introduce the baby to a variety of new foods. The advantages of Gerber baby food are the modern technological process of their preparation. All products of this company are not subjected to intensive heat treatment, and this allows the products not to change their natural color and taste. Gerber products are free of starch and thickeners. One-component vegetable purees are used for the first feeding: carrots, cauliflower, white potatoes, pumpkin, broccoli. Children like carrots, cauliflower, pumpkin very much. nine0005

Excellent one-component fruit purees: prunes, pear, apple, peach. Children especially like pear and apple. One-component purees of the first complementary foods can be given to babies from 4-6 months.
Lots of Gerber products for babies from 6 months. Puree from various vegetables with veal, rabbit and chicken is an ideal nutrition with the content of essential fatty acids Omega 3 and Omega 6, which contribute to the development of the brain, strengthen the child's vision and immunity. This is very important, since these acids can only enter the human body with certain foods. nine0046 From the age of 6 months, children can be offered fruit purees with cottage cheese, such as apricot, banana, strawberry, peach. The benefits of cottage cheese in baby food are great. This fermented milk product is rich in calcium, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, vitamin B12, B2. Cottage cheese contains a large amount of protein needed by a growing body.
Gerber products are also very convenient because the older the child, the more varied the food, and the volume of jars is increased according to age. Gerber juices also deserve special mention. We will not describe how useful juice is for a child's health, how many vitamins, organic acids and minerals it contains. It is very convenient that Gerber juices are also divided into single-component and multi-component. This allows you to enter them from 4 months. One-component apple and pear juices are low allergenic. Therefore, it is recommended to start complementary foods with them. As the child grows, multi-component juices such as apple and carrot can be introduced; apple, grapes and wild rose; apple, grape and mint, etc. The value of Gerber juices lies in the fact that they are all made without preservatives and sugar. Due to their natural taste and nutritional value, many mothers have approved Gerber juices and give them to their children. Gerber means healthy, strong children and calm mothers! Gerber is a reliable assistant for moms! nine0005

Gerber fruit juices

Juice should not be introduced into the baby's diet before 4-5 months of age. You should start with single-component juices. Gerber produces apple juice (clarified or with pulp) and pear juice. Gerber juices made from two or more fruits: "Apple-Carrot", "Apple-Pear", "Apple-Peach", "Apple-Cherry" are perfect for children from 5 months.

Gerber puree assortment

Gerber puree with cottage cheese. nine0005

An important baby food is cottage cheese, which contains a lot of protein and calcium salts. It is also rich in iron, vitamins B1 and PP. Gerber puree from apricot with cottage cheese, banana with cottage cheese, peach with cottage cheese and strawberry with cottage cheese is not only healthy, but also very tasty.

Gerber puree with cream.

The cream contains a large amount of easily digestible milk fat, as well as fat-soluble vitamins. Pear puree with cream, peach with cream, banana with cream, strawberries with cream, apricot with cream will please the baby. nine0005

However, it should be remembered that children with cow's milk intolerance should only be introduced to dairy products after consulting a pediatrician.

Gerber meat purees.

Meat puree is an essential food product for babies from 6 months. Meat contains vitamins, iron, protein and other nutrients that play an important role in the development and growth of the child. Gerber baby food are meat purees made from all types of meat suitable for a child: chicken, turkey, beef, veal, pork, lamb and rabbit. In addition to meat purees, Gerber baby food includes various types of vegetable puree with meat: vegetable puree with rabbit, veal stew with pumpkin and carrots, turkey stew with rice, etc.

Taking into account all the possible taste preferences of its little consumers, Gerber is constantly expanding the range of products offered. Gerber DoReMi products are fresh fruit smoothies, fruit and cereal bars, cookies.

Gerber has achieved the most important thing - the baby food it produces has earned the trust of buyers in many countries of the world due to the observance of the main principle for every mother - tasty and healthy.

Record tags: baby food, baby health, baby food, palm oil

How the baby looks now from the Gerber baby food package

Miralanim

Author:

Miralanim

November 29, 2017 09:21

Tags: Gerber appearance age children stories nutrition person

27916

Some faces are familiar to us from childhood (or just familiar) through their image on food packaging, 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!

nine0104 All of us were once children and/or fed them with 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. nine0005

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 assumed that it was a little Elizabeth Taylor, others were sure that it was actress Jane Seymour. nine0005

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

products to this day.

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.