How to Make Homemade Baby Food

There's no doubt that ready-made baby food is convenient, but it's also expensive. At anywhere from 50 cents a jar and up, jars of baby food can put a big dent in your grocery budget rather quickly. The solution? Homemade baby food! If you have a blender and/or food processor, food strainer, and some ice trays, you're all set!

Different Ages Different Textures

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends introducing your baby to solids when she is about six months old. Your baby will begin to show signs of readiness for consuming solid foods, such as:

• He can hold his head up without support
• She is double her birth weight or more
• He shows signs of interest in your food, such as grabbing at it
• He makes chewing motions or has teeth erupting
• She shows signs of hunger, even after bottle or breastfeeding

Once you start introducing solids to your baby, you will need to adjust the texture and consistency in a manner appropriate for your baby's age.

What You Will Need

To make homemade baby food, you'll need several pieces of equipment:

• A saucepan with a lid and a steamer basket
• A wire mesh sieve
• Something for pureeing, such as a blender, food processor, or food mill
• Ice cube trays
• Storage containers or zipper bags
• Vegetable peeler
• Sharp knife
• Colander

Six Months

At this age, foods should be completely pureed and of a fairly thin consistency. Steam fruits and vegetables until they are very soft, and then puree them thoroughly in the food processor, blender, or food mill. To get an extra smooth consistency, press the pureed food through a sieve. Then, mix the food with breast milk, formula, or water in about a one to four ratio of food to liquid.

How Much to Feed

At this age, your baby may only eat a teaspoon or two of solid food diluted with about a tablespoon of water, breast milk or formula in a sitting. Start with a single solid food offering per day and work your way up to more based on your baby's response and hunger. Continue offering your baby about 24 to 40 ounces of breast milk or formula each day.

Making Single-Ingredient Purees

At this age, feed your baby single ingredient purees made from fruits and vegetables, as well as cereals. Consider making organic baby foods to minimize the amount of chemicals your baby ingests.

1. Bring about one inch of water to a simmer in a medium sized saucepan over medium-high heat.
2. Add a steamer basket to the water.
3. Wash and peel your fruits or vegetables, removing any seeds.
4. Cut fruit or vegetables into quarter to half-inch dice.
5. Put the fruits or vegetables in the steamer basket and cover with the lid.
6. Allow the fruits or vegetables to steam until they are soft, anywhere from five to fifteen minutes depending on the fruit or vegetable.
7. Put the fruit or vegetable in a colander and run them under cold water to cool them slightly and stop the cooking.
8. Put the fruit or vegetables in a blender, food processor, or food mill and process until smooth.
9. Strain the puree through a mesh sieve into a bowl to remove any lumps.

Foods to Introduce

Foods to introduce when your baby first starts solid foods include:

• Pears (require steaming)
• Apples (require steaming)
• Berries (don't require steaming)
• Carrots (require steaming)
• Peas (require steaming)
• Green beans (require steaming)
• Cherries (require steaming)
• Peaches (require steaming)
• Nectarines (require steaming)
• Squash (requires steaming)
• Pumpkin (requires steaming)
• Melons (don't require steaming)
• Sweet potatoes (require steaming)
• Cereals (reconstitute with water, breast milk, or formula)
• Avocados (don't require steaming)
• Bananas (don't require steaming)
• Plums (require steaming)

Tips

When feeding babies this age, consider the following:

• Introduce foods one at a time and watch for any signs of allergies or intolerance.
• Your baby will let you know if she wants more food. When in doubt, consult with her pediatrician.
• Steam foods instead of boiling them to preserve nutrients.
• As your baby tolerates it, gradually make the foods thicker by adding less liquids.

Seven to Nine Months

At this age, your baby is ready to explore thicker foods with more flavors. You can also introduce a very small amount of texture to foods. Likewise, you can begin combining foods in purees, and you can even introduce finely pureed meats.

How Much to Feed

Your baby will be progressively eating larger portions of food. Your baby will likely require about a quarter to a half cup of solid foods over two to three feedings throughout the course of the day, as well as around 24 to 32 ounces of formula or breast milk.

