The next step? Your little one's first baby bite!
Before you know it, your baby will be four months old and you can start with his first baby food. From milk to solid food: what a milestone. A very nice one, because your little one will be introduced to different flavors. What a discovery! How do you do it right? What can you give and how do you prepare the snacks? We help you.
When is your little one ready?
Is your baby making more and more smacking noises? Does he almost look your food out of your mouth or does he prefer to take your food? These eating signals, which usually start between four and six months, could just mean your little one is ready for his first practice snack. Pay attention: only start when your baby can sit up properly and can swallow. Don't forget: make sure you have enough bibs, face cloths and muslin cloths at home. Because spilling is definitely part of it!
Exercise snacks: important for development
When your baby is between four and six months the practice snacks are not yet a replacement for breast milk or bottle feeding. The so-called sweet treats let your baby discover flavors other than milk for the first time and they train the mouth muscles. That is a bit different than sucking! The nutrition center recommends starting between the four and six months, because this way you reduce the chance of a food hypersensitivity. It is therefore best to immediately give them different types of food, including egg and peanut butter.
Did you know that your little one only gets to know a taste after tasting it ten times? Then you can start combining different flavors.
Baby snacks: what's on the menu?
Everything healthy: so fruits and vegetables! Until now, your little one only knows the taste of warm milk, so start with soft flavors. Think of mild vegetables such as carrots, green peas, broccoli or pumpkin and fruits such as banana, pear, melon and peach. Is it going well? Then expand the flavors slowly. Always let your baby get used to loose flavors first. So repetition, repetition and more repetition.
Preparing baby snacks? Easy!
All you need are fresh produce and a blender or fork. Puree or mash! In the beginning, make sure you have smooth, pureed snacks. Is your baby used to this? Puree or mash less and less, so that the bite stays a bit thicker. Be careful not to add sugar or salt. That is why vegetables from jars or cans are not suitable. Is the snack a bit dry? Add a little water, some soft margarine or spoonfuls of olive or sunflower oil. No time to make the baby snack yourself or are you on the go? Feel free to choose a jar of baby food. Warm up and ready!
Tip: prepare a larger amount and freeze the snacks in an ice cube tray. Just heat up a few blocks and you're done.
Avocado and egg practice snack (from 4 months)
Ingredients: egg and a whole avocado
Boil an egg in about 10 minutes. Cut the avocado in half, remove the pit and scoop the avocado out of the skin. Mash the egg and avocado together into a smooth paste. Mmm!
Bell pepper carrot snack (from 6 months)
Ingredients: 2 small potatoes, 1 large carrot and half a bell pepper
Peel the potatoes and carrot and cut them into small pieces. Boil all pieces together for about 15 minutes. Clean the half bell pepper, remove the seeds and stem and cut into small cubes. Boil the cubes for about 9 minutes. Add the boiled bell pepper to the boiled potatoes and carrot and mash everything with a little bit of butter or oil. That's going to be delicious!
Everything your little one needs for the first bite
