5
BABY’S READINESS
Every baby develops at his or her own pace,
but some common changes and behaviors
can indicate a readiness for solid foods.
Be on the lookout for:
• Baby holding up head
• Chewing motion
• Doubled birth weight
• Ability to sit in high chair
• Curiosity about food
•
Hunger after liquid feeding
(breast milk/formula)
•
Teething
•
Accepts food rather than pushing
food out with tongue
The fi rst solid food to introduce is cereal.
Start with rice, barley, or oatmeal when baby
is about 6 months. Once baby has been
successfully eating cereal, the next solid to
introduce is vegetables so the baby has a
chance to develop a taste for these before
getting a “sweet tooth” from fruit. Next,
introduce fruits, followed by meat and poultry.
GETTING STARTED
TIPS AND HINTS FOR BABY FOOD
The Baby Food Maker & Bottle Warmer is an
excellent tool for puréeing and steaming fruits
and vegetables. Blending the steaming liquid
right into the food allows for optimal nutrient
retention. We give a guide with water amounts
intended for the smoothest purées – adjust water
amounts if a thicker consistency is desired.
Introduce new foods one at a time. Serve
only that type of food for at least 3 days be-
fore beginning another to be sure baby is not
allergic. Once baby has been introduced to
different foods, mix and match to make great
combinations. For example, oat cereal and
fruit, sweet potatoes and apple, or chicken
with carrots.
When introducing a new food, if baby doesn’t
accept it, and does not have any adverse
reaction, try again in a few days. Certain
foods should be avoided for a period of time
because of their highly allergenic properties.
Parents with history of allergies should be
extra cautious.
The following foods should be avoided until
after 12 months of age:
The following foods should be avoided until
after 24 months of age:
• Peanuts/peanut butter
• Tree nuts
• Shellfi sh
Always use the freshest ingredients, organic
if possible. First stage baby food should
not be seasoned or sweetened. Save time
by preparing larger portions and freezing in
airtight containers. Never refreeze any food
that has been previously frozen.
Certain foods that can be a choking hazard
should also be avoided, including, but not
limited to, grapes, raw carrots, raisins (and
other small dry fruits), candy, hot dogs, pop-
corn, and large pieces of meat. Vegetables
that are high in nitrates, like spinach, turnips,
carrots, and beets, should be offered in lim-
ited quantities at a time. Baby will be ready
for fi nger foods when he or she has achieved
all the behaviors indicating a readiness for
solid foods, around 8 months. Additionally,
baby can transfer items from hand to hand,
has more constant chewing motion, and puts
“everything” into the mouth!
PREPARING THE FOOD
Size
Always cut large pieces of food into smaller
pieces of even size – about ½ inch (12mm) to
a side. If you don’t start with pieces that are
small and uniform, you will not get an even chop.
Quantity
Do not overload the work bowl. Overloading
causes inconsistent results and it strains the
motor. Use the quantities given in the user
guide and capacity chart or recipe section
as a guide.
Adding Liquids
You can add water, breast milk or formula to
control the consistency of your baby food.
OPERATION
STEAMING FOOD
1. Press the release button on the cover of
• Honey
• Corn
• Egg whites
• Wheat
• Soy
• Whole milk
• Raw berries
• Citrus
(or other highly
acidic fruits)
