When it comes to the first year of your little one’s life, figuring out what to feed them and when to start feeding them can be a bit overwhelming. But that’s what this article is all about—eating and good baby food.
Obviously, each baby and each experience is different. And while some of these tips may not work for you and your little one, these are a few best practices as you start to ween your kiddo off of breastmilk or formula and move your baby to solid foods.
When incorporating solid baby foods into your little one’s diet, What to Expect advises that parents start with one solid meal a day, and then eventually go up to two meal for roughly a month, before offering three solid meals a day, with a “snack or two in between” each meal as your baby gets older.
Many parents begin to introduce one to four tablespoons of cereal or fruits and veggies, one to two times a day, when their little one is anywhere from 4 to 6 months old, while also feeding them 24 to 36 ounces of formula or breastmilk a day. As What to Expect reveals in their chart, it’s at the 6- to 8-month mark that some parents start to also introduce one to six tablespoons of meat and protein into their little one’s diet.
According to What to Expect, there is no perfect time of day to feed your baby solid baby food during the weaning process. However, it is recommended that if your baby is breastfeeding, feeding your little one solid baby food when your milk supply is at its lowest may be the best option. What to Expect also suggests that early morning may also be a good time to introduce solid baby foods if you have a little one who wakes up “bright-eyed and eager.”
In the end, it’s really about taking cues from your baby one when they prefer to eat. As What to Expect reports, your baby will let you know when they are “interested in eating” by either “opening their mouth wide and willingly taking bites” or by “palming finger foods on their own.”
Interestingly, even when your baby is enjoying solid foods, What to Expect says “the bulk of your baby’s nutrition will still come from breast milk or formula.” That said, while there is no right answer when it comes to when you should give your baby a bottle, it is suggested that you offer the bottle or your breast as an appetizer to the solid food you will be feeding them moments later, or vice versa, as a dessert.
So what are the best baby foods out there? Let us help you with that too:
Gerber Single-Grain Rice Baby Cereal
Parents love Gerber’s rice baby cereal and this is the perfect options for when you are first introducing solid baby food into your baby’s diet. And and with over a thousands reviews it still has five stars!
Plum Organics
With over 1,000 ratings, this food boasts a five-star rating. According to parents who love Plum Organics baby food, they appreciate how jam packed these pouches are with veggies and fruits compared to other brands.
Mama Bear Organic Baby Food
Mama Bear Baby Food is a more affordable organic food brand that is also beloved by a lot of parents, it’s roughly $10 cheaper than other organic baby food brands. This is one parent’s review of Mama Bear Baby Food, “Great value for the price! My son has a rare food allergy diagnosis called FPIES and so I have to be extremely careful to buy food with minimal and honest ingredients. I used to make all of my son’s purées, but now that he is older and I am working, I had to find food I could trust. Mama Bear Products are awesome, I cannot recommend them enough!!”
Happy Baby Organics Hearty Meals
These beloved hearty meals by Happy Baby Organics are for the third stage of introducing your little ones to solid baby foods! But once you’re there, this baby food is perfect! And Happy Baby has so many options!
Gerber Purees 2nd Foods Veggie & Fruit Variety Pack
With neither 4,400 reviews, these Gerber Purees are beloved by a lot of parents and they have a five-star review. Additionally, these are great options for your the little one’s who don’t like the pouches.
Once Upon a Farm Assorted Organic Fruit & Veggie Blends
This brand of baby food is made entirely from fresh ingredients! You may also know the person who created this brands, it’s actress Jennifer Garner!
Gerber Puffs Cereal Snack
And let’s not forget about snack options! Gerber Puffs Cereal Snacks are a stable in any parents’ life! Little ones love them and based on the five star rating after receiving over 11,000 reviews, we’d say these are a winner!
Happy Baby Organics Yogis Freeze-Dried Yogurt & Fruit Snacks
Another baby food snack option people are loving for their little one’s are these yogis by Happy Baby Organics!
So there you have it! Whether you are in the think of weaning and adding solid baby foods into your kiddos diet, or if you’re coming up with a game plan, we hope these tips and these options make it a little easier and smoother for you! Good luck, we’re rooting for you!
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