problems, including diabetes, allergies, and
asthma. The American Academy of Pediatrics
recommends breast-feeding babies for at least
12 months, but research shows mother’s milk
continues to provide nutritional, immunological,
and developmental benefits beyond the first year,
Baral says.
DO-IT-YOURSELF
BABY
FOOD
Making your own
baby food is the
best way to ensure
your infant gets the
cleanest, greenest
introduction to
solids. Here’s how.
pediatric dietitian at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Foods that can cause choking, such as grapes,
nuts, and raisins, should be reserved for children
over 2. Also, babies should not be fed honey during
their first year because of the risk of botulism.
Buy organic fruits
and vegetables
and scrub well
before using.
Buck the trend. Children as young as 2 eat
an average of 14 teaspoons of sugar per day—more
than three times the amount recommended by the
USDA—often in the form of baked goods, soda,
and sweetened juice (and in place of fiber- and
nutrient-packed fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains). Buck this troubling trend by replacing
sugary treats with more nutritious fare, such as
whole-grain cereal, apple slices, cucumbers and
hummus, or plain low-fat yogurt.
Start slow. Introducing solid foods too early
can cause digestion problems, asthma, and
eczema because a baby’s body isn’t mature
enough to process solid food. It also increases the
likelihood of food allergies or sensitivities. Baral
and many pediatricians recommend waiting six
months before bringing on the rice cereal, mashed
sweet potatoes, and other solids. Hold off on eggs,
dairy, wheat, and peanuts until your child is at
least 1, because they can trigger food allergies.
Steam vegetables
until they are soft
and easily mashed.
3
Invest in a food
mill, which makes
grinding and
mashing food easy
and cleanup quick.
Set a good example. By feeding your child
the same healthy foods the rest of the family eats,
you set a good example and prevent your child
from morphing into that kid who will eat only
pizza or macaroni and cheese. So he refuses to
eat? “It’s OK for a child to go without dinner,” says
Keri Marshall, a naturopathic doctor in Dover,
New Hampshire, who specializes in children’s
health. “He won’t starve, and a few nights of going
to bed hungry will convince him it’s better to eat
what’s served at the table.”
Provide a solid introduction. By 6 months,
a baby’s body is ready to tolerate and digest other
foods. “About this time, teeth begin to come in,
the baby’s digestive enzymes start to kick in at
higher levels, and the kidneys become able to filter
the new proteins and foods,” Baral says. Introduce
one item at a time, adding a new food every four
to seven days to give baby’s digestive system time
to adjust—and for you to watch for allergic-reaction signs, such as rash, diarrhea, vomiting, or
increased fussiness. Once you’re past the
introductory stage (between 9 and 18 months,
depending on the child), exposing your kiddo to a
variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains,
and protein-rich foods helps develop her taste for
nutritious foods. If your child refuses to eat her
broccoli once, don’t give up. Research shows it
can take up to 15 exposures before a child will
accept a new food. “The sooner your children
develop healthy eating habits, the less likely they
will suffer from obesity, diabetes, cancer, and
cardiovascular disease,” says Marilyn Tanner, a
4
Freeze leftovers in
an ice-cube tray
covered with
plastic. This will
enable you to take
out and thaw
individual portions.
Nourish his skin, too. It can take two or
three years for a baby’s skin to fully mature. Care
for his fragile dermis by using products specially
formulated for babies and free of harsh fragrances,
irritants (such as alcohol), or chemicals such as
phthalates, which have been linked to kidney
damage and cancer in children. Zinc oxide creams
are wonderful for preventing diaper rash, and
natural moisturizers containing almond, jojoba, or
wheat germ oils can help keep baby’s skin soft
and supple. Avoid sunscreen for babies younger
than 6 months.
5
Label all food,
including the date.
Don’t keep baby
foods in the freezer
for more than three
months.
Raise a bookworm. The first three years of
life are critical to verbal development, says
David Perlmutter, MD, of Naples, Florida, author
of Raise a Smarter Child by Kindergarten (Morgan
Road, 2006). By reading with your little one,
you foster important child/parent bonding,
boost your child’s language skills, and plant the
seeds for a lifelong love of reading. Perlmutter
recommends lining your child’s bookcase with
both picture and story books, including those
written for preschool and older kids.
