Feeding your baby the right food is one of the most important things you’ll ever do as a first-time parent. It can be frightening and confusing at times. With all the variations of mashed baby products, you may be unable to make the best decisions on your own. So here’s a guide on what’s the best thing to feed your baby.

Store-Bought vs. Homemade

A common debate is whether or not you should make your own baby food. Homemade baby food does have its advantages: you’ll know exactly what’s going into your baby’s tummy, it’s (usually) more economical, and you can customize the flavor to what your baby likes best. (Some flavors aren’t commonly sold in stores, like melon and avocado.)

However, it does take more time to prepare, and doesn’t come in pre-packaged portions that are already measured out in servings. Also, sometimes commercial baby food can be cheaper than individually buying ingredients to mash.

Arguably, the benefits outweigh the disadvantages. Making homemade baby food can also be more environmentally friendly if you make them in big batches. It helps you cut down on waste, and is more convenient than having to buy packages of commercially prepared baby food in bulk.

Making your own baby food is simple. You just steam your vegetables until they’re soft, then mash it with a fork, or a potato masher if you’re doing it in batches. Wait until they cool and store until feeding.

The Best Food To Mash

After transitioning from a liquid diet to a soft food diet, the best foods to turn into baby mash include:

• Bananas - these fruits are easy to mash, and are rich in potassium, calcium, iron, and vitamins B6 and C.
• Camote - otherwise known as the sweet potato, it’s popular for its sweetness and texture. It’s also packed with vitamin C, beta-carotene, and minerals like iron and copper.
• Avocado - this soft fruit is full of unsaturated fat, which helps boost brain development in babies. Studies have shown that the fat composition in avocados is actually similar to that of breast milk.[1]

Transitioning From Milk To Mash

The easiest way to transition from milk to mash is to slowly add solid food to their milk. Slowly add more and more food into the mix until they can tolerate solid food on its own.

Be sure to follow your pediatrician’s advice on when and how to start feeding your baby solid food. Make sure that every time you try a new kind of food, you leave a few days in between different kinds to watch for any allergies.

Photo from: http://700childrens.nationwidechildrens.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/baby-food-pt2-770x420.jpg

[1] https://www.babycenter.com/0_the-10-best-foods-for-babies_10320505.bc