Baby food by book—November 30, 2007
New parents transitioning a baby from milk to solid food often have questions about when, which and how foods should be used. Along with getting advice from Doctors and family, the Hastings Public Library has materials available to help plan and start a baby on good healthy foods.
In her book “Top 100 Baby Purees: 100 Quick and Easy Meals For a Healthy and Happy Baby,” Annabel Karmel says that the signs that your baby is ready to begin eating solid food include still being hungry after a full milk feeding, demanding feedings more frequently, and waking up at night for a feeding previously slept through. She divides her book into segments of “first-stage weaning: 6 months”, “after first tastes: 6 to 7 months”, “second-stage weaning: 7 to 9 months” and “growing independence: 9 to 12 months.” Karmel also discusses vitamin supplements, the best fJanuary 25, 2010t food that has been baked, boiled, microwaved, steamed or stewed in to a puree form for a baby. Once cooked, many foods can be stored in flexible plastic ice-cube trays and frozen for later use.
Commercial jars of baby food save time, but may be more expensive in the long run. Jars, labor, packaging, advertising and “extra” ingredients can add up. Depending on your lifestyle, babies can eat what the rest of the family eats if you know the guidelines. Food becomes more economical and fresh. Home cooking can also add variety. The books “First Food & Family Meals” by Sara Lewis and “First Meals” by Annabel Karmel provide adapted recipes for the older baby and toddler, too, such as “Apple and orange custard,” “Potato boats” and “Noodles with broccoli and ham.” Make eating fun with “Quickie kabobs,” “Sausage wrappers” and “Eggy bread butterflies” recipes.
Find more baby and toddler recipes in the books “Into the Mouths Of Babes: A Natural Foods Nutrition and Feeding Guide For Infants and Toddlers” by Susan Tate Firkaly and “Super Baby Food: Absolutely Everything You Should Know About Feeding Your Baby and Toddler From Starting Solid Foods To Age Three Years” by Ruth Yaron. These books are packed full of information about nutrition, storage of food, fun food decorating, sJanuary 25, 2010ccessories such as baby wipes and diaper cream, also.
Save money (maybe not time) as you prepare foods you know your baby will like and that are safe. These and other books at the Hastings Public Library include fast, healthy and fun foods to tempt infants and toddlers.