John Myers
When does the first baby food make sense? What should the introduction of supplementary food look like? And which foods are best suited? Questions upon questions that new parents ask themselves when it comes to feeding their children. We have compiled the answers for you in compact form.
From breastfeeding to baby nutrition
Before the child is born, you usually still have time to read guides and find out what good nutrition looks like during pregnancy. Once the little one is born, you have your hands full. It is good if you have already prepared a plan for baby’s diet in the first year of life. In the first 4 to 6 months, breastfeeding is the best diet, alternative to breast milk you can also give ready-made milk. From the 5th month you should introduce supplementary food. You can tell when your baby is ready for supplementary feeding by the following signs:
- The little one begins to take an interest in food: it watches its parents closely and reaches for their meals.
- Baby is able to support his head alone and sit up with your support.
- If you bring a spoon close to the mouth, the child will open it automatically.
- The child can move the food in the direction of the esophagus with chewing movements in the mouth and no longer has a spitting reflex.
- The weight is also an indication: if the baby weighs about twice as much as when it was born, the time has come for solid food.
These foods are suitable as complementary foods
When the baby is ready, gradually replace the milk meals with complementary foods. The best baby food is porridge, which consists of vegetables, meat, and potatoes. Iron-enriched baby semolina is also recommended. The portions are initially very small, a few spoonfuls are usually enough. After about four weeks, you can add more grain to the porridge and finally fruit.
It is best to only introduce one ingredient at a time, as this makes it easier to avoid allergic reactions and intolerances. If you cook yourself, you can use our baby porridge recipes. Steam cooking is the best method for nutrient-friendly preparation. As a liquid, you can give the baby some tea or water with a spoon from time to time. The German Society for Nutrition (DGE) expressly does not recommend a vegan diet for babies, children, and adolescents.
Family meal as the last step in feeding the baby
From the 10th month, the switch from infant to family nutrition takes place. Instead of porridge, feed the baby crushed and later small pieces of food, and the milk is served in a cup as a drink. Snacks of fruit, juice, bread, and raw vegetables complement the main meals. From the age of 12 months, feeding the baby with a balanced mixed diet is ideal: it can now generally tolerate all types of food, you should only avoid strong spices. In our guide, you will find out what needs to be considered if you want to cook healthy food for children.