New Foods to Introduce

Introduce your baby to new foods with new textures, such as cooked legumes and meats. You still need to puree the food carefully to remove all lumps. Consider introducing the following foods if you haven't already:

• Broccoli
• Cauliflower
• Black beans
• Kidney beans
• Beef
• Chicken
• Fish
• Steamed greens such as spinach, kale, or swiss chard (remove fibrous stems before steaming)
• Turnips
• Beets

Making Fruit and Vegetable Purees

Your baby will enjoy combined ingredient purees at this age, which you can make by combining two separate purees or by pureeing two or more ingredients together. Make the purees as you would for a six month old, but skip the step of straining the puree through a sieve. This will provide a bit more texture for your baby. Likewise, it is unlikely your baby will require you to dilute purees with breast milk, water, or formula any longer. Follow your baby's lead, using less liquid as he tolerates thicker consistencies.

Making Meat Purees

Include meat with a fruit vegetable puree, or make a meat puree by itself and mix it with an existing puree. Boiling or steaming meat keeps it moist, making it ideal for a puree.

1. Cut the meat into quarter to half inch pieces.
2. Cook the meat in boiling water or broth over medium-high heat until it is cooked through (anywhere from 10 to 20 minutes depending on the meat).
3. Alternatively, put the meat in a steamer basket set in a pot of simmering water and allow the meat to steam until cooked, about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the meat and the size of the pieces.
4. Put the meat in a food processor or blender with a few tablespoons of the cooking liquid.
5. Puree until smooth.

Making Legume Purees

Cook legumes thoroughly until they are soft. If you are using dried legumes, be sure to soak them overnight and then rinse them thoroughly before boiling. When the legumes are cooked, drain them and puree them in the food processor or blender with a little water until they achieve a smooth consistency.

Cod and Pears

Make this simple fish recipe for your baby. It will store in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.

Ingredients

• Three ounces cod, bones removed and cut into quarter inch pieces
• One pear, peeled, cored, and cut into quarter inch dice

Method

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring one inch of water to a simmer over medium-high heat.
2. Insert a steamer basket and add the cod and pears. Cover and allow to steam until the pears are soft and the fish is cooked, about 10 minutes.
3. Rinse the food in a colander to cool it slightly and stop the cooking.
4. Puree in a food processor, blender, or food mill until smooth.

Apples and Spinach

Apples sweeten the spinach in this recipe.

Ingredients

• One apple, peeled, cored, seeded, and cut into quarter-inch dice
• Two cups baby spinach, washed

Method

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring one inch of water to a boil over medium-high heat.
2. Insert a steamer basket.
3. Add the apples to the basket. Cover and steam for five minutes.
4. Add the spinach to the basket with the apples. Cover and steam an additional five minutes, until apples and spinach are soft.
5. Run the apples and spinach under cool water in a colander to stop the cooking.
6. Put the apples and spinach in a food processor, blender, or food mill and puree.

Nine to Twelve Months

Your baby is ready for bolder flavors and more texture. At this age, she probably has teeth and likes to use them. Giving her foods with more textures will help her learn to chew her foods, while adding a bit of flavor and spice will expand her palate.

How Much to Feed

At this age, your baby may eat as much as a cup of food per day over the course of three meals and snacks. You will also want to continue feeding him breast milk or formula.

New Foods to Introduce

Your baby will have a pretty broad food repertoire at this point, but you can continue to introduce new foods if you haven't already. Foods to try include:

• Ground meats
• Mushrooms
• Peppers
• Tofu
• Eggs
• Tropical fruits such as mango and papaya
• Leeks
• Dairy
• Well-cooked pasta

Making Purees

While the bulk of your baby's food will still be pureed, you'll also want to add in a little of texture. Do this by cutting fruits and vegetables into quarter inch dice and steaming them, and then reserving a small amount of the diced fruits or vegetables to stir into the final puree. Likewise, you can offer finely ground cooked ground meats in the final puree to give your baby something to chew on. Additionally, you can add a little texture by stirring in well-cooked rice or cut up soft spaghetti noodles.

