Tips and Tricks for Feeding Your Baby for the First Time
By Linnea Covington
Daunted by the idea of feeding your baby for the first time? These tricks and tips will help. (Photo: Thinkstock)
In Nepalese culture the first morsel of real food given to a child is celebrated with a fantastic pasni, or weaning ceremony, a party that in some cases mimics the grandeur of a wedding banquet. In honor of this centuries-old tradition, parents dress their child in fine red velvet and invite all their relatives and friends to witness this meal. Bands play, gifts are bought and piles of food are consumed, all to observe the auspicious moment when the baby takes that introductory bite.
When we choose to give our five-month-old son a taste of real food, we didn’t throw a party or consult a priest to find out the luckiest day and time to do it, though we did break out all the cameras and recorded the whole thing. That instant, by the way, only lasted about five minutes and maybe a teaspoon worth of food actually made it down our son’s throat, while a good spoonful or two was smeared all over his face, hands, bib and my fingers. In short, it was a success, even if he did grimace the whole time as the pureed squash invaded his senses.
But how, you may wonder, did we decide to go with squash as his first meal? Well, I wanted his entry into gastronomy to be the most natural, wholesome, and local thing we could get. Given the cold weather and frozen ground (this was in the winter), our options were limited to stored roots like yams, potatoes and carrots, and an array of orange-fleshed squash. Luckily, these are exactly the types of foods our pediatrician suggested we begin with. So, I sent my partner to the Union Square Greenmarket with a goal, “Find me a sweet potato!” Unfortunately, he couldn’t procure one, but instead came back with a lovely butternut squash from Caradonna Farms as well as a bold, deep red carrot.
We decided on the squash first, peeling and cutting it into cubes before cooking for 30 minutes in a foil-covered pan in the oven at 350 degrees. Instead of our usual roasting methods, we kept the vegetable pure and left out the customary dollop of olive oil and pinch salt, and instead used a little water in the pan to moisten and soften the squash. After the vegetable had cooked down, we used a hand blender to puree the heck out of it, until all that was left was a bowl of smooth, bright orange baby food.
Though I can’t wait to make him gourmet grilled cheese hearts, creamed kale and homemade chicken nuggets, for a food writer and a chef we felt this meal was a pretty good start down the road of eating. Maybe we should have dressed him up for the occasion but hey, they say a naked baby is the easiest to clean. Next on the menu, that carrot and perchance, gasp, the two starter vegetables mixed. From there, the sky is the limit.
Feeding your baby for the first time can be frustrating, but is also very rewarding. (Photo: Thinkstock)
6 tips for feeding your baby for the first time
1. Try mixing the pureed food with a bit of breast milk or formula. This helps give it a familiar taste and sweetens the food naturally.
2. Show your baby how to eat by taking the first bite. My son gets super excited when I put food in my mouth, and usually it means he will keep his own toothless-gums open when I push the food toward him.
3. Use your finger to put food into your baby’s mouth. Sometimes the spoon is too foreign at first and the infant responds better to your hand. Also, it can be easier to get it securely inside the mouth since you can wipe the food on the tongue or gums.
4. Don’t laugh when, and yes, it will happen, the baby spits the food out. Though junior looks adorable covered in orange and red goop, if you show pleasure when he does it, it may become a new game. That is definitely not the goal.
5. Serve the food at room temperature. Cold or hot foods aren’t comfortable for the baby to eat, and the surprising temperature will only add to the weirdness he or she is already experiencing.
6. Don’t feed your baby solid food when they are really hungry. At least, not at first. It will be easier on both of you if the child can experience food while not desperately wailing for milk. He or she may also find it frustrating to learn to eat solids when overly hungry, or tired for that matter.
(Having certain tools on-hand will make feeding your baby easier. Photo: Thinkstock)
5 things to help you feed your baby
Super Baby Food Book: To get started with information, nutrition facts and recipes, this tome by Ruth Yaron is a must have. $19.95
superbabyfood.com
Munchkin Soft-Tipped Spoons: I liked the long handles and bright colors of these inexpensive spoons. They are also made out of BPA and phthalate-free plastic, which is safe for infants and soft on the baby’s tender gums. Though, truthfully, in the beginning I mainly used my fingers to scoop the pulverized veggies into his mouth. $5.29 for 6
High Chair: Yes, you do need one of these, if anything because then the kid has a safe place to sit that is easy to clean. Plus, it acts as an activity counter for when you want to strap him in and leave him to play a little bit. Any one will do, but I love the sleek design, easy-to-clean style, and functionality of Summer Infant’s Classic Comfort Wood High Chair. $129.99
Baby Food: Not everyone wants or has time to make their own food. For baby food that’s already prepared, try Earth’s Best. They keep the flavors clean, have food for different stages of eating and don’t use any additives save for ascorbic acid (aka vitamin c) to keep it preserved. $10.99 for 12 2.5-ounce jars
OXO Tot Baby Blocks Freezer Storage Containers: I really dig the simplicity and size of these baby food containers. They have a great seal so you know it won’t open in your bag, and they are meant to be frozen so you don’t have to worry about freezer burn. $9.99
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