Finger Foods

Your baby will also likely have developed a pincer grasp, and she will enjoy picking up small bits of food with this new skill. Offer steamed fruits and vegetables cut into a quarter inch dice, as well as small soft raw fruits cut into small dice such as avocados or bananas. Whole small cooked legumes, such as black beans, lentils, or peas also make great finger foods at this age.

New Flavors

This is a great time to introduce your baby to some new flavors, as well. Consider adding small amounts of herbs and spices to your baby's foods, such as:

• Thyme
• Garlic
• Parsley
• Fennel
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Ginger

When adding new flavors, just use a very small amount.

Blackberries and Beef With Thyme

This recipe gives your baby just a tiny taste of thyme.

Ingredients

• Four ounces ground beef
• Pinch dried thyme
• One-half clove garlic, finely minced
• One cup blackberries

Method

1. In a small saute pan, cook the ground beef, crumbling as you cook so that it has a very fine grind.
2. Sprinkle in the dried thyme and garlic. Cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 30 seconds.
3. Remove the beef from the heat and allow it to cool slightly.
4. Meanwhile, in a food processor or blender, puree the blackberries until they are smooth.
5. Stir in the ground beef/garlic/thyme mixture and serve.

Cauliflower Puree With Nutmeg and Carrots

Nutmeg adds just a hint of sweetness to this cauliflower puree.

Ingredients

• One cup cauliflower florets, cut into quarter-inch dice
• One carrot, peeled and cut into quarter-inch dice
• Two tablespoons milk
• Dash of nutmeg

Method

1. In a medium-sized saucepan, bring one inch of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the cauliflower and carrots and cover the pot.
2. Steam until the cauliflower and carrots are soft, about seven minutes.
3. Run the vegetables under cool water to stop them from cooking and cool them slightly.
4. Separate the carrots and cauliflower, setting aside the carrots.
5. Put the cauliflower in a food processor or blender with the milk and nutmeg. Puree until smooth.
6. Stir in the carrots.

Storing the Foods

Many of these foods keep well. Store them in the refrigerator for up to three days, or store them in the freezer for up to three months. To freeze, measure food into ice cube trays and freeze them. When frozen, pop the cubes into zipper bags labeled with the food and the expiration date. Then, thaw a cube or two when you're ready to feed your baby.

Foods to Avoid

While conventional wisdom used to suggest avoiding adding certain common allergens to your child's diet in the first year, such as dairy, eggs, or nuts, the American Academy of Pediatrics says this is no longer necessary. In fact, their research suggests adding common allergens earlier may offer a protective benefit against food allergies. While most pediatricians no longer offer restrictions on when to introduce certain foods, you should avoid some foods during your baby's first year.

• Honey presents a risk of botulism in infants 12 months or under, so wait until your child is older to introduce this food.
• Avoid salt in the first year so your baby doesn't develop a "salty palate."
• Minimize or avoid processed sugars.
• Avoid excessively sticky foods (like marshmallows), which present a choking hazard.
• Avoid large chunks, which present a choking hazard.
• Avoid nut butters, which present a choking hazard. If you do offer nut butters, only offer a very thin layer.
• Avoid fibrous foods like celery in purees until your baby is about a year old.

Precautions

Making homemade baby food is an easy and inexpensive alternative to ready made food. Keep the following precautions in mind.

1. If you are tempted to use the microwave, remember that microwaved foods cook unevenly. Be sure you stir the food thoroughly, and check the temperature before giving it to your baby.
2. Wash your hands thoroughly before you begin cooking and preparing your baby's food.
3. Wash all cooking surfaces thoroughly before you begin preparing foods.
4. Wash all fruits and vegetables before you begin making homemade baby food.
5. Peel fruits and vegetables, and remove seeds or pits.
6. If you don't immediately freeze the foods you make, you should store them in an air-tight container for no more than three days.

Healthy Foods for Healthy Babies

Making healthy baby food ensures your baby eats ingredients you have purchased and prepared yourself made from fresh foods with no additives. When you make baby food for your baby, you can be confident in the knowledge she is getting the best possible nutritional start.